Click for new Abu Dhabi rules for communities

Master planners, developers and government agencies in Abu Dhabi will have to provide residents of existing and new communities with services and facilities such as schools, sports centres, community centres, hospitals and petrol stations.

The new Abu Dhabi Community Facility Planning Standards (CFPS) set out the specific social, educational,
cultural, recreational and healthcare facilities that must be provided in new and existing communities.
The facilities, however, depend on the size, demographics and needs of a community.

The document provides policies and guidance as to the required number, type and location of community facilities in project proposals.

The document states that a community of between 6,000 and 10,000 residents must have access to a 'Neighbourhood Centre', comprising a community centre, a police point, an early-learning centre and a small medical clinic.

A 'District Centre' comprising a post office, a large health clinic, a library, a sports centre, municipal offices and a community support centre must be provided for developments with 30,000 to 40,000 residents.

A 'Sub-Regional Centre' must be provided for every 80,000 residents and this would contain a community support centre, a cultural centre and a multi-purpose hall, in addition to all the amenities found in a Neighbourhood Centre and a District Centre.

Amer Al Hammadi, Executive Director, Planning and Infrastructure Sector, UPC, said: “The launch of our Abu Dhabi Community Facility Planning Standards is another important milestone for the UPC and for the future development of the emirate in line with Vision 2030.

“The government recognises that successful, healthy and sustainable communities are well served by a full range of community facilities that are appropriate to residents’ needs and which are accessible to all. The standards set out how this will be achieved.”

CFPS will ensure that community facilities are considered right from the start of the planning process so that everyone in Abu Dhabi has equal access to community facilities”

Any new development of at least 2,000 permanent residents will be expected to abide by the CFPS. The standards would be applied on a case-by-case basis to existing communities as and when they are undergoing revitalisation work, said Al Hammadi.

Under the guidelines, the provision of facilities such as schools, police and petrol stations will be calculated according to the demographic breakdown of the particular development proposal.

For example, schools will be based on the number of children in the area, while civil defence stations will be determined by analysis of need and existing response times.

The CFPS requires that community facilities are delivered in line with the development of a neighbourhood – so schools and clinics, for example, will open up as a community is being developed rather than waiting until it is fully occupied.

The new standards were drawn up following a thorough consultation process. The UPC surveyed 11,000 households across the emirate to ask them about their use of community services and what specific facilities they would like to see in their areas.

The UPC also collaborated with 12 government agencies, including the Department of Municipal Affairs, Abu Dhabi Education Council, Health Authority - Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, to produce the CFPS.