A measured approach: Developments will help the city preserve its environment and traditions

With a population of 389,400 as of mid-2011 – some 103,800 of whom are Emirati nationals – Al Ain is the second-largest city in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the fourth largest in the UAE. It has grown without losing its character or damaging the oasis that has sustained it for more than 4000 years. However, the population of the UAE has been soaring in recent years, driven by high birth rates among nationals and strong inward migration, and Al Ain is no exception to this trend.

At the same time, the authorities are keen to use part of the emirate’s oil wealth to diversify the economy. Their efforts culminated in a document published in 2009, known as the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, which lays out a road map for diversification in the emirate. In addition to this, the emirate’s Urban Planning Council (UPC) issued a set of framework plans to inform urban development as cities are renovated over the next 20 years. Al Ain also has its own document, Plan Al Ain 2030, which consists of an economic vision, urban structure plan for the city of Al Ain itself and a regional planning framework for the entire municipality, subdivided into a further four plans dealing with semi-rural sub-districts outside Al Ain City.

PRESERVATION: The plan is predicated on preserving the environment and Arab character of the city. Al Ain was the birthplace of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE, who was keen that the city not lose its unique traits. To this day, it remains a low-rise, traditional city, and the proportion of Emiratis – around one-third – is high compared to the national average of around one-eighth. Indeed, part of the plan involves measures to stem the outflow of nationals and maintain the Emirati population at current proportions. Chiefly, this involves developing the city’s economy from one centred on tourism, agriculture and services to one with a greater industrial base, particularly aerospace, with a dedicated aerospace park, branded as Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park (Nibras), scheduled for development at the current Al Ain International Airport. At the same time, growth must be sustainable and not come at the expense of the environment, in order to retain Al Ain’s high quality of life.

GROWTH BY NUMBERS: According to projections from the UPC, the population of Al Ain Municipality is expected to grow to 627,000 by 2020 and 1m by 2030. In order to accommodate these increases, new housing developments will be required. The total number of housing units is set to rise from 67,000 in 2009 to 124,000 in 2020 and 202,000 in 2030, with 41,000 of these units set aside for nationals. Office space is also set to rise, from 150,000 sq metres in 2009 to 400,000 sq metres in 2020 and 600,000 sq metres in 2030. Meanwhile, retail space is set to expand from 460,000 sq metres in 2009 to 800,000 sq metres in 2020 and 1.1m sq metres in 2030. Finally, the area allocated for industrial parks and developments will rise from 800,000 sq metres in 2009 to 1.45m sq metres in 2020 and 1.98m sq metres in 2030. This figure, however, does not include Nibras, which is set to cover 25 sq km in total.

Under the terms of the Urban Framework Plan, both the grid system and the present height limit for buildings, which is set to a maximum of five floors, will remain the same. However, to cope with the rise in population, Al Ain will necessarily have to undergo extensive remodelling. As such, the plan envisages residential precincts that will be linked by thoroughfares. Within these precincts, the overall design will draw upon traditional modes of urban development to minimise exposure to sun. In particular, neighbourhoods for Emiratis will be built around the fareej system, the traditional urban layout in the country, which allows for extended families to live in proximity to one another.

The idea is to move from an urban system based around the car to one based on walking and public transport, with shaded walkways offering a public space. The city centre is to be revitalised with a central business district, which will extend to outer districts through a network of trams and buses. Additionally, a new high-speed rail link, a portion of the Etihad Railway project, will connect Al Ain with Abu Dhabi and Oman by 2017.