Capital District

Project Vision

In 2006, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive
Council, requisitioned the Executive Affairs Authority to
initiate Plan Abu Dhabi 2030, a monumental urban planning
initiative.

2006
2030
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Its purpose was to deliver upon the vision of His Highness

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nayhan, President of the UAE,
Ruler of Abu Dhabi for the continued growth of Abu Dhabi as
a global capital city and for the future growth of the whole
of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as envisaged by the Late Sheikh
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council was created year 2007
and is the agency responsible for the future of Abu Dhabis
urban environments, and the expert authority behind the
visionary Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 Urban Structure Framework
Plan published September 2007.
A key initiative of Plan 2030, the Capital District will become
the symbolic and administrative centre for government,
education and information-based institutions for the United
Arab Emirates.

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A livable and modern

Arab capital

Landmark and commemorative

site strategy

The structure of the Capital District is based on creating a

culturally symbolic, vital, contemporary and distinct Arab
urban form for this new city. The plan proposes a high
degree of land use mix and diversity, with neighbourhoods
linked by walkable streets and a world-class public
transport network.

Seven central axis corridors lead into the CBD, symbolically

representing the seven Emirates. A series of monuments
and national institutions reinforce the ceremonial character
of these central boulevards which either terminate or create
view corridors into the central elliptical park. Another strong
visual connection in the City Centre is from the Federal
Precinct to the Federal Mosque and beyond. This visual
connection is reinforced by large rectilinear ceremonial
parks. As a result of their urban form, tall landmark
buildings create gateways at important intersections. In
addition, important civic institutions and monuments at key
intersections form important gateways supported by the
buildings unique character, elaborate landscape elements,
signage and public art. Smaller monuments become points of
interest in smaller civic plazas and neighbourhood parks.

A global capital
At the heart of the Capital district will be a Federal Precinct,
which will serve as the national seat of government for
the United Arab Emirates and be designed to celebrate the
identity, culture and values of the Emirates. Government
buildings, national institutions and embassies along grand
boulevards will provide a symbolic and memorable approach
to the Capital District. Contemporary Arab architecture and
a strong international diplomatic presence will reinforce
the cultural diversity of the Emirates population. Along
primary boulevards and at gateways to the city and the
CBD, monuments and public spaces will reinforce the citys
ceremonial and symbolic function.
Landmark buildings will emphasize the skyline at important
radial axes and will be opportunities for extraordinary
architectural expression while distinct public spaces and
commemorative places will provide the space for the
parades, celebrations, and events that are an integral part of
the life of a global capital city.




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Development objectives
A Federal Precinct will be situated at the heart of the Capital
District, which will serve as the national seat of government
for the United Arab Emirates. The culture and identity of all
seven emirates will be celebrated.
An arrangement of government buildings, national
institutions and embassies along grand boulevards will
provide a symbolic and memorable approach to the Capital
District. Contemporary Arab architecture and a strong
international diplomatic presence will reinforce the cultural
diversity of the Emirates population.
The Federal Precinct has been designed to sustain the
natural environment, economic development and cultural
heritage. The Capital District will create an urban fabric that
respects and relates to the needs of local Emiratis. It will
exemplify Estidama principles of promoting economic growth
while enhancing the overall quality of life and protecting
environmental resources.





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Development program
A meticulously thought-out network of streets and
pedestrian pathways will connect each part of the district
and give people easy access to their daily needs. State-ofthe-art trams, metros and buses will connect residents with
the Capital District and reduce dependence on cars. A central
transit station will provide a world-class interchange for
all transportation modes and link Emiratis living across the
country to their capital.
The Capital District will, in essence, become the citys
brain - a centre of learning and excellence. It will be home
to new universities, a medical campus and biomedical
research facilities offering great potential for synergies with
the private sector and giving the city an iconic district to
showcase its institutions.

The 65,000 seat Khalifa National Stadium will be surrounded

by a variety of sports, retail, hotel and entertainment uses
making it a vital and integrated part of the City, and a
multi-purpose exhibition and conference space, concert
hall and 1000 hotel rooms will provide space for major
conventions, events, and performances.
The Capital District will combine a dense mix of uses
including employment opportunities, shops and community
services within close proximity of residential neighbourhoods.
The plan includes Emirati neighbourhoods enabling Emiratis
to live close to where they work and to the centre of the new
city. Each neighbourhood will be designed around local parks,
schools, a mosque, community uses and convenient local
retail outlets.

A sustainable capital
Abu Dhabis desert and coast climate pose some significant
challenges to maintaining human comfort in outside urban
environments.
The plan seeks to mitigate the negative impacts of thermal
heat gain through comprehensive systems of shade
and ventilation throughout the urban environment. The
fundamental planning principles guiding the geometry of the
plan seek to naturally ventilate the city by having roadways,
block orientation, landscape and building form being
oriented towards the prevailing winds.
Throughout the planning process, design scenarios were
tested in order to understand the implications from a wind
and cooling standpoint. Based on the results from this
modeling and additional scientific research, strategies were
developed to guide decision-making with regard to the
orientation of streets and the positioning and dimensioning
of buildings in order to best take advantage of the wind.
Shading devices such as arcades, trellis and landscaped
canopies are thought of as a complex network of places
that allow pedestrian movement, solar protection and refuge
from the harsh climatic conditions of Abu Dhabi.

Sustainable practices towards conservation of energy and

water are a key stone of the Plan. The plan optimizes building
energy use and water consumption through the application
of green building practices as defined by the governments
Estidama Program. Recycling centers will be located within
the ground floor of public parking facilities and encourage
individuals and households to recycle.
Fresh water is a precious resource in the Emirates. The plan
offers the best practices for the future through the integration
of design strategies and guidelines to ensure that open spaces
are designed and managed to reflect the desert environment
of Abu Dhabi and to conserve our scarce water resources.

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Walking and cycling

Open spaces

One of the key aspirations of Plan Abu 2030 and of the

Master Plan for Capital District is to create vibrant urban
places that both welcome and encourage pedestrian activity.
This is achieved through the provision of high-quality
streetscapes, a diverse mix of uses and concentration of
densities, and an emphasis on an integrated public transport
network, which supports the idea that every transit
passenger is also a pedestrian.

In the Capital District, open space is a strategic component

of the plan and greatly contributes to overall quality of life.
Throughout the Capital City there is a hierarchy of public
spaces from large scale ceremonial spaces to civic plazas
and neighborhood parks, that are located within a 5 minute
walk in order to be accessible to all residents.

The Master Plan addressed three primary challenges in

creating a comprehensive pedestrian network: 1) providing
an attractive and accessible pedestrian environment by
keeping blocks small, providing generous and shaded
sidewalks and providing frequent crossing points; controlling
the climate through the creation of arcade zones, street
and building orientation; and carefully distributing the
mix and concentration of uses to support vibrant, livable
neighbourhoods.
The creation of a walkable Capital is also extended to the
definition of an integrated bike network, which provides
routes throughout the city. On the widest and busiest
vehicular streets, these paths are separated from vehicular
traffic, and given dedicated space within the sidewalk
realm. On more local, narrower streets, it is envisioned that
bikes can share the road space, through the provision of
clear pavement markings that delineate bike zones from
vehicular zones.

An integrated planning approach incorporates these various

open space types collectively to define an interconnected
network of open space; that includes the pedestrian
zones in roadway ROWs, public transportation and bicycle
corridors, parks and private space. The urban street is
an important open space corridor and the streetscape
design should respond to the adjacent land use, scale of
building and intended district character. This significant
open space network will enhance the overall character and
identity of the Capital City by providing great spaces for
commemoration, celebration and the activities of civic life.
From a sustainable perspective, the landscape design of the
open space in the Capital District responds to the desert
environment of Abu Dhabi, respecting the local ecological
conditions and scarcity of fresh water. Conservation of
water is a primary concern and is reflected in the urban
design in coordination with water management zones.
All open spaces are classified as low, med or high water use
areas with specific horticultural goals and guidelines.

Complete communities
Central to the plans for the new Capital District is the
commitment to create a sense of community. The plan
seeks to preserve the traditions, heritage and way of life of
Emiratis and is flexible enough to accommodate the needs
of the Emirates diverse population, ensuring everyone can
live and work in peace and harmony.
The Capital District will provide a wide range of housing
options for all income levels. The residential neighborhoods
are designed to accommodate the various needs and desires
of Abu Dhabis diverse population including Emirati extended
families, various ex patriot households and guest workers.
Each neighbourhood will be well served by community
services and amenities, including cultural centers, youth
centers, post offices, womens centers, libraries, and
mosques. Each mosque has been sited to be within walking
distance of nearby residents. Two hospitals will provide
quality healthcare to the city and support the vision of
creating a healthcare precinct.

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Central Business District

The Central Business District (CBD) is at the centre of the
Capital District with high density office and residential uses
combined with a diversity of cultural and social amenities.
It will be the largest concentration of high density office,
residential and commercial uses outside of the Abu Dhabi
Island. Land uses consist of Class A office space providing
over 150,000 jobs and residential neighbourhoods of 3
million square metres offering a live work environment for
over 68,000 people.
A key organizing principle of the CBD is the close integration
of land use and transportation networks supported by highquality pedestrian-oriented urban design and vibrant open
spaces to create livable neighborhood centers.
Residential developments offering a range of housing
options are clustered primarily within south and north
neighbourhoods, and traditional gathering places, including
local mosques, women and youth centres, libraries, local
retail shops and recreational facilities serve as central
spaces of gathering. These neighbourhoods are framed
by office and hotel uses located along main radial streets
leading into the CBD.

The CBD offers a range of retail, cultural and entertainment

opportunities. High-end and local retail streets provide a
diverse range of shopping experiences while a large retail
and entertainment node in the eastern CBD will serve
residents of the Capital City District and surrounding region.
Buildings, streets, and open spaces within the CBD are
aligned to maximize natural ventilation and the circulation
of afternoon breezes through the public realm. A series of
linear open spaces provides pedestrian connectivity through
the district, with building podiums and shade structures
providing much needed shade during the hottest parts of
the day.
National institutions and landmark buildings at key entry
points to the City provide opportunities for distinctive
architecture and frame visual gateways to the CBD.

Cultural and community facilities

Adjacency to the higher density districts in the Capital
Districts will allow residents of the Emirati neighbourhood
to take short trips to reach their work place, while
still maintaining the relaxed ambience in the Emirati
neighbourhood. Emirati schools are also well distributed
throughout for closer proximity to maximum neighbourhood
residents.
Local neighbourhood centers will provide residents with
places to gather including spaces for mosques, retail centers,
recreational open spaces and community centers.
Mosques are distributed throughout the neighborhoods so
that each mosque is within a maximum 5 minute walk of
all residents. The mosques can accommodate approximately
two hundred worshippers, in keeping with the populations
of their service areas. They are located adjacent to
the neighbourhood parks and neighbourhood centers,
reinforcing the role of these amenities as community
gathering spaces. There are also five significantly larger
mosques intended to serve the broader public for Friday
prayers, and will be designed to accommodate up to 3,000
worshipers.

They are located in several of the larger neighbourhood

centers where users can take advantage of existing parking
facilities as well as the surrounding retail and community
developments. The mosque distribution is designed to
encourage pedestrian movement through the neighborhood
streets. In keeping with design principles found within the
Pearls Design System for New Communities, the short walk
to a mosque from any place within the neighbourhood will
be along pleasant, tree lined, pedestrian friendly streets,
reducing the necessity for car use.

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Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council

P.O.Box 62221
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Tel: +971 2 409 6000

Fax: +971 2 443 2903
www.upc.gov.ae

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