Abu Dhabi completes 60 projects worth Dh12 billion, launches next phase

Abu Dhabi has completed more than 60 projects worth Dh12 billion and has launched the second phase of its Livability Strategy, shifting the emirate’s focus from building facilities to measuring their operational quality, utilisation and social impact. The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) announced the five-year phase (2026–2031) after the foundational phase raised the residential neighbourhood completion and integration index from 67% to 84% within two years. The broader approved budget for the overall programme stands at Dh42 billion.

“The launch of the second edition of the strategy, in implementation of the directives of the Executive Council, reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a preferred global destination for living, working and investment,” said Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport. “The exceptional results achieved to date demonstrate the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s ability to accommodate rapid urban growth within an integrated planning framework that connects growth with quality-of-life and infrastructure priorities.”

The second phase marks a methodological change: rather than only tracking completion of assets, authorities will monitor how well those assets function and serve communities. The DMT said new performance criteria will assess operational efficiency, utilisation levels and the effectiveness of community programmes and social activities hosted at public facilities. A unified digital platform and smart analytical systems will support continuous monitoring of infrastructure condition and service quality.

Under the first phase, which invested Dh12 billion, more than 60 development projects were completed with emphasis on improving neighbourhoods, open spaces and core infrastructure. The Livability Strategy’s “Livability by Design” framework aims to embed green spaces, active mobility and pedestrian networks, and place community facilities within short walking distances of residential areas.

Social and health dimensions of the broader livability drive are led by specialised agencies. The Department of Community Development oversees the Family Quality of Life Strategy, which currently comprises 30 community initiatives delivered in partnership with local and federal entities as well as the private and third sectors. That strategy rests on five pillars: promoting mental health and work–family balance; strengthening family bonds and social cohesion; empowering parents and developing parenting skills; promoting financial literacy and planning; and supporting and empowering senior citizens to enhance community participation.

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi leads the Healthy Life Strategy aimed at prevention and increasing healthy life expectancy. This includes the Abu Dhabi Healthcare Services Quality Index, a standardized assessment framework focusing on preventive care efficiency and patient‑centred innovation, alongside initiatives targeting reduction of added-sugar consumption, obesity and improved mental health prevention in partnership with the food and sports sectors.

Outlook

• Five-year timeframe: 2026–2031 for phase two implementation, focusing on operational performance and social outcomes.
• Digital oversight: deployment of a unified platform and smart analytics to monitor asset condition and service delivery.
• Integrated approach: continued coordination between DMT, the Department of Community Development and the Department of Health to combine physical infrastructure with family wellbeing and public health strategies.

Officials present the next phase as a move from construction metrics to living metrics, with the aim of ensuring that investments — including the Dh42 billion approved envelope for future urban growth — translate into measurable improvements in residents’ daily lives and community cohesion.