Al Ain streets to get new names

The project, to be undertaken by Al Ain Municipality, will replace the current numbering system with national and patriotic names.

Al Ain Municipality has begun forming committees for its new Dh100 million project to change street signs.

The project includes giving streets national and patriotic names to replace the currently applied numbering system.

The first phase, which affects all government authorities, is scheduled to begin mid-2014. The municipality will seek the help of knowledgeable citizens in the area to decide on the new names.

Abdullah Hamdan Sultan Al Ameri, the executive director of the urban planning sector in Al Ain Municipality, said the new signage system would assign a different colour for each city in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

He noted that the committees are currently reviewing international best practices for signage systems. The new system is intended to make it easier to locate addresses since the present street numbering systems can cause confusion.

Under the new address and signage system, different addresses would be given to residences and offices and every street would be assigned a name. Street signs would be standardised throughout Al Ain city.

Mr Al Ameri confirmed that the project would also include developing an electronic navigation system and smartphone apps.