The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) has approved 24 projects for the fourth quarter of 2016/17 Development Plan, including a range of important commercial, residential and tourism projects in the UAE capital.

One of the key developments that has won the UPC go-ahead is the Shams Marina Residential Project on Al Reem Island, a multi-purpose scheme by the Al Dar Real Estate Company.

The project received a Pearl 1 based upon the Pearl rating system from the Estidama Programme, to comply with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030, reported state news agency Wam.

The UPC also gave the green signal to the Rexus five-star hotel project at Saadiyat Island, to be developed by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC).

The council further approved a detailed general plan of the Al Sad residential project in Al Ain, to be developed by Abu Dhabi General Services (Musanada) in addition to other projects that were approved by the UPC across Abu Dhabi, it added.