UAE infrastructure projects drive economic growth, quality of life

The infrastructure sector in the United Arab Emirates witnessed a series of strategic projects during 2025 aimed at keeping pace with economic growth ambitions and supporting the country’s comprehensive development journey across various sectors.

The announced projects reflected a comprehensive national vision focused on enhancing quality of life, stability and well-being for all residents of the country.

The UAE announced a high-speed rail project linking Abu Dhabi and Dubai, reducing travel time between the two cities to around 30 minutes at speeds of up to 350 kilometres per hour. The project is expected to generate an economic contribution exceeding Dhs145 billion over the next five decades.

The UAE Government Annual Meetings held last November revealed national road development programmes valued at more than Dhs170 billion through to 2030. These include projects aimed at improving the efficiency of the federal road network and enhancing traffic flow between the emirates.

At the local level, the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC) signed public-private partnership contracts worth Dhs22 billion during 2025. The centre reported that the total number of public-private partnership projects under development exceeded 600 as of last October.

Dubai announced a range of major projects, including the development of Al Fay Street at a cost of Dhs1.5 billion, and the construction of entry and exit points for Dubai Islands from the Bur Dubai side via a new 1,425-metre bridge costing Dhs786 million.

The emirate is also developing a stormwater drainage system in four areas at a cost of Dhs1.439 billion as part of the Tasreef project, alongside the 30-kilometre Dubai Metro Blue Line, which will include 14 new stations serving around one million people.

Additional projects valued at Dhs7.6 billion include the operation of four main transmission stations with a capacity of 132 kilovolts and the extension of 228 kilometres of underground cables.

In Sharjah, the year saw the inauguration of the Al Layyah Canal project in Al Khalidiya suburb, featuring a range of service facilities and new public spaces. The emirate also inaugurated the Airport Station in the Umm Fannin area with a capacity of 220 kilovolts at a cost exceeding Dhs500 million, completed the extension of the main water pipeline from Kalba to Wadi Al Helo at a value of Dhs43.77 million, and launched the Independence Square project. Sharjah also approved Dhs42 million for the implementation of internal roads in Al Ramaqia and Al Suwaihat areas.

In Ajman, the Department of Municipality and Planning inaugurated the Sheikh Zayed Street development project in the Al Helio area, extending 2.8 kilometres at a cost of Dhs63 million. The Emirates Council for Balanced Development also announced the start of work on the Masfout Gate project, which aims to develop vital facilities in the area and link natural and heritage landmarks through connected walking trails.

Ras Al Khaimah International Airport announced the development of a dedicated VIP terminal and private aircraft hangars in cooperation with Falcon Executive Aviation. The project includes facilities spanning more than 18,000 square metres, providing advanced infrastructure to support private aviation and tourism services.

In Umm Al Qaiwain, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure launched a project to upgrade and enhance Emirates Road at a cost of Dhs750 million. The project includes expanding the road to five lanes in each direction and constructing six new bridges, contributing to improved traffic flow and a reduction in journey time of up to 45 per cent.

In Fujairah, the Public Works and Agriculture Department began implementing the ninth phase of the internal roads project, extending 31 kilometres across several areas of the emirate. Fujairah also saw the Fujairah F3 independent power plant enter commercial operation with a capacity of 2.4 gigawatts.

Meanwhile, in a qualitative step that redefines the concept of environmental monitoring, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) has implemented a pioneering pilot project that relies on artificial intelligence technologies and satellite imagery to monitor and identify random waste dumping sites in the emirate, to raise the efficiency of the waste management system and enhance the effectiveness of environmental monitoring.

The project is the first-of-its-kind in the UAE to employ AI models and satellite image analysis in the field of waste management, representing a strategic shift from traditional monitoring to an intelligent system capable of automatically analysing data and predicting potential violations.

Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD, said, "This project embodies the agency’s commitment to the transformation towards a smart and sustainable environment, in line with the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 to enhance government performance and the sustainability of vital sectors. The project also reflects the pillar of A Green Innovation, Science and Technology, one of the main pillars of the Abu Dhabi Environmental Centennial 2071, enabling us to anticipate environmental challenges, improve environmental quality, and promote long-term sustainability through digital innovation and artificial intelligence.” If expanded, the project will significantly contribute to enhancing proactive monitoring of environmental violations through intelligent satellite image analysis and the use of smart models to predict potential illegal dumping sites. This approach will enable the authority to intervene early before the environmental impact worsens.

The project will also contribute to improving the efficiency of the waste management system, strengthening governance among relevant government agencies, and increasing public satisfaction by reducing illegal dumping practices and improving the overall appearance of the environment.

Engineer Faisal Al Hammadi, Executive Director of the Environmental Quality Sector at EAD, said, "The implementation of the pilot project in Al Bukariyah in the Al Ain Region reflects the agency’s commitment to transitioning towards innovative solutions based on artificial intelligence and modern technologies to enhance environmental monitoring. The project results demonstrated an accuracy exceeding 90 per cent in detecting illegal dumping sites, and the system was able to identify 150 waste sites compared to only 43 sites discovered through field monitoring during the same period. This confirms the efficiency of technological innovation and artificial intelligence and its ability to accelerate detection processes and improve the accuracy of environmental monitoring.

"The project also enabled the classification of waste with high accuracy and the study of changes in the areas of monitored sites compared to previous years, which enhances the agency’s ability to track the origin of waste and its duration, and to develop effective strategies to reduce environmental violations and improve the overall quality of the environment.” After identifying these sites, the agency promptly coordinated with its partners across the relevant authorities to remove the waste and restore the affected areas, ensuring swift remediation. EAD continues to monitor these locations following cleanup to prevent any recurrence of illegal dumping and to reinforce long-term environmental protection.

This project will enable EAD to enhance its legislative and regulatory role in environmental oversight by using smart digital tools based on the analysis of satellite images and geographic data, which will contribute to protecting the environment, sustaining natural resources and reducing risks to human health in the emirate.

The agency showcased the project’s results and experience during the International Solid Waste Association World Conference (ISWA 2025) held in Argentina, where the project received praise from experts and members participating in the conference, reflecting the leading role that Abu Dhabi enjoys in developing innovative solutions to enhance the environmental monitoring system.

Based on the success of the pilot phase, the agency plans to expand the scope of the project to include all areas of the Emirate during the next phase, through the establishment of a central platform for smart environmental monitoring that relies on AI technologies and the analysis of satellite image data, which enhances government integration and supports Abu Dhabi’s goals in sustainability and smart environmental governance.

WAM