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Like much of the Gulf region, Abu Dhabi is largely made up of desert, and as such, agriculture accounts for only a small proportion of the economic output of the emirate – less than 1% of GDP. Despite Abu Dhabi importing the majority of its food, the sector is set to witness important developments in areas such as aquaculture, organic food and water conservation. Date production continues to be a key pillar of agriculture; in 2008 the UAE produced 755,000 tonnes of dates and exported 280,000 tonnes – making it the fourth-largest producer and single largest exporter that year. Overall, population growth and rising affluence mean that the sector is likely to become increasingly important going forward. This chapter includes interviews with Rashed Mohamed Al Shariqi, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA); and Khadim Abdulla Al Darei, Managing Director, Al Dahra.

While the emirate currently maintains one of the more respected educational systems in the region, the sector continues to develop and possesses tremendous potential for sustainable and long-term growth. Recent efforts have focused on upgrading the present academic system by reducing gaps between vocational education and industry and between secondary and tertiary education. Several organisations are working together to identify skills shortages and create vocational training programmes, and new partnerships aimed at strengthening research between academia and industry are being forged across and beyond the sector. Encouragingly, Abu Dhabi has also seen a significant increase in student enrolment numbers in recent years. The figure rose by 22% between the 2005/06 and 2010/11 academic years. At the same time, the sector has seen a significant rise in the number of private universities offering higher degrees. This chapter includes interviews with Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; and Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC).

The city of Al Ain is sometimes known as “the Garden City”, and with good reason. While the UAE is largely composed of desert, Al Ain sits in the centre of a large oasis that it shares with the neighbouring Omani town of Buraimi and which has sustained human settlement for thousands of years. Now, diverse economic activity is offering new opportunities aerospace supplies production, food processing and tourism – all areas which the government hopes to develop in Al Ain. Furthermore, retail space, office space and hotel rooms are all set to increase under bold plans for the city’s expansion. Indeed, Al Ain had a population of only 338,000 in 2005, but this is expected to rise to 627,000 by 2020 as a result of growth, reaching 1m by 2030, as new jobs attract residents.

As government plans come to fruition, Al Gharbia – the western region of Abu Dhabi – will be a model of responsible and sustainable development for desert and arid coastal environments. Indeed, under Plan Al Gharbia 2030, the region’s economy is forecast to double in size, and the population set is to increase from 185,000 in 2010 to 450,000 by the end of the plan. Already a hive of activity in the energy and industrial sectors, other areas of the economy – notably tourism, logistics and agriculture – are proactively being positioned for healthy growth. More specifically, the region is home to extensive hydrocarbons reserves, 7% of global oil reserves and 3% of natural gas deposits. At the same time, energy developments in the region are focusing on solar and nuclear power plant plans, major areas in which Al Gharbia will change the energy landscape of Abu Dhabi. This chapter includes an interview with Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region.

After a period of rapid growth in 2008 and early 2009, the construction sector has settled into a more moderate pattern in recent years. However, 2012 began on a positive note; in January 2012 the Executive Council announced that it had approved a range of projects, including some that had previously been put on hold, covering housing, health care and education, in addition to major transport infrastructure development. In real estate, a number of commercial and residential projects have come onto the market, bringing prices down to a level more comparable with those in neighbouring Dubai. Abu Dhabi’s retail and industrial segments are also expanding; mall space is expected markedly by 2015, while industrial real estate has much potential for growth thanks to the government’s focus on establishing the emirates as a centre for industrial activities and transport. This chapter includes an interview with Majid Al Mansoori, Chairman, Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA).

As it continues to develop and diversify its economy, transport is playing a central role in the long-term development of Abu Dhabi. Transport and storage contributed approximately Dh20.62bn ($5.6bn) to the emirate’s economy in 2011, or 2.6% of GDP. Aviation in particular is expanding rapidly; the UAE is set to invest $19bn on new aviation infrastructure as it positions itself as a regional business centre and attracts growing numbers of tourists. Upgraded maritime links will also boost Abu Dhabi’s commercial image and improve its global competitiveness. Lastly, key improvements to public transport look set to boost growth, while a comprehensive transport framework envisions the construction of a 17-km metro line by 2020. Not only does the growing population mean investment is required to keep Abu Dhabi City moving, but transport in the broader sense occupies a significant position in both the emirate’s economic diversification strategy. This chapter includes interviews with Abdulla Rashed Al Otaiba, Chairman, Department of Transport (DoT); and Ali Majed Al Mansoori, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC).