The new body, to be also known as Urban Planning Council (UPC) for short, will be chaired by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who is also Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
The UPC membership is designed to ensure that all government policy portfolios relevant to the comprehensive urban plan are represented.
Full legal status
As per law No. 23 for 2007, the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council shall be an independent corporate body enjoying financial and administrative independence and full legal status to operate.
UPC will be headquartered in Abu Dhabi city with branches and affiliate offices in Abu Dhabi and other emirates.
The membership of the UPC is as follows: Shaikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive Council (Chairman), Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority (Deputy Chairman); Mohamed Al Bowardi, Secretary General of the Executive Council; Dr Jou’an Salem Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Agriculture; Abdullah Rashid Al Otaiba, Chairman of the Department of Transport; Shaikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority; Nasser Al Sowaidi, Chairman of the Department of Planning and Economy; Majid Al Mansoori, Secretary General of the Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi.
The UPC will be tasked with laying down comprehensive plans, policies, regulations, licenses, procedures and controls for urban development and planning of remote areas.
It will also be tasked with setting up procedures for approval of public and private urban development projects.
Other duties of the new council include the preparation and amendment of regulations, controls, guidelines and procedures for urban development projects including utilities, construction works and lands in line with the general plan and policies.
Verification and revocation of construction licenses and permissions issued by municipal departments of the emirate also fall within the jurisdiction of the newly set-up council which will be the sole body to issue construction licensed for projects that are deemed strategic or have impacts on the emirate’s urban development policies and plans.
The new law authorises the UPC to to delegate powers to other governmental departments as well as monitor performance of the same.
