Enhanced design regulations issued by Abu Dhabi's Urban Planning Council for commercial towers in Mohammed Bin Zayed City

The enhancement, which increases the flexibility of the design guidelines within the MBZ development, affects the tower developments in the Z6/1, ME8, ME9, Z9, and Z29 sectors of Mohammed Bin Zayed City, located on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi Island.

H.E. Falah Al Ahbabi, General Manager of the Urban Planning Council stated that the revisions to the design guidelines will allow a more beneficial mix of apartments, without sacrificing the quality of living and provision of services intended and reflected in the master-plans.

According to the approved master-plans, every tower to be built in MBZ City has a defined maximum allowed built-up area. The design regulations will now outline the maximum allowable number of units per building type to plot owners. With these two parameters, plot owners can decide on the apartment mix to be used.

H.E. Falah Al Ahbabi, General Manager of the Urban Planning Council, said “We reviewed objectively the need for changes in the interpretation of the design guidelines, aiming to ensure that plot owners could maximize their investment as well as respond to market demands. The decision to implement this policy is also a safeguard to ensure unbiased treatment for every plot owner.

“All other regulations will remain as issued and as per the approved master-plans. This new regulations, in combination with the design guidelines already published, will ensure that targeted quality of living as well as the envisioned spirit of the development are maintained.”

Al Ahbabi further stated that the ideal mix across the development would likely be, by area, 25 per cent one-bedroom apartments, 60 per cent two-bedroom apartments, 10 per cent three-bedroom apartments and 5 per cent four-bedroom apartments. However, he said the final choice of apartment mix would be made by plot owners, as long as these remained within the maximum number of units and built-up area.