Demographics

At 59,760 square kilometres, Al Gharbia accounts for 83% of Abu Dhabi Emirate’s landmass. The total population of the region is just over 120,000, of which approximately 16,500 are nationals, 10% of the Emirate’s resident population.

Al Gharbia was paid particular attention by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who dedicated his efforts and time to develop the region and improve the quality of life for its inhabitants. His efforts provided stability to the region. Al Gharbia generates 40% of the Emirate’s GDP – over AED 115 billion annually from its industries.

Al Gharbia is characterized by a large geographic spread and low population density. There are seven major cities in the region, each providing a range of services and opportunities to the populace. These cities are Madinat Zayed, Mirfa, Ghayathi, Liwa, Ruwais, Sila’a, and Delma. Population density is spread across these seven cities, with the highest concentrations in Madinat Zayed and Ruwais.

Planning Process

In September 2008, a small team conducted a detailed study of the region and each municipality from land, sea, and air. This helped form the planning context in conjunction with interviews of key stakeholders.

Initial conceptual design and policy elements were developed at a unique ‘charrette’ session - a five-day urban planning workshop which began on the 16th November, 2008. The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC), in partnership with the Western Region Development Council (WRDC) and Western Region Municipality (WRM), led the charrette process which involved leadership and representatives from the Abu Dhabi Government and a team of multi-disciplinary experts in urban design, planning, architecture, environment, infrastructure, and transportation.

Draft plans will be shared with communities in the Western Region as part of the planning process. In order to promote joint ownership of solutions and ensure understanding between residents and developers and local authorities. It functions as an innovative ground that reflects a creative contribution of the people and out of which will be designed the appropriate frameworks to guide the exponential growth of Abu Dhabi’s 60,000 square kilometre Western Region - known as Al Gharbia – UAE’s richest oil and gas reserve.

A set of overarching principles were developed by the charrette participants which will guide the future development of the Al Gharbia region. These include:

• Managed Responsible Growth: model sustainable development which accommodates appropriate growth and offers a high quality of life
• Environmental Responsibility: ecosystems will be protected and enhanced including the desert, oases, and coastal and marine habitats
• Social Health: access to quality social services for health care, education, community & cultural facilities
• Cultural Identity: preserve and ensure traditional Arabic, Bedouin, and Islamic rural culture, character, lifestyle and heritage.
• Growing Population: reduce out-migration of Emiratis by encouraging people to return/remain through the provision of quality services, housing, and job/business opportunities.
• Economic Development: support the Oil & Gas industry and diversify the economic activity, while returning wealth to the region by the provision of economic opportunities, social amenities and housing.

Project Process

To develop a Regional Structure Framework Plan which will provide overall guidance and specific suggestions for the future planning of:

• The region of Al Gharbia as a whole
• The coastal areas of the region
• Selected settlements within the region

Madinat Zayed

Madinat Zayed is the regional capital of Al Gharbia with a population of approximately 29,000 people. It is approximately 150 kilometres southwest of Abu Dhabi City and midway between Liwa and the Arabian Gulf’s shores. Madinat Zayed was formerly known as Bida Zayed, a place where Bedouin tribes would settle during their migration through the desert.


Madinat Zayed counts agriculture and farming as a main source of income. In addition to its close proximity to many oil and gas fields, the city has developed a booming economy of industrial services, manufacturing and residential construction.

Proposed projects

• Residential development
• Solar Power facility
• Government and Civil Defence projects

Liwa

Liwa with a population of approximately 20,000 people is located 230 kilometres from Abu Dhabi City, on the edge of the Rub al Khali desert. The city is a beautiful series of oasis valleys with date palm plantations and camel farms separated by large richly coloured sand dunes and dune-top communities of Emirati housing.


To this day, the area is considered by many to be the spiritual heart of the region.

An important branch of the local economy is date farming with widespread use of drip irrigation and green houses. The importance of tourism is on the rise and Liwa has several hotels and festivals to service this growing industry.

Proposed projects

• Tourism-related projects
• Community facilities and amenities

Delma

Delma with a population of approximately 4,800 people is a 45 square kilometre island 42 kilometres off the coast of the Emirate and 116 kilometres from Doha. The island developed as a central point for pearl diving in the Gulf.

Today, fishing and agriculture are the main source of income for many of its residents.

Delma is expected to have an AED 1.9 billion economy in 2020 with transport and logistics industries supporting the “Desert Islands”.

Proposed projects

• Water Taxis
• Community facilities and amenities
• TAMM building
• Delma Hospital
• Residential housing
• Government services
• Tourism development

Ghayathi

Ghayathi is a small township with a population of approximately 14,000 people about 320 kilometres from Abu Dhabi City. It was a traditional bedouin settlement before it became a township.

The town is known for its production of a variety of vegetables and fruits including citrus, tomatoes, cabbage and cucumbers.

Growth will be in oil and gas services, manufacturing and agriculture, with the majority of workers being employed in the agricultural sector.

Proposed projects

• Housing
• Community facilities and amenities
• Government services

Mirfa

Mirfa is a small township with a population of approximately 15,000 people located 160 kilometres west of Abu Dhabi city. The town is a residential and tourist centre that was established in the 1970s under instruction from His Highness Sheikh Zayed.

Mirfa boasts a large power plant and a desalination plant that can produce up to 38 million gallons (143 million litres) of water per day. There are several projects being carried out in the areas of construction, farming and fishing.

Proposed projects

• Sports centres, maritime centre, abattoir and sheep farmyards, mosques, grand mosque and corniche facilities, education facilities for boys and girls, police department, central souK
• ADNOC nitrogen plant
• Mirfa hotel expansion
• Food distribution centre

Sila’a

Sila’a is a small township with a population of approximately 7,900 people near the international border and is 350 kilometres from Abu Dhabi City. It is the most distant settlement from Abu Dhabi and is closer to the Qatari Capital, Doha.


The township has a port and small airstrip and is strategically located on the main gateway road into the UAE from Saudi Arabia.

The largest economic generators will be tourism and manufacturing with a large workforce mainly in the tourism sector.

Proposed projects

• Recreational facilities, municipal services and bus station, schools for boys and girls, fire station
  Educational facilities
• Health facilities
• Housing
• Tourism

Ruwais

Ruwais with a population of approximately 16,000 people was developed in the 1970s by ADNOC, transforming a remote desert site into a self-contained industrial town fulfilling the downstream requirements of Abu Dhabi’s booming oil and gas industry.

Major facilities at Ruwais industrial complex include an oil refinery plant, natural gas liquids fractionation plant, a fertiliser plant, a marine terminal and sulfur handling terminal.

The town has the most advanced facilities in the region for housing, retail, health, community services, amenities and recreation.

The workforce is expected to have a high fluctuation as major expansion projects conclude between 2015 to 2020.

Proposed projects

• Multiple oil and gas projects and expansions
• Airport expansion
• Multiple industrial projects

Plan Goals

• Develop an overall regional vision for Al Gharbia and its settlements
• Define the roles of selected settlements and areas within the region
• Determine regional and settlement level land use, including protected areas, developed areas, and industrial and military zones
• Recommend patterns of transportation, infrastructure, government services, health care, ecological protection, cultural development, and other vital concerns
• Develop principles, policies, and programs that will complement these plans
• Create a phasing strategy for the Plan, its vision, and its goals

Next Steps

Following direction from the outcomes of each workshop, conceptual plans for the region and each settlement will be drafted and reviewed by stakeholders before the final Plan is completed. The findings and conclusions of the November 2008 charrette, follow up workshops with local government authorities and discussions with Al Gharbia residents and stakeholders will form the basis of Plan Al Gharbia 2030.

Settlements anticipating significant growth will be the first to undertake detailed physical framework plans. Each detailed plan will include phasing so that progress can be undertaken to address infrastructure, housing and other needs while planning is ongoing. Development guidelines drafted in these plans will ensure proper implementation and allow for review and assessment in each community.