Green public spaces across Abu Dhabi were upgraded recently to offer residents and tourists healthier outdoor living and improve the appearance of the city.
More than 100 areas, including leisure facilities, running and cycling tracks and play areas, were given a facelift.
The work was part of the Department of Municipalities and Transport's For Abu Dhabi initiative that began in 2019.
"The upgraded areas include more leisure facilities, innovative misting systems, 'green' (planted) walls, lightweight concrete and native plants and trees to help cool the areas," the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on its Twitter account on Saturday.
The upgrades were a part of the Dh8 billion initiative designed to make improvements across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra regions.
Some of the improvements in Abu Dhabi include public art projects, street regeneration, the building of four parks, the upgrading of 16 community parks, and the completion of the city-wide cycle network.
"For Abu Dhabi will focus on enhancing the vibrancy of the city of Abu Dhabi through the addition of creative, colourful artworks and providing a network for active recreation," Falah Al Ahbabi, chairman of DMT, had said when the initiative was first announced.
In 2019, Abu Dhabi set a plan to transform its public places and parks into community spaces for all residents to boost the emirate's liveability by 2021.
From water features and community ponds to playgrounds for children, more than 300 small and large-scale projects will be undertaken in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
Contracts have already been awarded to international consultancies to modernise Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Street and Hamdan Street – two of the city's main thoroughfares.
Stunning views of Abu Dhabi from space - in pictures
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The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Key Points
- Protests against President Omar Al Bashir enter their sixth day
- Reports of President Bashir's resignation and arrests of senior government officials
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
