Abu Dhabi’s development has been rapid, but it is essential that development and opportunity reach every region of the Emirate so that all the people of Abu Dhabi can fulfil their economic potential. The Emirate is divided into three municipal regions – Abu Dhabi, Al-Ain and the Western Region (Al Gharbia) - which are diverse in terms of geographical size, population, income distribution and economic activity.
The Abu Dhabi Region houses the Emirate’s largest urban centre, and is also the Federal and Emirate capital. It accounts for most of the Emirate’s economic diversification and is the richest and most developed of the regions. The Al-Ain Region includes the second-largest city of the Emirate and is a tourism centre as a result of its cultural heritage.
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significant incomes of this group feed into greater spending in the local economy. It also increases the attractiveness for skilled professionals in other sectors. For example, more senior medics and teachers in the region will increase the perception of professionalism in the social services. If the social services in the region are excellent, and perceived as such, the Western Region will become a more obvious destination for other professionals and, more importantly, their families.
In short, the Western Region’s economy will be advanced by increased investments in education, healthcare and infrastructure. With continued economic growth, these will create an attractive social environment for the high-skilled professionals that the region will attract to drive its progress. cities in search of better jobs. It will also provide
greater incomes to households, mainly through maximised female participation in the workforce in these regions, which will fuel greater economic activity.
Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain offer an exceptional quality and range of infrastructure services and amenities. There is no reason why the Western Region should not also have comparable world-class leisure, tourism and retail facilities. These are not only the fruits of growth, but can be prerequisites for development.
With top-class facilities, the region is more likely to attract and retain high-skilled professionals, leading to a positive multiplier effect as the more
Focusing on the Western Region
The Government established the Western Region Development Council (WRDC) to stimulate development in parts of the region that have not kept pace with the rest of the Emirate. The WRDC focuses on people, entrepreneurship and infrastructure. It is working to tackle barriers to employment, enhance the skills and training of the local workforce, and create incentives to attract and retain high-skilled employees from outside the region. At the same time, it is encouraging entrepreneurship and diversification through the support of SMEs and new industries, and it is delivering an improved and more efficient infrastructure to facilitate the region’s growth. The WRDC has already developed a strategic agenda, and has identified several important projects. These include setting up a campus in Ruwais for the Higher College of Technology (HCT), the expansion of TAMM (the Government “one stop shop” service) to all cities of the region, the creation of a major industrial zone in Shuwaihat, and the instigation of investment promotion campaigns.
(*) In 2005
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Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 Objectives
Abu Dhabi will ensure a balanced social and regional economic development approach that will bring benefits to all. To this end,
four main objectives will be implemented:
Objective 4
Equip the Emirate’s youth to enter the
workforce
The Emirate’s young must be equipped to enter the workforce. This can be achieved through the revision of curricula,
increasing participation and completion rates at all levels of education (particularly tertiary edu-
cation), the encourage- ment of part-time and summer jobs for youth in the education system
to introduce them to the working world, and
through the enhance- ment of vocational education.
Objective 5
Maximise the participation of national women in the workforce Female participation in the workforce will be increased further, especially in rural areas. Financial support will be provided for at-home business projects and work-from-home will be encouraged. Overall, an ethos of female work- force participation willbe advanced.
Objective 6
Attract and retain skilled
workers
The Emirate should become a prime destina-
tion for skilled labour from across the globe. To
facilitate this, highly at- tractive employment op- portunities that rival those
that workers would find elsewhere must be cre- ated. Moreover, lifestyle and best-in-class educa- tion, healthcare, cultural and leisure services will be provided and actively promoted. Additionally,
the convenient entry and settlement of skilled
expatriate workers and their families must be
facilitated.
Objective 7
Stimulate faster economic growth
in the regions
Economic growth in the regions will be boosted.
Integrated regional development plans will be implemented. Incen- tives will be offered to businesses to set up in the more remote areas of the Emirate, and eco- nomic clusters in certain
locations in the Emirate developed.
The Abu Dhabi
Economic Vision 2030
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