THE Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) has unveiled waterfront design guidelines for the Al Bateen area in Abu Dhabi, in a continuing effort to safeguard the natural resources and the cultural heritage of the city.

The key objective of the guidelines is to provide all property owners and developers along the waterfront with a framework so that they can contribute to the achievement of Plan Capital 2030 goals with regard to providing public access to the water’s edge. This will be achieved through dedication of land for the design of community access and amenities along the entire waterfront.
“The new Bateen Waterfront guidelines, which embody the key elements of Plan Capital 2030, will preserve public connectivity from the waterfront to the primary public access routes of the city and will also provide continuous open public access at the water’s edge for people of all ages and abilities,” said Falah Al Ahbabi, general manager, UPC.
As per the new guidelines, the waterfront is to be connected physically and visually to the circulation routes of the city. Primary pedestrian connections perpendicular to the waterfront and linking Bainunah Boulevard and the surrounding neighbourhoods will be identified in the Bateen Waterfront Framework Plan and preserved for public use.
These identified routes will provide minimum corridor widths free of built vertical and horizontal constructions to maintain unobstructed and sweeping views to open water. These routes will integrate landscaping, pedestrian scaled lighting, public art and street furniture, way-finding tools and multi-modal transportation uses.
One of the key components of the Bateen Waterfront guidelines is the development of the waterfront promenade, which will provide the Bateen area with a unique identity and focus.
The waterfront will eventually become a destination which will not only be well connected with future public transit options, but will also be a place where all members of the community can walk or bike, enjoy the scenic beauty and relate to the cultural importance of the Arabian Gulf to the history of Abu Dhabi. Additionally, the community will have the opportunity to participate in diverse retail, cultural as well as non-commercial activities while capitalising on the tourism market.
“The conservation initiative for the Bateen Waterfront adheres to the principles of Estidama, the sustainability initiative managed by UPC. All elements composing the promenade shall be constructed according to the 2006 International Building Code and the Estidama Green Building guidelines,” added Al Ahbabi.
Besides introducing the Bateen Waterfront guidelines, the UPC has in the recent past also unveiled the Coastal Development guidelines which provide direction for development in the major coastal basins extending from Al Dhabiya Island to the boundary with the emirate of Dubai.