Weaving life’s rich tapestry

In little over a century, Abu Dhabi’s transformation from modest pearl-diving communities to a thriving cosmopolitan metropolis is a testament to its visionary urban planning and improving liveability. Central to this evolution is the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), which spearheads initiatives fostering social cohesion and communal wellbeing. “Liveability is all about human-centric connection,” says DMT chairman HE Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa. “That means removing whatever barriers are in the way of our people and our businesses achieving their goals and living the best life they possibly can. So, when we say that we want Abu Dhabi to be the world’s most liveable city, we mean a city where the physical, economic and cultural environment provides everything our citizens and residents need to thrive.”

In 2025, Abu Dhabi was named the world’s safest city for the ninth year in a row after it topped Numbeo’s rankings of 385 global cities. This remarkable achievement reflects the emirate’s shared prosperity and culture of tolerant, peaceful coexistence, as well as its comprehensive security strategies.

A two-way dialogue with Abu Dhabi residents is a crucial factor in the emirate’s exemplary quality of life. The Dream Neighbourhood Survey welcomed feedback from residents young and old, allowing DMT to tailor projects that resonate with the community’s needs and aspirations.

One cornerstone of the city’s increased liveability is the introduction of green spaces. In 2023, six SLA-designed neighbourhood parks in Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa City won the Monocle Design Award for Best Urban Park. A further 23 parks were opened in Khalifa City alone last year, so now 95 per cent of residents can walk to a park in less than five minutes. Beyond the aesthetic appeal, these green areas provide increased shade and cooling effects.

Similarly, the 15 new parks built on North Island will offer opportunities to improve physical wellbeing and help foster a sense of belonging among residents. “We’ve noticed now how the behaviour of families has changed,” says Hamda Al Hashmi, director of DMT’s Urban Design Division. “Take the father who goes with his sons to pray in the mosque. When they leave now, they might spend half an hour in the park around the mosque. We really want to encourage these types of interactions. People from the different houses are coming together. And a lot of the social cohesion and healthier behaviours, like jogging and cycling, are happening because that infrastructure is there.”

Abu Dhabi has more ambitious plans in the pipeline, yet DMT’s focus on improving the little things in life is already making the big difference. Smart local initiatives, such as the extended Al Gurm Corniche promenade through the natural beauty of Mangrove National Park or the community market in Shakhbout City, are the small threads that combine to form a citywide tapestry of vibrant daily life.

Thoughtful urban planning and community-centric projects coalesce in Abu Dhabi to create a city that is dynamic, prosperous and thriving on the collective wellbeing of its inhabitants.

Future city blueprint

Redesigning a great city requires an ability to think big. From Haussmann’s bold renovation of Paris to the Commissioners’ Plan of 1811 that set out Manhattan’s iconic grid, the world’s best cities are built on an audacious blend of creativity, investment and foresight.

Under the guidance of Abu Dhabi’s leaders, the city is committed to an equally ambitious and transformative framework that will redefine it over the next decade and beyond. One of the key players in this evolution is HE Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT). “Our remit is to make Abu Dhabi the world’s most livable and lovable city,” he says. “DMT is the engine that keeps the emirate moving forward.”

Al Shorafa’s department directly oversees transport, real estate, infrastructure and urban planning across the emirate. In practice that means everything from mitigating increased flood risks to unveiling plans for a 30-minute high-speed rail link between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. “Wearing different hats gives me a good insight into not only the economic expectations of the emirate but also the quality of the built environment for residents, and those who would like to live, work and invest in Abu Dhabi,” he adds.

Far from a new development, Al Shorafa’s work is part of an ongoing provident approach that has continued to set the UAE’s capital apart. “Abu Dhabi’s urban planning has always been guided by long-term strategic visions aimed at promoting sustainable growth and enhancing the city’s global competitiveness,” says pioneering Emirati urban planner Alamira Reem Al Hashimi. The city’s success lies in not only responding to immediate needs but also anticipating future demands.

This people-focused philosophy was set from the very beginnings of the UAE. As the ruler of his home region of Abu Dhabi, HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan saw the need for collaboration when he masterminded the unification of the Emirates in 1971. “He had a vision for this emirate, and it was to be a nurturing and safe place to live and raise a family,” says Al Shorafa. “And that remains as true today as it was then.”

Aided by Japanese architect Katsuhiko Takahashi, the country’s founding father enacted a bold vision for Abu Dhabi that encompassed economic, cultural and spiritual growth, while preserving cultural heritage and social cohesion. Through the late 1970s and 1980s, villa communities and residential towers met the demands of a growing population as the desirable coastal zone was transformed. When construction began on Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City in 2008, it ushered in a new era of sustainably minded and people-centric residential developments and infrastructure projects. Superblocks on the north side of Abu Dhabi Island have prioritised convenience and connectivity.

These developments have reshaped the city for the better. An Ipsos poll of the world’s favourite cities placed Abu Dhabi in second, while it topped global livability and safety indices in 2024 and 2025. Yet the UAE capital won’t rest on its laurels. By continuing to embrace innovation, sustainability and cultural heritage, the city stands as a beacon of what can be achieved when visionary ambition meets considerate planning. As the world tackles the challenges of rapid urbanisation, Abu Dhabi offers a powerful lesson in how to develop a great city, not only as a hub of wealth and influence but also as a model of how to live in harmony with the planet.

Building on success

HE Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, chairman, Department of Municipalities and Transport

• As Abu Dhabi’s global reputation grows, what metrics do you use to measure this progress?
  Metrics are important to challenge preconceptions. Abu Dhabi has been named the safest city on the planet for nine years in a row. That achievement challenges the stereotypes that some people have. Another interesting metric is Abu Dhabi ranking as the world’s 10th smartest city; the only one in the top 10, besides Singapore, that’s not in western Europe. We’re extremely proud of that.
• How do you encourage a sense of community?
  Abu Dhabi – and the UAE as a whole – is one of the most socially cohesive and tolerant places on Earth. We’re also very mindful that growth can challenge this cohesion. So, in our planning for the future, we have been very careful to include community hubs. This entails affordable housing options, places of worship, parks, entertainment centres, and connecting walkways and cycleways, all built near to places of work and school.

• What are your plans to shift Abu Dhabi away from being a car-first city?
  We take a holistic approach to the growth of Abu Dhabi, and that obviously includes smart transport solutions. Cars will be a part of the transport mix for the foreseeable future but that doesn’t mean they will necessarily be powered by petrol engines. We’re also using AI in our commercial logistics and taxi fleets to reduce congestion.
• How are you incorporating principles of the circular economy into your construction plans?
  Sustainable infrastructure must be the cornerstone of all urban planning, not only because it makes sense from a carbon emissions reduction standpoint, but also because it directly impacts how a city’s residents experience the built environment. It’s all about balancing modern development with sustainability, drawing on innovation and the wisdom of our heritage to create a resilient urban environment.
• What opportunities exist for investors looking to capitalise on Abu Dhabi’s growth?
  We are already rapidly expanding the number and type of homes available – and that is set to continue as our population grows. There is considerable opportunity in the commercial and industrial real-estate sectors, as we continue our pivot towards high-value sectors such as manufacturing, retail, wholesale and innovation, in particular.
• In terms of quality of life, how do you envisage the city in the next 10 or 15 years?
  We want Abu Dhabi to take its place on the world map as one of the true global cities. Conventional wisdom says there’s a trade-off here, but we don’t accept that compromise. We believe it is possible to have population and GDP growth in a city where quality of life remains high. We have a blueprint for this, an actionable roadmap for how to create the world’s most livable and lovable city. It’s something that we’ve been working on for a while and we’ll be unveiling it very soon. I’m really excited about it.