The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) has given approval to 101 projects and master plans with a gross floor area (GFA) of 13.58 million sq m in 2015, up 26 per cent over the previous year, said a report.
A total of 27 projects and master plans were approved during the fourth quarter of 2015, reported the Saudi Gazette.
Of this, two approvals were given for projects and master plans located in Al Ain, four in Al Gharbia region of the emirate and 21 in the Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area – with 11 projects on Abu Dhabi Island and ten on Abu Dhabi Mainland, it stated.
All the approvals were given in line with the objectives of Plan Capital 2030, Plan Al Ain 2030 and Plan Al Gharbia 2030, said the report.
For the quarter, two approvals were given for projects and master plans located in Al Ain, four in Al Gharbia and 21 in the Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area – with 11 projects on Abu Dhabi Island and ten on Abu Dhabi Mainland.
Three of the projects given the go-ahead in Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area are all located on Al Reem Island, a major waterfront development comprising several residential, commercial and business communities.
The prime among them is the Reem Mall, a retail destination spread over 185,000 sq m area and featuring 450 retail units, including 85 restaurants and cafes.
Besides this it boasts a range of entertainment features across three storeys, including the world’s largest indoor snow-play park and a multi-screen cinema – providing quality leisure facilities for those living on Al Reem Island and in neighboring communities, said the report.
The second approval is for Najmat Towers, a two-tower residential complex, one comprising 244 units over 40 storeys and the other comprising 330 units over 41 storeys all in the form of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, duplex apartments and townhouses.
The development will feature retail outlets, swimming pools and recreational areas, gym and children play areas.
The third project is Shams Meera, two identical residential towers in the Shams District, said the report.
The 408-unit development, which is targeting a 2 Pearl Estidama Rating, will span 67,000 sq m of GFA and incorporate recreational areas including a pool, children’s play area, gym, BBQ and community lounge.
Located between the two major leisure, tourism and cultural growth hubs of Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, the Al Fahid Island master plan aims to create a unique, sustainable and complete residential community, targeting a 2 Pearl Estidama Rating.
The largest master plan approved by the UPC in the fourth quarter was the Al Khrair Emirati Housing project, located in the Al Khrair area in the eastern side of Al Ain City, said the report.
With a GFA of 3.3 million sq m, this residential project represents one third of the GFA approved in the quarter.
The residential community will comprise 3,017 single-family villa plots supported by a comprehensive range of community facilities and services in line with the UPC’s suite of Complete Sustainable Communities manuals and guidelines, said the report.
"The increase in the amount of GFA approved in 2015 vs. 2014 reflects the long-term demand for quality real estate development across Abu Dhabi," remarked Mohamed Al Khadar, the executive director, Urban Development and Estidama Sector, UPC.
"We will continue to progress our Tawasul developer outreach initiative with the development community throughout 2016 to ensure our processes and policies are as efficient and effective as possible to further enhance approvals in the future," he added.
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