Abu Dhabi Sets Urban Goals At Infra Summit Amid Global Shifts

Abu Dhabi presented a wide-ranging infrastructure agenda at the launch of the Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit (ADIS) 2025, outlining investment plans and policy frameworks aimed at supporting liveability, economic diversification, and sustainability.

Held under the theme Future Cities: Rethinking Infrastructure for Better Lifestyles, the event brought together government officials, global industry leaders, and private sector stakeholders to examine how infrastructure can serve as a platform for long-term urban development. More than 2,500 attendees, 70 speakers, and over 30 exhibitors participated in the opening day.

The Department of Municipalities and Transport introduced a new initiative—the Liveability and Investment Exhibition (LIVEX)—intended to promote international partnerships around infrastructure projects. Officials said the exhibition would serve as a platform to engage with private capital and highlight Abu Dhabi’s urban development priorities.

The chairman of the Department of Economic Development cited data indicating a steady increase in the construction sector’s contribution to Abu Dhabi’s gross domestic product (GDP). According to the department, the sector grew from AED 76.7 billion in 2020 to AED 107.4 billion in 2024, accounting for 9.1 per cent of total GDP last year. He said this growth reflected the emirate’s efforts to align infrastructure spending with its broader economic strategy.

The Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC) released a five-year strategic roadmap that includes climate action, modular construction, private sector participation, and local content development as key objectives. The plan is part of the city’s push to make infrastructure delivery more sustainable, efficient, and responsive to social needs.

Speakers from the public and private sectors discussed housing, education, healthcare, and transport as central to infrastructure planning. Officials said the aim is to create urban spaces that balance cultural identity with innovation and digital integration.

Executives from Aldar, ADIO, and Miral spoke about the shift toward lifestyle-led urban planning and destination development. They said projects are increasingly designed around placemaking and emotional engagement rather than traditional real estate metrics.

Technological adoption in infrastructure delivery also featured prominently. Notably, panellists highlighted artificial intelligence, Building Information Modelling (BIM), and modular building techniques as tools to accelerate timelines, reduce costs, and support sustainable development. Case studies from international cities, including Hong Kong, were presented as potential models for Abu Dhabi’s future initiatives.

Several sessions addressed the legal and financial frameworks supporting large-scale infrastructure projects. Discussions included efforts to reform capital contracting structures, improve risk allocation, and minimise legal disputes that delay project execution.

Local economic empowerment was another focus, with participants examining the impact of national initiatives such as the In-country value (ICV) programme and the Abu Dhabi SME Champion Programme. Speakers said that these frameworks are designed to improve procurement access for local firms and increase domestic manufacturing participation in infrastructure supply chains.