Striking a balance: Pursuing sustainable development while preserving the region’s heritage and traditional character

Located 160 km to the east of Abu Dhabi City, in the centre of a large oasis that has been inhabited for thousands of years, the “garden city” of Al Ain is known for its long history and traditional character. Unlike the gleaming towers of the capital, Al Ain is made up mostly of low-rise buildings in a traditional Arab style. The birthplace of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE, the city is home to a number of important historical and cultural sites. The government has overseen Al Ain’s development in line with the policies laid out by Sheikh Zayed and his heirs – the current ruling family of Abu Dhabi – who are committed to maintaining the traditional character of their ancestral home. Al Ain’s heritage and the area’s many natural attractions – including date palms, the surrounding desert and Jebel Hafeet, the UAE’s second-highest peak at 1300 metres – have made it a popular tourist destination among Emiratis and foreigners alike.

Development & Preservation

 Preserving Al Ain’s character is a central component of Plan Al Ain 2030, the government’s development strategy for the region. At the same time, the plan is expected to transform the local economy in line with the emirate’s economic diversification policy, the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Under Plan Al Ain, traditional regional economic drivers – including tourism, agriculture, construction, real estate and public sector institutions, the latter of which employ a large percentage of the local population – are being supplemented and in some cases replaced by high-tech, high-value-added industries, such as manufacturing, higher education, health care, agribusiness and light industry. Implementing these ambitious reforms while simultaneously preserving Al Ain’s traditional character is widely considered to be one of the key challenges currently facing local authorities.

History

 Archaeological work carried out at Jebel Hafeet and Al Hili suggests that Al Ain has been inhabited for more than 4000 years. Major archaeological finds in the region include a series of above-ground tombs dating back to around 2500 BCE, ancient adobe buildings (including residences, towers, palaces and administrative structures) and an extensive network of falaj, or man-made underground irrigation channels, from the Iron Age. In 2011 Al Ain became the first site in the UAE to be included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. According to UNESCO, these sites provide “important testimony to the transition of cultures in the region from hunting and gathering to sedentarisation”.

Since the establishment of the UAE in 1971 the government has worked to maintain the city’s reputation as “the spiritual heart of the emirate” in a number of ways. While Al Ain has benefitted from oil revenues and economic growth over the past 30 years, the city’s urban development has been carefully managed. Sheikh Zayed, who oversaw much of the construction in Al Ain in the UAE’s early years, is credited with implementing the municipal code that limited building height to five storeys, which has become one of the city’s defining characteristics. Maintaining Sheikh Zayed’s vision is a key objective of Plan Al Ain, which aims to transform Al Ain into “an authentic and safe but also progressive and open Arab city” with “a traditional agricultural way of life” but “a 21st-century lifestyle”.

Oversight

The development blueprint for the municipality of Al Ain – one of three municipalities in Abu Dhabi – was developed by Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development, the Al Ain City Municipality, and other federal-, emirate- and local-level organisations.

The plan, which was launched in 2009, was drawn up in conjunction with Economic Vision 2030 and the other long-term economic plans currently being implemented throughout the emirate. It was designed to respond to the pressing challenges currently facing the region, including population growth and the further depletion of scarce water resources.

Al Ain region’s population was estimated at 631,000 in mid-2012 in the “Abu Dhabi Statistical Yearbook 2013” published by the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD) in November 2013. This compares with 444,700 in mid-2005, while Plan Al Ain estimates that the population will exceed 1m by 2030. Most of the initiatives laid out in Plan Al Ain are aimed at meeting the needs of this rapidly expanding population. Broadly speaking, the plan aims to protect the region’s natural, cultural and agricultural resources; expand and upgrade the existing infrastructure, utilities, housing, health care and education systems to cater to the growing population; and foster economic development and job growth by supporting and expanding existing industries and investing in new knowledge-based sectors.

Environment & Tradition

 Ensuring that Al Ain’s unique natural environment is protected and preserved as it develops is a cornerstone of the government’s plan for the region. According to the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), Jebel Hafeet and the surrounding Hajjar Mountains contain 95% of the biodiversity of Abu Dhabi’s entire eastern region. Under Plan Al Ain this area will be given national park status, with the goal of protecting it from development and making it more accessible to visitors. A number of other areas in Al Ain will also be given protected status, and urban development in the city will be undertaken on a sustainable, environmentally friendly basis. The numerous parks, wadis and date palm gardens that break up the built environment in the city will be expanded, new natural landscapes will be laid out and the supply of housing will be increased in preparation for the expected rapid population growth. New industrial activity will be located in designated zones outside of the city centre.

According to SCAD, around 30% of the local population is Emirati, compared to 21% in Abu Dhabi emirate as a whole. While population growth over the next two decades will lead to an increasing number of non-Emiratis working in Al Ain, the government hopes to maintain this percentage. The creation of well-paid jobs in new industries is considered integral to this effort, as is an ongoing push to encourage Emiratis to seek employment in the private sector. “Historically, Emiratis have preferred to work in public sector jobs, which are considered more prestigious than private sector positions,” Ahmed Abdulla Al Jaberi, the strategic planning division manager of the Department of Municipal Affairs at Al Ain City Municipality, told OBG. “Efforts are being made to change this perception, as the private sector will have a big role to play in the future.”

Industrialisation

 A number of new industries are expected to have a positive impact on economic growth and employment in Al Ain in the coming decades (see analysis). The area surrounding Al Ain International Airport is intended to eventually serve as a regional hub for the aviation, aerospace and defence sector. In 2010 state-owned investment firm Mubadala Development Company partnered with Abu Dhabi Airports (ADAC), another major public player, to establish the Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park (Nibras), a 25-sq-km industrial zone that aims to attract local and foreign firms active in aerospace manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul, as well as other related segments. The anchor tenant is AMMROC (Advanced Military Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Centre), which provides MRO services to the UAE Armed Forces’ aircraft. While the project is still being developed, it has already attracted several key local players, including the Mubadala subsidiary Strata, which manufactures composite aerostructures for Airbus and Boeing (see Aerospace, Defence and Security chapter). “Abu Dhabi is increasingly considered to be one of the Middle East’s primary centres for the aerospace industry,” said Beshara Sholy, the head of aircraft engineering technology at Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, formerly known as the Al Ain International Aviation Academy, which provides aircraft maintenance and related training programmes in conjunction with the government’s technical education entity, the Institute of Applied Technology. “The development of the Nibras project is the logical next step in this direction.”

Agriculture

 Al Ain is Abu Dhabi’s primary area for agricultural production. It accounts for 59% of the land under cultivation in the emirate, equivalent to 11,985 holdings and a total area of 446,898 donums (one donum is equal to 1000 sq metres or 0.10 ha), according to SCAD’s “Agricultural Land Uses 2012 Statistical Report”. Plot sizes are generally fairly small, with 72% of holdings in Al Ain totalling 30-39 donums.

The UAE is one of the top-five date producers in the world, and a considerable percentage of the nation’s annual date crop is grown in the region. Other major crops include potatoes, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, lemons, mangos and figs. A total of 194,465 donums of land under cultivation in Al Ain, or 43.5% of the total, is dedicated to fruit trees, while field crops account for another 14,900 donums (3.3%) and vegetables a further 4501 donums (1.0%), according to the “Agricultural Land Uses 2012 Statistical Report”.

In recent years Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), the agriculture industry regulator, has begun to overhaul the sector with the objective of adding value to local agricultural products and reducing water usage. The latter aim is a key component of a water conservation programme recently put in place by the EAD and considered integral to Al Ain’s environmental policy. Abu Dhabi has limited groundwater resources, a considerable percentage of which have gone towards irrigation for agricultural activities in Al Ain and other areas over the years. Under ADFCA’s plan, farmers in the emirate have been encouraged to grow low-water crops, such as potatoes; upgrade irrigation systems; and use treated wastewater to irrigate their crops, with the objective of saving the emirate’s groundwater (and its relatively expensive desalinated water) for drinking.

Agribusiness

 Agribusiness is expected to be a key economic driver in the coming years. The region is already home to major local players, including the state-owned Al Foah Dates Company, which is one of the world’s largest date producers, and Al Ain Dairy, one of the largest dairy farms in the Middle East (see Agriculture chapter). Al Foah, which was formed in 2005, has played a major part in turning the UAE into one of the top-five date producers globally. According to Fares Sumair, marketing manager of Al Foah Dates, there is considerable potential at the high end of the market. “High-end date products are an important component of our long-term plan to build demand among new segments of society. Dates, like chocolate, appeal to a wide range of people and markets,” Sumair told OBG.

Materials

 Finally, Al Ain also has a small but growing materials manufacturing industry. Firms involved in this area include the state-owned Arkan Building Materials Company, Gulf Cement Industries, Al Ain Plastics Industries and the Gulf Rubber Factory. Materials manufacturing is largely based in Al Ain Industrial City, a free zone on the southern edge of the city.

Tourism

 While industrial and service-oriented activities are expected to account for a growing percentage of local revenues over the coming decade, under Plan Al Ain longstanding sectors will also benefit from rising investment and government support. Tourism, for example, is expected to expand considerably, driven largely by population growth in the UAE as a whole and efforts to protect and highlight Al Ain’s natural and cultural attractions. In addition to a variety of local landscapes, including lush oases, rolling red sand dunes and mountains, Al Ain’s arid climate and cool nights attract many visitors. The dry climate and varied natural environment make Al Ain a popular jumping off spot for many outdoor sports and related activities, including hiking, rock climbing and dune bashing. According to the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, in the first 10 months of 2013 hotel guest arrivals in Al Ain totalled 248,142 – an increase of 7% year-on-year.

The region boasts parks, museums and other sites of interest to visitors. Al Ain Zoo, which completed a major expansion project in mid-October 2013, is one of the top attractions in the area. The zoo, which has around 4000 animals on a 400-ha plot of land near Jebel Hafeet, has expanded considerably since 2006, when work began on the Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort (AWPR), a major new development located next to the zoo proper. In addition to serving as a new leisure tourism destination in Al Ain, the AWPR carries out research, conservation and education activities throughout the region. The park was also the first state-led project to be awarded five “pearls” under the government’s Estidama sustainable building initiative. Another recent addition to the zoo is the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, which hosts exhibits and lectures designed to educate visitors about Al Ain’s desert environment. Al Ain Zoo has worked to boost the employment of nationals recently, in line with the government’s Emiratisation drive. As of late August 2013 some 39% of the zoo’s staff were Emiratis – a high figure compared to many other sectors – and this number is expected to continue to grow for the foreseeable future.

Other major cultural attractions in Al Ain include the Al Ain National Museum – the oldest museum in the UAE – which features archaeological finds from the surrounding area, and the Hili Archaeological Park, at which visitors can view tombs and falaj dating to the 3rd century BCE. Al Ain is also home to the Al Ain Football Club, which won the Asian Football Confederation Champions League in 2003 – the only UAE team to do so – and is popular nationwide today. In mid-2013 a new 25,000-seat football stadium – the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium – was completed for the team in Al Ain. The region’s status as an important agricultural area has also had a positive impact on tourism. The Al Ain camel market, which takes place daily, is the only remaining camel market in the UAE and is a popular destination for visitors, for example. Under Plan Al Ain the government intends to protect these existing offerings and establish new cultural attractions. In particular, the authorities recently announced that they planned to create new institutions dedicated to the falaj network and local agricultural history, among other subjects.

Finally, Al Ain Convention Centre (AACC), which underwent an overhaul in 2011, has attracted an increasing number of meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions to the region in recent years. In 2012, for example, the AACC hosted almost 150 events, according to Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company. In 2013 the 20,000-sq-metre facility took top prize in the meetings and conference centre category at the Business Destination Travel Awards (see Tourism chapter).

Education & Health Care

 Al Ain is home to UAE University – the country’s oldest higher education institution – and a handful of prestigious medical facilities, and the government is working to make it a regional centre for education and health care. Existing universities include UAE University, which is a public institution; Al Ain University of Science and Technology, which is private; and a branch of the private Abu Dhabi University. Additionally, the region has a relatively high number of primary, secondary and tertiary schools on a per capita basis, including private schools, a handful of which are considered among the best in the emirate. Under Plan Al Ain the government aims to invest further in the higher education segment, with the dual objective of retaining local students and attracting new students from outside of Al Ain. The plan also calls for new investments in part-time and informal education segments, including environmental, agricultural and vocational education (see Education chapter).

Medical facilities currently in operation in Al Ain include three public hospitals owned by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA); six private hospitals; a military hospital; and a variety of clinics and related institutions. With 396 beds, Tawam Hospital is a SEHA facility managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine. Tawam serves as a national referral facility for oncology services, and is also known for its neonatal, intensive and cardiac care. Recently completed medical projects include Mubadala Healthcare’s Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, which opened its doors in April 2012, and the Tawam Molecular Imaging Centre, clinically operated by Johns Hopkins Medicine International, which has been providing molecular imaging scans to oncology, cardiac and neurology patients since 2010.

In September 2013 SEHA announced that it had received approval from Abu Dhabi’s Executive Council to begin work on a new hospital in the Al Jimi area of Al Ain, which will replace an existing facility in the same neighbourhood. The $1.2bn hospital will have 719 beds. Additionally, in August 2013 NMC Healthcare, the UAE’s largest private health care provider, announced that it planned to construct a new hospital in Al Ain. Under Plan Al Ain the Abu Dhabi Executive Council aims to boost the number of hospital beds in the region, both by building new public hospitals and by attracting additional private sector investment to the sector.

 Housing and Urban development

 With the population of Al Ain expected to nearly double by 2030, expanding the region’s housing options and infrastructure is considered to be a government priority. Under Plan Al Ain the government has laid out a comprehensive urban framework development strategy, which includes plans to expand existing residential neighbourhoods, build new housing blocks, and invest heavily in sustainable transport and other infrastructure development efforts. By 2030 Al Ain is expected to have 202,000 housing units, up from 67,000 in 2007, for example. A considerable percentage of the new units will be developed as affordable housing. In an effort to maintain the traditional character of the region, much of the residential housing development in Al Ain City will take the form of low-density fareej – meaning neighbourhood in the local Arabic dialect – and consists of clusters of homes built around large shared outdoor spaces and connected by covered walkways. In Al Ain City the government plans to build grid-like neighbourhoods, with a focus on sustainable, low-rise architecture and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

At the heart of Al Ain’s urban infrastructure renewal strategy is the Gateway Transit Corridor (GTC) project, under which the government plans to develop five major retail, housing and business nodes through the heart of Al Ain’s central business district, which will be linked by public transport, including bus and tram routes (see Transport chapter). According to the GTC plan, the city’s street network will be overhauled, with a focus on streamlining pedestrian and automobile traffic and ensuring that the city centre maintains its traditional character. Under a variety of related development strategies laid out in Plan Al Ain, the government will focus on building housing complexes for the low-income workers that are expected to move to the region as a result of the numerous ongoing construction projects; expanding and upgrading office space offerings; and increasing the availability of retail space in Al Ain City.

Ensuring that this development is carried out sustainably, in line with Abu Dhabi’s Estidama programme, is a government priority. Under the Estidama initiative, which was established by the UPC in 2010, new buildings and other development projects throughout the emirate are awarded a rating based on strict design, construction and operating guidelines. Since it was launched, all new projects in the emirate have been required to obtain a minimum rating under the system.

Outlook

 As development moves forward in Al Ain in the coming years, the region is expected to attract considerable and sustained investment both from within the UAE and from foreign investors. A wide variety of industries will likely benefit from this new economic activity. Planned upgrades to the region’s landscape and cultural heritage offerings are meant to safeguard Al Ain’s traditional character, and are also expected to boost visitor numbers and the tourism industry in general. In the longer term, the continued growth of Nibras has the potential to transform the local economy. Indeed, by 2030 Al Ain’s aerospace, aviation and defence industry is forecast to employ more than 10,000 local residents, a considerable percentage of which will likely be Emiratis. Al Ain’s agriculture sector and the local materials manufacturing industry are also expected to be increasingly important contributors in the coming years. With these plans in mind, Al Ain’s future looks bright.