Infrastructure, healthcare and education top the change agenda for Western region residents

The aim of the roadshow was to increase understanding, awareness and dialogue around WRDC's strategy to work closely with relevant government entities to improve healthcare, education, infrastructure, business and investor opportunities to benefit the people of the region.

By reaching out to each community, WRDC gained first-hand insight into local issues as residents talked face-to-face with Mohamed Hamed Azzan Al Mazrouei, Director General of WRDC. Topping the public agenda for urgent improvements are healthcare, education and infrastructure.

In addition to reassuring residents that WRDC's existing strategic plan is designed to improve social and economic development across these core areas, WRDC has embarked on a new tactic. After assessing every question raised at the six venues, WRDC has fast-tracked a series of 'quick-win' recommendations and has forwarded these to the relevant government departments. WRDC is also responding to more than 50 requests made to its dedicated hotline.

Mohamed Hamed Al Mazrouei, Director General, Western Region Development Council explains: 'Residents experienced government transparency and openness at their doorstep. It was a powerful demonstration that WRDC is putting into practice the vision of our President, H.H Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces to advance development across the Western Region.'

'Our primary focus is to improve people's lives. The residents of the Western Region may only represent 10 percent of the total Abu Dhabi Emirate population but they live in a vast area that is 80 percent of the land. Therefore, it was of great significance that each event - even those in the most remote locations - were personally attended by H.E. Sheikh Abdulla Mohammed Bin Butti Al Hamed, Undersecretary of the Ruler's Representative Diwan and Chairman of the WRDC Advisory Board, which was highly appreciated.

'The challenge now is to start the process of delivering results through close collaboration with government entities. Just as we started making people aware of our presence via SMS messages, flyers in ADNOC stations and word of mouth, we will continue to communicate our success through similar events in the future.' concluded Al Mazrouei.

Sheikh Abdulla Mohammed Bin Butti Al Hamed explains; 'The aim of the roadshows was to listen to the residents' concerns, which has been more than successful. WRDC acts as a key link between government departments and residents. This is the first in a series of steps to stay closer to the needs of the residents of the Western Region.'

Also attending the roadshows were H.E. Dr. Al Taher Musabbah Al Kindi Al Marar, Chairman of the Western Region Municipal Council and WRDC Advisory Board member, and H.E. Hamood Humaid M. Al Mansouri, General Manager of the Western Region Municipality.