Construction of the first phase of Reem Island’s regional roads network and utilities is on target for completion next year, a senior official of Bunya, the resident regulatory authority and regional infrastructure developer for Reem Island, tells Gulf Construction.

The first phase involves the provision of roads, power and water supply and the infrastructure for the other utilities.
Commenting on the high standards being followed by Bunya, CEO Tariq Hatim Sultan, says, “All aspects of the infrastructure have been designed and specified at the highest global standards. We are confident we have factored and accounted for everything within the infrastructure, including stormwater drains, sewage treatment, gas networks, telecommunications, power and water networks.”
According to him, 100 per cent of the regional infrastructure design for Phase One has been finalised and 80 per cent of the advanced enabling earthworks for road embankments have now been completed. When finished, the 25 km of main arterial road networks will criss-cross the 870-hectare natural island, which will be home to approximately 200,000 residents.
Bunya is owned by the three master developers of Reem Island – Tamouh Investments, Sorouh Real Estate (which is developing Shams Abu Dhabi) and Reem Investments – and is the
municipal and resident regulatory authority and developer of regional infrastructure, utilities and sewage treatment on the island.
The landmark waterfront residential, commercial and business project is currently being built on a natural island, located just off the northeastern coast of Abu Dhabi city.  It is expected to become the premier residential and commercial address in the city and to introduce a new way of living in Abu Dhabi. More than Dh7 billion ($1.9 billion) is being invested in the regional infrastructure projects alone on Reem Island, which is centrally located between the new Capital City and Suwa Island, the new home for the stock exchange and the future financial hub of the emirate and Saadiyat Island.
The island will have all the necessary infrastructure and services to become a self-contained city. It is among Abu Dhabi's largest developments and will greatly expand the urban area of the capital and create more beachfront, residential and commercial space.
”The permanent road system is going to be unique in many ways,” Sultan says. 'Some 6 million cu m of dredged infill is being used to create a series of raised roads, more than 5 m above sea level. This will enable utilities such as power, water, telecommunications, gas, district cooling and sewerage lines to be quickly and easily installed and ready for all three master developers and their third-party developers. It will also benefit the subsequent developers and sub-developers, as at the construction stage, they won’t have dig and excavate further down, and can have their car-parks and podiums nearer to ground level.”
Sultan adds that the regional road network is aesthetically attractive as well as highly functional. “A full traffic assessment using the latest technology in traffic simulation software, along with a comprehensive environmental study has been completed,” he states. “This will result in modern traffic management systems to ensure a smooth traffic flow. It will also be combined with an eco-friendly layout to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists along spectacular tree-lined boulevards.”
Ahead of the road networks, Bunya has already completed delivery of the temporary power and water supply, which is critical to construction activities. Speaking on the water requirements for Reem Island, he says that a desalination plant will not be required in the immediate future, although it is on the cards for the future.
US engineering company Parsons International is in charge of design and project management for Phase One of the infrastructure development, while Orascom Construction Industries is the contractor for Phase One of the road development. National Marine Dredging Company is responsible for the dredging activities. A tender is out for the state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant, which will generate no waste and which will be built to handle the island’s sewage requirements. The reclaimed water will be used for district cooling and irrigation. The selection process is now in its final stages.
The next critical stage, according to Sultan, is the construction of the 400 kV grid station and associated substations, which being undertaken by Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (Adwea)/Transco on the Island, for which a Dh520 million ($141.69 million) contract was awarded to ABB early last year. Design work has been completed and physical work has begun with completion scheduled in mid-2009.
Speaking on the process and challenges involved in the construction of the regional infrastructure for Reem Island, Sultan says: “On a major regional infrastructure such as the one for the Reem Island, the first challenge is to prepare your masterplan in such a way that it meets the requirements of all parties involved. This is a mammoth task but will help get the plans approved easily afterwards. We have worked closely with the Urban Planning Council to understand their mandated specifications and regulations, and then worked from the early planning stage to incorporate them in our designs. The specifications of the Urban Planning Council are largely based on the framework of the 2030 masterplan created for Abu Dhabi.
“Once this is accomplished, it set the stage for the next step, which was the detailed design of the individual elements. The final task was then to find a reputable contractor, who will work with us as a partner, not just a supplier or service provider.”
Sultan sees the role of the Urban Planning Council as a supportive body working in partnership with Bunya and the developers rather than a mere regulatory authority.
“Based on the planned population for the project, which is 200,000 and taking into account the gross floor areas for the retail, residential and commercial components of the development, the Urban Planning Council then stipulates the infrastructure requirements. This will comprise the road requirements, including the projected traffic density and movement, as well as the community amenities and common utilities that need to be constructed by the developers. Each development’s infrastructure will include car-parks, public parks, schools, hospitals, nurseries, mosques, beaches and canals, which are all regulated and specified by the Urban Planning Council.”