Abu Dhabi has stepped into a decisive new phase of its long-term urban development agenda, announcing a strengthened push behind its Dh42 billion Livability Strategy a sweeping programme aimed at overhauling municipal services, transport networks, and the overall quality of urban life in the emirate.
Led by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), the transformation is reshaping how the city plans, builds, and manages communities. The initiative reflects Abu Dhabi’s broader commitment to creating a globally competitive business environment supported by modern infrastructure, smart services, and efficient governance.
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Building an Integrated, Investment-Ready Urban Ecosystem
A major pillar of the strategy is the consolidation and modernisation of real estate services. The establishment of the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) has unified all municipal property functions under one umbrella, cutting the number of processes from over 250 to fewer than 100.
This streamlining is already generating measurable economic impact.
- Real estate transactions in 2024 grew 24% year-on-year, reaching Dh96.2 billion.
- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) surged to Dh7.86 billion, underscoring international appetite for Abu Dhabi’s maturing property market.
- Investor confidence remains strong in 2025, with the first quarter recording 384 FDI transactions valued at Dh1.582 billion.
By simplifying regulatory systems and accelerating service delivery, Abu Dhabi is strengthening its reputation as a reliable, efficient, and highly transparent market for global investors.
Infrastructure Reinvented Through Technology
The Dh42 billion strategy is equally focused on raising the emirate’s infrastructure standards through an integrated value-chain model covering planning, design, construction, and maintenance. DMT has embedded advanced technologies across this ecosystem to improve oversight, reduce project delays, and enhance asset performance.
Key advancements include:
- AI-enabled smart inspection vehicles capable of detecting waste, damage, and maintenance needs in real time.
- The LIVAI platform, unveiled during GITEX 2025, which integrates city safety systems, mobility monitoring, and robotics for automated inspections.
- The City Eye system, offering real-time situational awareness across urban zones.
Collectively, these technologies position Abu Dhabi as a benchmark for smart-city governance, ensuring that infrastructure expansion is matched with operational intelligence and long-term resilience.
Mobility Upgrades for a Faster, Safer, and Smarter City
Transport is another critical front where rapid transformation is underway. Abu Dhabi continues to refine and expand its public mobility systems, focusing on route optimisation, improved fleet performance, and the introduction of advanced mobility technologies designed to reduce congestion and elevate commuter experience.
A key regulatory milestone is the permanent heavy-vehicle ban now in effect on the E10 and E11 highways during peak hours. Freight trucks, fuel tankers, and construction equipment are prohibited from entering key urban corridors:
- 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM, and
- 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Monday to Thursday
(With Friday adjustments for midday prayers)
Heavy vehicles are now rerouted via Al Fayah–Seih Shuaib Road and Al Haffar (Al Adla) Road, easing pressure on urban bridges including Al Maqta and Mussafah. Enforcement is supported through the Asateel digital tracking platform, requiring fleet registration and real-time movement monitoring. Violations may result in fines or vehicle impoundment.
The regulation reflects Abu Dhabi’s commitment to improving safety, smoothing traffic flow, and enhancing the daily mobility experience for residents and businesses.
A High-Performance City Built for the Future
The Dh42 billion transformation is more than a collection of projects it is a strategic restructuring of how Abu Dhabi operates as a city and an economy. By combining regulatory reform, digitalisation, infrastructure investment, and mobility optimisation, the emirate is cultivating an environment where businesses can scale with confidence and communities can thrive.
Abu Dhabi is building a future-ready, globally competitive urban ecosystem grounded in efficiency, innovation, and sustainable growth.
As Phase One of the Livability Strategy concludes, the emirate is positioned for an accelerated phase of expansion one where smart governance and bold infrastructure investments work in tandem to support the next era of economic opportunity.
