The concept masterplan for Al Maryah Island (formerly Sowwah Island) in Abu Dhabi has been approved.

The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) has approved the plan, which covers over 3.5 million sq m of mixed-use development across commercial, residential, retail, hospitality and community uses, and will become the centre of Abu Dhabi’s new central business district (CBD).

Al Maryah Island – recently renamed by the Abu Dhabi Municipality in recognition of its economic and historical importance and geographic location – occupies a unique location at a midpoint between Mina Zayed, the upcoming developments at Al Reem Island and the new cultural district of Saadiyat Island.

The Abu Dhabi-based team of global architecture, urbanism and design practice Broadway Malyan has led the scheme since 2009, providing a full range of masterplanning, public realm, architecture and landscape design services, as well as sustainability consultancy, as lead consultant and part project manager to client the Mubadala Real Estate and Infrastructure (MREI), a business unit of Mubadala Development Company.

Director James Rayner said: "The green light for the concept masterplan is a major milestone in the creation of this huge new mixed-use development, with the success testament to close partnering with the client and world-class skills, expertise and experience of our global masterplanning experts, as well as their understanding of critical factors such as local climate and culture."

The practice will now target new appointments to support the delivery of the next stages of the scheme, and deliver detailed masterplans for phases one to four of the scheme, also for MREI, with the plans set to be submitted for planning approval in the near future.

The planning approval follows the go-ahead given recently for the practice’s concept masterplan for a new 680-hectare waterfront community of up to 55,000 inhabitants on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, for client Aldar, again approved by the UPC.