Abu Dhabi Unveils USD 54 Billion Smart City Vision with 600+ Projects

Abu Dhabi, UAE - According to H.E. Maysarah Salem Eid, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Projects and Infrastructure, the projects encompass housing, public amenities, and next-generation smart city developments, all aimed at enhancing liveability, reducing construction timelines, and strengthening community wellbeing.

“We are currently managing more than 600 projects, and in total, we have invested more than AED 200 billion,” said Eid. “Our goal is to deliver homes and infrastructure that improve the quality of life and stability for families across the emirate.”

A new wave of initiatives was set to be officially announced in October, marking a key milestone in Abu Dhabi’s modern construction plan.

While details remain under wraps, the upcoming projects are expected to expand the emirate’s housing, urban, and social infrastructure portfolio, aligning with its long-term vision for sustainable urban development.

At the center of this transformation lies a growing shift toward off-site modular construction, particularly for residential villas. In partnership with leading developers such as Aldar and Roshn, the Abu Dhabi Centre for Projects and Infrastructure has successfully cut construction timelines by more than 40%.

“If a project takes a year, the future project will take four months,” said Eid. “We now build in closed environments and transport units to the site, improving quality, reducing pollution, and delivering faster to citizens.”

This innovative approach ensures faster handovers, higher quality standards, and greater environmental efficiency—factors that directly contribute to family stability and social wellbeing.

Building Communities: Parks, Schools, and Public Services

Of the 619 ongoing projects, around 65% focus on housing and home preservation, while 18% are dedicated to school construction. The remaining initiatives span police stations, civil defence centres, museums, and tourism infrastructure, supporting Abu Dhabi’s wider goal of holistic urban development.

In 2024 alone, more than 73 public gardens were completed across the emirate, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s commitment to integrating green, recreational, and community spaces within every neighbourhood. The plan includes both large-scale parks and smaller “pocket gardens,” ensuring every district benefits from accessible outdoor areas.

“The direction of the Abu Dhabi City Council is to improve the quality of life in all areas,” Eid noted. “The goal is to enhance efficiency and liveability across the city to an even higher level.”

In Al Ain, the upcoming projects will enhance modern housing and public amenities, while in Al Dhafra, upgrades to roads and transport networks aim to reduce travel times and improve regional connectivity.

A Smart and Sustainable Future

Abu Dhabi’s smart city strategy is designed to merge international best practices with local innovation, positioning the emirate as a regional leader in urban intelligence and sustainability.

The next generation of developments will integrate intelligent traffic systems, digital governance frameworks, and sustainable construction technologies, enabling greener, faster, and more adaptive growth.

Khalifa City serves as a model for this vision, a fully developed, liveable urban area featuring schools, cycling tracks, parks, walkways, and healthcare facilities, setting the standard for the integrated, people-centric cities Abu Dhabi plans to replicate across the emirate.