Abu Dhabi unveils ambitious drive to develop Western Region

Notes and media contacts

1. The Western Region Development initiative began back in July 2004. Under the directive of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive Council, The Western Region Development Committee was formed to oversee the initial phase of the social and economic development plan for the Western Region.

2. The Western Region Development Committee members include Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Bin Butti Al Hamed, H.E. Mohamed Ahmed Al Bowardi, H.E. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Mubarak Al Daheri and Mohamed Khalaf Al Mazrouei and Daham Al Fandy Al Mazrouei.

WRDC was mandated to oversee four key development objectives, including assessing government service levels in the Western Region and identifying improvement initiatives, developing a new governance model, overseeing the implementation of service improvement initiatives and overseeing the implementation of the new governance model.

The first phase of the Western Region Social and Economic Development project, which consisted of three modules, was completed in January 2005. These included studies on Government Services and Infrastructure, New Local Governance Model and Social and Economic Development Plan.

During this first phase, the WRDC identified and detailed community services improvement initiatives. These included education, health care, infrastructure and utilities, government services, and communal enablers such as commercial centres, banks and recreational centres. Each initiative is being based on baseline analysis and benchmarked against international best practices.

3. An eight member Program Management Office (PMO), which was established in January 2005, is managing the implementation of the WRDC's recommendations and plans. Members include Mohamed Mubarak Al-Mazrouei, Jassim Al-Hammadi, Eissa Saif Al-Mazrouei, Saeed Al-Suwaidi, Musallam Al-Ameri, Mohamed Al-Hameli, Aisha Al-Hammadi, and Mahra Khalaf Al-Mazroui.

For more information please contact:
Karim Nagy
Program Management Offoce
Western Region Development Committee
PO Box 45005
Abu Dhabi
UAE
Tel: +971 2 6160276
Fax: +971 2 616 0274

Hannah Naji or Omar Helmy
Impact Porter Novelli
PO Box 19791
Dubai
UAE
Tel: +971 4 3304030
Fax: +971 4 3304031

Additional information:
• Western Region Development Fact sheet

The Western Region - Abu Dhabi Emirate
United Arab Emirates

Fact sheet

Western Region Statistics

• The Western Region covers 70% of the UAE

• The Western Region covers 83% (59,760 square kilometres) of the total Emirate of Abu Dhabi area (72,000 square kilometres)

• The Western Region is home to an estimated 10% (120,000) of the Abu Dhabi population (1.2 million)

• The Western Region generates an estimated 34% (approx. USD15.5 billion) of Abu Dhabi's GDP (approx. USD45.6 billion).

• The six main cities within the Western Region are:
Madinat Zayed
Mirfa
Ghayathi
Silaa
Liwa
Island of Delma.

Western Region Development Committee (WRDC)

• In September 2004, under the directive of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive Council, a committee was set up to oversee the initial phase of the social and economic development plan for the Western Region. This project team is The Western Region Development Committee (WRDC).

• The Western Region Development Committee members are:
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Butti
H.E. Mohamed Ahmed Al Bowardi
H.E. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak
Mubarak Al-Daheri
Mohamed Khalaf Al-Mazrouei

• The Western Region Development Committee is overseeing four key development objectives:
Assess government service level in the Western Region and identify improvement initiatives
Develop a new governance model for the Western Region
Oversee implementation of services improvement initiatives
Oversee implementation of new governance model
Western Region Development - Phase I

• The first phase of the Western Region Social and Economic Development project, consisting of three modules, was completed in January 2005. The three modules were:
Module-1: Government Services and Infrastructure
Assess Current Public Services and Infrastructure
Develop Demographic and Socio-Demographic Profile
Benchmark Relevant National/Regional Public Services
Recommend "Quick-Win" Improvements
Module-2: New Governance Model
Profile the Current Governance Model
Profile World-Class Local Governance Models
Design a New Local Governance Model
Develop a Transition Plan to the New Governance Model
Module-3: Social and Economic Development Plan
Develop a Short-List of Focus Economic Sectors
Develop a Strategic Plan for Focus Economic Sectors
Consolidate a Social and Economic Development Plan

Public Services Improvement

• The WRDC identified and detailed community services improvement initiatives in the following areas:
Education: including primary, secondary and higher education
Healthcare: including generalist and specialist clinics and hospitals
Infrastructure and Utilities: including road network, sewage, water, telecommunications and postal services
Government Services: including civil services, public services and administrative services
Communal Enablers: including commercial centers, banks and recreational centers/activities

• The WRDC conducted baseline analysis and benchmarking for these initiatives before pulling together recommendations and implementing plans.

• The WRDC prioritized several strategic initiatives across government services, education, healthcare and infrastructure. The first of these initiatives is to develop a one-stop-shop for government services.

Local Governance

• The WRDC also developed the Western Region new local governance model, which will consist of:
The Western Region Development Authority (WRDA) and
The Western Region Municipality (WRM)

WRDC Project Management Office - Implementation

• The implementation phase of the Western Region development project is managed by an 8-member Project Management Office. Members include:
Mohamed Mubarak Al-Mazrouei
Jassim Al-Hammadi
Eissa Saif Al-Mazrouei
Saeed Al-Suwaidi
Musallam Al-Ameri
Mohamed Al-Hameli
Aisha Al-Hammadi
Mahra Khalaf Al-Mazroui

• Prior to that the improvement to government services to the community will be the launch of the one-stop-shop, piloting in Madinat Zayed in September 2005.

Western Region Development - Phase II

• Implementation of the new Western Region governance system (Western Region Development Authority and Municipality) has been structured in three stages spanning a twelve month period which started in January 2005:
Design: Building the foundation for the new local governance model
Plan: Enabling the change for the new local governance model
Implement: implementing the change for the new local governance model

Western Region Development Authority (WRDA)

Local Governance Model

• The Western Region Development Authority (WRDA) has been established to promote the economic and social development of the region by focusing on four key enablers: People, Enterprises, Infrastructure, Marketing and Promotion:
People: Tackle barriers to employment / improve workforce skills. Create incentives to attract and retain qualified workforce
Enterprises: Support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to increase employment potential. Promote and support regional investment. Increase participation in the knowledge economy. Diversify region revenues by supporting new industries
Infrastructure: Deliver an improved and effective infrastructure enabling the Western Region's future development. Promote the development of a healthy, sustainable, safe and high quality environment

• WRDA vision: To lead the Western Region of Abu Dhabi into becoming a model of sustainable economic and social development by setting the standard of excellence in the development of people, improvement of enterprises, and enhancement of infrastructure.

• WRDA mission: To provide the residents of the Western Region with a higher quality of life through promoting employment, increasing business efficiency and investments and improving regional infrastructure.

WRDA Structure

• The WRDA has a two-tier governance model, with the Director General being the key link between the administration and the Executive Council.

• The WRDA is advised by an Advisory Board. The Advisory Board is composed of 13 representatives of the community including government officials and private sector and is in charge of defining WRDA's strategy and supervising its performance.

• The 10 main WRDA roles were used to drive the organization design of the authority:
Set strategic vision:
i. Manage information
ii. Develop plans
iii. Monitor performance
Deliver of development objectives:
i. People Development
ii. Sector Development
iii. Business Development
iv. Infrastructure Development
Attract investors:
i. Create positive PR
ii. Provide information
iii. Facilitate investing

• WRDA's operational design has incorporated lessons learned from international best practices.

Western Region Municipality (WRM)

• The new Western Region Municipality governance was designed in line with international best practices, separating operational and administrative functions from the governing municipal council.

WRM Structure

• Municipal Council is the main decision maker of the Western Region Municipality.

• Western Region Municipality will be governed by a municipal council organized in various committees for enhanced efficiency.

• A five-step approach was followed to design the Western Region Municipality organization structure
Develop Municipal Vision and Objective
Baseline Existing Structures
Define WR Municipality Operating Model
Benchmark Regional and International Municipal Structures
Design Organization Structure

• The WR Municipality operational design has incorporated lessons learned from international best-practices. The five-year Strategic Plan process translates the municipal vision into tangible goals, targets and plans for the organization.