Abu Dhabi announces 150,000sqm destination at gateway to capital
Project will be built on the Abu Dhabi waterfront, opposite Al Maqtaa Tower
The Abu Dhabi Municipality has announced that a 150,000m2 mixed use leisure and retail destination will be built on the Abu Dhabi waterfront, opposite Al Maqtaa Tower and between the Sheikh Zayed and Al Maqtaa bridges, at the gateway to the city.
The development will comprise of retail outlets, restaurants and entertainment and leisure facilities. There will also be an open air performance space and new hospitality offerings. At the heart of the project will be a traditional souk that will sell high quality handicrafts and showcase cultural traditions, a report in Gulf News said.
The project is currently under tender and is set to be developed in partnership with the private sector through a Build – Operate – Transfer model. This is so as to ensure it is delivered and managed in line with the highest international standards.
“Working in close collaboration with the Department of Transport and the Urban Planning Council (UPC), the municipality has secured a selection of approved external connectivity options and is working now on selecting the best options,” said a spokesman for the Transportation Impact Study (TIS) commissioned by the municipality yesterday.
“Nothing is more fundamental to the smooth flow of traffic than the proper allocation of land use. We worked closely together with the DoT and the Urban Planning Council to take this unique proactive approach that led us to commission the traffic impact study,” added Rashid Bin Ali Al Omaira, advisor, investments and assets of the Office of the Director General of Abu Dhabi Municipality.
Al Omaira said that by investing in the study, the municipality would reinforce the joint venture collaboration with the private sector.
““It also ensures appropriate measures are provided to support the needs of the city and its communities to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure and connectivity to some of Abu Dhabi’s most important landmarks,” he told the paper.
One of the requirements for any planned development in Abu Dhabi is the TIS, which will contribute to the planning of infrastructure, Al Omaira added. It must be approved by the Department of Transport and is usually undertaken by developers.
“It forms part of the project planning and concept design stage. Its outcome is critical for the overall development design to maximise connectivity to existing infrastructure,” the municipality said in its announcement released yesterday.
