Abu Dhabi’s Western Region Municipality (WRM) has prepared a masterplan for the year 2030 that will see its population increase by two and a half times and will see the development of a new regional capital at Liwa.

The current population of the Western Region is about 120,000. This is expected to increase to about 315,000 by 2030.

Liwa will replace Madinat Zayed as the capital of the Western Region by 2030 and will house the new headquarters for WRM and Western Region Development Council. The initial budget for the development plan was AED90bn ($24.5bn) however this is also under review.

The Urban Planning Council (UPC) has developed a masterplan for the main cities of Delma, Sila’a, Madinat Zayed, Liwa, Ghayathi, Mirfa and Ruwais. These urban areas are currently very far apart and there is a lack of public transport and highways to connect them. The masterplan for 2030 involves developing its infrastructure, healthcare facilities, housing, education and transportation facilities.

The plans for Liwa, Ruwais and Mirfa have been completed. Phase one involves upgrading and developing the infrastructure in each city and the WRM is aiming to start the tender process for this in 2011, says Ateeq al-Mazrouee, executive director of WRM during MEED’s Roads, Bridges and Tunnels 2010 conference. The WRM is currently in talks with a consultant that will oversee the tender process.  

The existing road network in the Western Region is 1,093 kilometres and much of this will need upgrading to accommodate the expected population growth.             

The region’s ports will also need to be developed, especially those at Delma, Sila’a and Mirfa. Al-Mazrouee says that Abu Dhabi Ports Company has plans to start developing a port in Delma. The ports will be instrumental for the region’s trade. The $11bn UAE federal railway will transport granulated sulphur to Ruwais port when it is finished in 2013.

Over the next 20 years, hospitals will be built in all of the main cities with the biggest one to be developed in Ruwais, which has been earmarked to become a city. The number of hotel rooms in the region will stand at 10,000 and there will also be 7,500 second homes.

In terms of education, a university will be built in Liwa and higher education facilities will be developed in the other cities. Abu Dhabi has a $68bn transport masterplan and Al-Ain has a 2020 masterplan (MEED 17:6:10).

The masterplans for the cities of Delma, Sila’a, Madinat Zayed and Ghayathi are currently under proposal with the UPC.