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International Journal of Environment and Sustainability, 2016, 5(2): 30-44 33
sustainable development in the city. In terms of
RAK, there was very little information on its
governmental portals, yet some non-govern-
mental entities took the responsibility of
publishing a number of studies and reports
addressing the current situation of the emirate
and discussing its future developments. The
government of RAK later approved these
studies as governmental resources and pub-
lished them on its formal portals.
In addition to the sources mentioned above,
research and studies completed by AlGhais
(2010), Al Naboodah (2013), Alshemeili(2014),
Al-Zubaidi (2007), Bualhamam (2009), Goudie
et al. (2000), Pollock-Ellwand (2011), Shayah
and Qifeng (2014), and Walters et al. (2006)
have been reviewed in order to address the
sustainability package in general and how it was
applied in a certain place or city around the
world. Taking into consideration the unique
nature of the UAE makes it very difficult to
apply a certain technique or approach within its
context unless it was carefully tested and wisely
studied. Moreover, several papers and doctoral
theses that investigated the same topic and the
unique environmental nature of the UAE were
studied as useful sources of information.
4. Research Framework
a. Abu Dhabi’s Status Brief
The emirate of Abu Dhabi is the capital of the
UAE and the largest among of the rest of the
emirates in area and population. Located on
around 67,340 km² and occupying almost 87%
of the total federation area with a population of
2,120,700 people, it controls most of the UAE’s
oil and natural gas sources, which makes it the
strongest economy in the UAE. Despite the fact
that all opportunities given to the emirate
abundance of natural gas and oil, the visionary
leadership of His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United
Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, ordered
the executive council to publish a policy agenda
to set the emirate’s objectives towards its
sustainable development. In 2007, the executive
council launched this agenda in accordance with
Abu Dhabi’s economic vision 2030. The policy
set nine main objectives that will shape the
emirate’s future:
1) A large empowered private sector
2) A sustainable knowledge-based economy
3) An optimal, transparent regulatory environ-
ment
4) A continuation of strong and diverse inter-
national relationships
5) The optimization of the Emirate’s resources
6) Premium education, healthcare, and infra-
structure assets
7) Complete international and domestic secu-
rity
8) Maintaining Abu Dhabi’s values, culture, and
heritage
9) A significant and ongoing contribution to the
Federation of the UAE
Under these nine objectives, four priorities that
conclude the sustainable package aspects were
addressed:
i. Economic development
ii. Infrastructure development and environ-
mental sustainability
iii. Social and human resources development
iv. Optimization of government operations
In order to complete this vision, the UPC chaired
by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and
Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council,
launched the Estidama program in 2008. Esti-
dama, which means “sustainability” in Arabic, is
not just a program or a building rating system,
but it is a clear progressive vision for political
governments to develop a balanced society
based on the four pillars of Estidama: economic,
social, environment, and cultural.
Under each pillar of Estidama, there are prin-
ciples to address the sustainability package in
the community of Abu Dhabi and to ensure the
harmony and integrity between these pillars. As
the last step to completing the sustainability
package for the future development of Abu
Dhabi, the UPC published nine design manuals
Science Target Inc. www.sciencetarget.com