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Building a skilled workforce capable of driving a knowledge-based economy is Abu Dhabi’s main goal when it comes to education. In pursuit of this aim, the emirate’s government is making major investments in its schools and universities that are geared towards enhancing the quality and quantity of education for the growing local population. Thanks to government incentives and increased local demand, the private sector is playing a greater role in both K-12 schools and higher education. An emphasis on vocational and technical training is also helping to provide students with the skills needed in the workplace, while efforts to attract international universities are further enhancing the range of post-secondary options on offer, meaning Abu Dhabi appears to be on track with its plans to build up the skills of the local workforce. This chapter contains interviews with Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC); and Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET).

The government has overseen Al Ain’s development in line with the policies laid out by the current ruling family of Abu Dhabi, which is committed to maintaining the traditional character of their ancestral home. Al Ain’s heritage and the area’s many natural attractions have made it a popular tourist destination for Emiratis and foreigners alike. Under Plan Al Ain, Jebel Hafeet and the surrounding Hajjar Mountains will be given national park status, with the goal of protecting the area from development and making it more accessible to visitors. The region is expected to attract considerable and sustained investment from both domestic and foreign investors, and a wide variety of industries will likely benefit from the anticipated increase in economic activity.

Accounting for the majority of the emirate’s oil and gas reserves, Al Gharbia generates more than 44% of Abu Dhabi’s GDP, with economic output exceeding $31bn per year. In the coming years, it is set for substantial investment as the government looks to rejuvenate the region and ensure that local talent is retained and plays an integral role in development. As such, over the next two decades, a host of opportunities are expected to materialise for savvy investors, and the Western Region Development Council is on the lookout to attract the best of these to the region. Some $65bn in investment projects are anticipated for the coming years, covering oil and gas, power generation, infrastructure and transport, and tourism. This chapter contains an interview with Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region.

In a bid to develop a sustainable and diversified economy, non-hydrocarbons industry is becoming increasingly important, and the government of Abu Dhabi has set ambitious growth targets for the sector over the coming two decades. The emirate is developing the infrastructure to achieve these aims, with the objective of creating an attractive environment for industrial investment across a range of sectors. Rising wages are supporting growth in the retail market, with workers paid a total of $44.67bn in 2012. Consumer lending is also on the rise, increasing by $4.16bn across the UAE in the first six months of 2013. Domestic demand drives the market, though the tourism sector also offers opportunities for retailers. Additional retail supply over the coming year is expected to shake up the sector. Mall operators and retailers recognise that this may cause some short-term turbulence, but that the sector’s longer-term prospects are more than encouraging. This chapter contains interviews with Mohammed Al Qemzi, CEO, ZonesCorp; Khaled Salmeen, CEO and Managing Director, Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi; and Saeed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, Chairman, Al Fahim Group. It also contains viewpoints from Suhail Mubarak bin Athaeeth, CEO, Senaat; and Saeed G Al Romaithi, CEO, Emirates Steel.

The UAE overtook Saudi Arabia as the Gulf’s largest construction market in terms of contracts awarded in 2012. In 2013, the UAE construction market continued to post growth, led by Abu Dhabi’s capital investments in infrastructure, housing and health care facilities. The value of the UAE’s construction sector was forecast to grow by 4.5% in 2013, reaching $41bn, and is expected to continue to expand going forward, topping $50bn and 10% of GDP by 2016. The emirate’s current investments are intended to lay the foundation for the development of an increasingly diverse economy in the years ahead, and the municipality’s regulations should go a long way towards realising its ambition of making the capital a leading international city.

Developing Abu Dhabi’s domestic transport infrastructure and broader transport industry has been one of the government’s priorities over the past decade. At the same time, the rapid expansion of the local aviation and maritime shipping industries has contributed to the emirate’s growing reputation as a transit and logistics hub. Further expansion is under way to meet the need of anticipated population growth, with the population set to reach 2.6m by 2030, up from just 0.9m in 2008. The emirate’s ongoing transport projects are creating significant opportunities for local and international investment, while developments in the air transport segment are set to considerably boost Abu Dhabi’s international connections. This chapter contains an interview with Tony Douglas, CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports.