Abu Dhabi has approved 13 key projects covering an area of 4 million sq m in the first quarter of 2014, of which about 70 per cent are residential developments, said a report.

Five of these approved projects were master plans, with the remaining eight being detailed project plans, reported the Emirates 24|7 citing officials of Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC).

Among the project approvals were Aldar Properties ' masterplan for Al Raha Beach East, a mixed-use development being constructed adjacent to the E10 Highway on Abu Dhabi Mainland, close to Yas Island.

The development, which will boast of a unique waterfront community stretching over 20 km, will provide more than 3,000 apartments, townhouses and villas as well as 50,000 sq m of prime Grade A office space.

Another key project which has won UPC approval is the Petroleum Institute on the Abu Dhabi Mainland. The new enhancements to the campus will include a new male undergraduate centre, a new research centre and research park, and a Women in Science and Engineering and residential blocks.

The Petroleum Institute project will be developed by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

The remaining eight approvals were for detailed project plans, which included Farglory's EW11 development on Al Maryah Island and Aldar Properties ' Shams Abu Dhabi development on Al Reem Island, both residential projects.