Abu Dhabi Plan seeks to keep emirate on track for oil-free future

The Abu Dhabi Plan is designed to keep the emirate on track with objectives set out in 2007's Policy Agenda, and details will be exhibited to the public starting on Wednesday.

Visitors at the Heritage Village Abu Dhabi. Tourism experienced extremely healthy growth last year. Ravindranath K / The National

ABU DHABI // The road map towards Abu Dhabi’s vision of a post-oil future is receiving some timely fine-tuning.

The Abu Dhabi Plan, details of which will be on public exhibition from Wednesday, has 25 objectives and 83 programmes that focus in areas such as the environment, health, education and economic development.

The plan aims to keep Abu Dhabi on track with long-term objectives set out in the Policy Agenda in 2007, which sought “to continue to create a confident, secure society and to build a sustainable, open and globally competitive economy”.

That initiative also gave rise to Economic Vision 2030, which placed the emirate on track towards economic diversification and transitioning into a knowledge-based economy.

“It brought clarity to the overall goals of Abu Dhabi and aligned organisations and business leaders to consolidate their efforts,” said Dr Yehya Al Marzouqi, executive director with Tawazun, an Abu Dhabi investment firm that focuses on the long-term development of the emirate’s manufacturing and technological capabilities.

But what was lacking were specific measures, he said.

“Tremendous thought, insight and stakeholders’ feedback were incorporated in the articulation of Vision 2030,” said Dr Al Marzouqi, who had worked in the energy, banking and manufacturing sectors.

“However, the document stopped short of crystallising ownership of those initiatives with well-defined key performance indicators for execution.

“Who does what, by when, is essential in realising any vision.”

The Abu Dhabi Plan strives to fill the gaps and prepare the emirate for the day when the final barrel of oil is shipped.

The plan includes programmes to develop the skills of jobseekers, attract foreign investment, promote entrepreneurship and elevate Abu Dhabi as a tourism destination.

Dr Al Marzouqi said the post-oil future would rely on preparing the workforce for the knowledge-based economy.

“As we diversify the economy, the challenge will be to align the output of academia to the needs of society and industries,” he said.

“Enticing the future generation to pursue their education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is a challenge which must be dealt with at an early age.”

Dr Al Marzouqi said investing in research and development and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises were key ingredients for success” in creating more jobs.

Since 2006, when the President, Sheikh Khalifa, initiated planning for a new vision for Abu Dhabi, the emirate has enjoyed the growth of business entities such as Abu Dhabi Ship Building and Senaat General Holding, which have contributed towards the emirate’s economic diversification.

The tourism sector has also been experiencing strong growth. For instance, passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi International Airport increased 17.2 per cent last year, as well as the construction of future landmarks such as the soon-to-be-completed Louvre Abu Dhabi museum on Saadiyat Island.

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Read more:

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› Residents have high hopes for development after launch of Abu Dhabi Plan

› Abu Dhabi Plan: A timeline

› National Editorial: Plan still carries Sheikh Zayed's vision

› Abu Dhabi's achievements in 2015 - graphic