Abu Dhabi's Corniche Road gets Dh7m overhaul

The introduction of plants that use less water are a key part of the works

The Dh7m works are set to be finished by early December. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Municipality 
Powered by automated translation

Municipality chiefs are making major improvements to Abu Dhabi's Corniche Road.

The Dh7m plan means new landscaping, ornamental tiles and the introduction of heat-resistant plants along the road's central island.

Works are being undertaken in two phases and will eventually stretch from the Adnoc headqarters down to Mina Zayed's vegetable market.

It is envisaged that the job will be finished in time for National Day celebrations on December 2.

Abu Dhabi Municipality did not specify which plants were being used but in other parts of the city, such as the walkway opposite Al Qurm Corniche, desert species such as raa, markh and qasad have been deployed successfully. Some of these native species require about 60 per cent less water than some of the plants traditionally seen around the city.

Sand, rather than grass, also separates the plants on the Corniche meaning even less water is being used.

The works come amid a series of improvement across the city.

Hamdan Street, for example, has been made much more pedestrian friendly over the past few years with wider footpaths and shading for residents and commuters.

Major landscaping work is also taking place on another one of the city's major arteries, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed (Airport Road). Some of the older trees have been removed and the area is being made more accessible to pedestrians.

More broadly, the municipality is also demolishing many of the older buildings from the 1970s and 1980s. Many of these are located in Al Zahiyah, known as Tourist Club, and have been poorly maintained or else constructed with inferior material that do not meet modern requirements.