The UAE government plans to develop 17 new projects worth Dh1.5 billion ($408 million) during the 2016-2017 period in the Eastern region.

The announcement was made by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during his recent visit to the East Coast.

Sheikh Mohammed later reviewed the progress of projects worth Dh7 billion ($1.9 billion) being implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development. These include residential support programmes, building new residential complexes, roads, schools, health centres and government buildings.

The projects scheduled for this year include construction of the first phase of sport complexes in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, three cultural centres, sports centres, along with seven kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, said a statement from the Ministry of Finance.

The projects scheduled to be implemented by next year include Dubai-Fujairah highway, creating and raising the efficiency of Dibba-Massafi road (Phase Two), extending Emirates Road (Phase Two), extending the road between Al Aqran roundabout-Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah ring road, developing the road from Masafi to Fujairah, upgrading the road between Al Tawyeen roundabout-Emirates Road-Al Ittihad Road, developing Al Ittihad Road (E88) connecting Sharjah-Dhaid-Masafi, and Maliha street from Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street to the intersection of Umm Al Quwain-Falaj Al Mualla, in addition to construction and completion of internal roads and links for residential complexes.

Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, stressed the ministry’s commitment to adopt a strategy aimed at providing the necessary financing to improve the implementation of infrastructure projects within the UAE.

"This is following the directives of our wise leadership to enhance the levels of development in the eastern region, provide the necessary financial requirements to implement these projects as per the specified timeline and based on the highest international standards," observed Al Tayer.

"The Ministry of Finance has played, through the allocated financial resources to support the infrastructure development and maintenance, an important role in positioning the UAE as third on the infrastructure indicator as per the Global Competiveness Report 2014-2015," he added.-TradeArabia News Service