New licence plates to champion Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed approved a proposal to implement Abu Dhabi’s promotional identity.

Abu Dhabi plates. Courtesy Office of Government Communication and Executive Council

Motorists in the capital can look forward to licence plates with an added touch, after Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces approved a proposal to implement Abu Dhabi’s promotional identity.

The decision was taken to help heighten Abu Dhabi’s profile on the nation’s roads, and the council heard that the new plates will highlight Abu Dhabi’s unique position and excellence as a leading global leisure and business destination.

Abu Dhabi’s promotional identity was established in 2007 with the aim of spreading the messages of culture and tourism through a collaboration between government departments.

Community centre projects to be developed across the emirate were also assessed by the Crown Prince.

Based on the Musataha contracts system – the legal right to build on and retain the building on another person’s land for a fixed term of years – these projects will represent the collaborative efforts of the private and public sectors.

It also allows for investors to enter into partnerships with the government sector, according to a structure that guarantees the rights of all contracting parties.

The centres seek to improve the quality of services provided to residents and provide vital facilities required by residents in these areas, which would have a positive impact on living standards in the emirate by providing community service and government service facilities in addition to retail premises.

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More from the Executive Council meeting:

■ Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed approves anti-corruption taskforce

■ Abu Dhabi Executive Council approves Dh2.4bn home loans for citizens

■ Abu Dhabi Crown Prince reviews Al Maqtaa Canal Walk project - in pictures

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In March 2013, private investors were invited to build and operate 40 community centres in Abu Dhabi at a total cost of nearly Dh3 billion.

Work was expected to begin the same year on 20 of the neighbourhood centres, which will contain convenience stores, leisure facilities and government services, and two larger district centres with supermarkets and other facilities.

The remaining eight neighbourhood centres and 10 district centres should be completed by next year.

Each of the centres will cost between Dh30m and Dh40m to build.

The district centres will cost between Dh120m and Dh150m each to complete.

Sheikh Mohammed also reviewed Al Maqtaa Canal Walk project, launched by the Department of Municipal Affairs, and represented lately by Abu Dhabi Municipality through its participation in the Abu Dhabi Cityscape 2015 exhibition.

The project, which is estimated at a cost of Dh500m, will, once complete, become one of the capital’s most vital spaces, acting as an entertainment, community and tourism destination.

The planned space covers 130,000 square metres and the project is due to be completed at the end of 2017.

It will include a business centre, service and health facilities, a hall for entertainment and cultural events, and a play area that fits in architecturally with the canal’s water surfaces.