Abu Dhabi: The new Capital District in Abu Dhabi will accommodate 370,000 people on 4,900 hectares upon completion.
The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) plans to unveil details of the much anticipated Capital District during Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2010.
However, Gulf News can reveal details of the project's master-plan, which includes residential, commercial, retail and community clusters.
Strategically located between Abu Dhabi International Airport and Mohammed Bin Zayed City, the project is expected to be Abu Dhabi's second busiest business district, providing over 100,000 job opportunities to residents.
The environmentally sustainable city will consist of high energy-efficient building structures, district cooling systems, water-sensitive landscaping, and irrigation. Seven grand boulevards symbolising the seven emirates will connect the city centre with surrounding districts.
The boulevards will help move traffic in and out of the city, while being lined with national institutions, landmark buildings, public art and monuments.
A fusion of distinct districts connected by the boulevards will consist of shaded streets, plaza-styled open spaces and parks, a distinctive souq market, a medium-density federal mosque district, and a public transit system.
Dedicated bike routes will be integrated into the street layout, offering travel options across the city, while residents and visitors will benefit from two main street types.
The first type will be retail streets dotted with shops, cafes, restaurants and plazas while the second type will be neighbourhood streets with a more relaxed theme.
Falah Al Ahbabi, UPC general manager, said the project raised the standard of urban planning and design, while redefining conventional practices through the consideration of the needs of future generations.
"Developed over an 18-month period, between late 2007 and early 2009, the master plan will serve as the foundation upon which all future land use, transportation, and urban planning decisions will be made," Al Ahbabi said.
"As a road map for the future, the master plan establishes quantifiable targets for population, land uses, transportation and pedestrian access."
Federal precint
At the heart of the Capital District will be a federal precinct, where federal ministries, embassies, and government offices will line the Capital Boulevard; which in return will provide a connection to the Presidential Palace and the Grand Mosque on Abu Dhabi Island.
Schools will be located close to all neighbourhoods, serving both Emirati and expatriate communities, while universities, a medical campus and biomedical research facilities will provide higher education capabilities.
The area will also have an Olympic-calibre 65,000-seat stadium called Khalifa National Stadium.
The stadium will stage major football and sporting events.
"The [Capital District] represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a truly authentic and sustainable modern Arab capital. Having the mandate to plan ahead at the behest of our wise leadership, we will deliver on our promise of creating more liveable and sustainable communities for Abu Dhabi's future generations," Al Ahbabi said.
