Masdar, the Abu Dhabi government-owned renewable energy and sustainable development company, has announced the expansion of its flagship Masdar City with two new phases.

The company has received the approval from Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) for the detailed master plans for phases two and five of Masdar city, Anthony Mallows, the executive director of the company told reporters at a briefing on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Cityscape property show.

Phase two includes a dedicated research & development cluster served by a residential community including 2,000 apartments, a school, restaurants, and other recreational facilities. The phase five will primarily include villas and townhouses, Mallows said without giving the cost of the new developments.

Around 35 per cent of the planned built-up area for Masdar City will be completed over the next five years, up from 5 current 5 percent. Nearly 30 per cent of that has been committed to developments including private homes, schools, hotels and more office space, he said.

Masdar City, a decade old project which is wholly-owned by Mubadala Development Company, was primarily funded by Abu Dhabi government. It is now allowing private developers to build projects on leased land within the mega development, according to Mallows.

So far nine private developers have finished construction of their projects while another 10-20 are in the process, he added.