Three master plans, slated to transform the UAE capital Abu Dhabi into a major international hub, has won approval from the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC).

The complete details of the highly anticipated master plans, which include the Capital District Concept Plan, Khalifa B Master Plan and Shahama and Bahia Revitalisation Plan, will be unveiled at the upcoming 2009 edition of Cityscape Abu Dhabi, a major real estate and development exhibition, said a statement.

Members of the council held a meeting today (March 11) in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, chairman of the Executive Council and chairman of the UPC, and approved the master plans.

Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi, general manager, UPC, said the approval of the three master plans is a major step towards the realisation of Plan Abu Dhabi 2030.

Once completed the 4,500 hectare Capital District Concept Plan, will serve as a second government and economic center in Abu Dhabi and would eventually be a sustainable, vibrant, compact, mixed-use city of 370,000 residents. The Capital District would comprise high density transit oriented communities, major universities, hospitals and knowledge-based employment sectors, as well as a lower density residential neighborhood. At the heart of the district will be local and national government infrastructure, federal buildings, embassies and international institutions. All these will be housed within a single precinct that would ultimately manifest Abu Dhabi’s role as the Federal Capital City of the UAE.

Initiated by the UPC in August 2008, the Khalifa B Master Plan consists of three main components. First, a master plan for the existing neighbourhood that implements the UPC’s vision of quality public spaces and community facilities. A second master plan focuses on creating a vibrant new mixed-use area between the existing neighbourhood and the highway and the third component is the design guidelines for the development of a high quality neighbourhood that integrates into existing neighbourhood and caters to resident needs, the statement said.

The UPC has also approved for the Revitalisation plan for the communities of Shahama and Bahia along the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway first unveiled in June last year. This approval means that the project driven by the UPC in partnership with Emirates Foundation will stimulate growth in existing areas of the district for up to 110,000 people till the year 2030.

The project will also address the lack of community facilities, parks, shopping and housing in the area. A new town centre with transport hub and full array of amenities will also be delivered as part of the project, it said.

The UPC is currently developing new street design standards in accordance with the guiding principles of Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 which call for safer, more comfortable and aesthetic street environments to establish Abu Dhabi as a groundbreaking global mobility model underpinned by diversity in movement options, flexibility in destination access, efficiency in time saving and enhancement of livability, said the statement. – TradeArabia News Service