SARA AL ZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi wants to build communities where walking becomes second nature for residents. But achieving that, a senior official said, takes more than laying pedestrian paths and enhancing sidewalks.
The goal is for residents to "step outside and feel that walking is a safe, comfortable, and natural choice for local journeys", according to Abdulla Mohamed Al Blooshi, Director-General of the Urban Planning and Permits Centre at the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT).
That scenario becomes reality "by bringing everyday life within comfortable reach", he told Aletihad in an interview.
Abu Dhabi already has more than 120km of walking paths, well-lit streets, zebra crossings, and parks and green spaces within reach of most residential areas.
Now the DMT is embedding walkability earlier in the planning process for new and growing communities. Planners assess how homes connect to green spaces, local facilities, and transport networks, allowing gaps and barriers to be identified before development is complete, rather than fixed afterward.
"In Abu Dhabi, distance alone does not determine whether people will walk," Al Blooshi said.
"A destination may be close, but it must also feel safe and comfortable to reach. Shade, lighting and well-positioned crossings can make the difference between a place that is nearby and one that is genuinely accessible."
This approach is reflected in the emirate's parks programme. Abu Dhabi opened 66 new parks in the first half of 2026 alone, bringing the total opened since 2024 to 279. Each one creates neighbourhood destinations where residents can walk, exercise and spend time together outdoors.
Safety, however, remains fundamental to this experience. The Department of Community Development's 2025 Quality of Life Survey found that 93.6% of residents felt safe walking alone at night. This highlights the value of well-lit routes, visible public spaces, and pedestrian connections that remain welcoming at night.
"When a child can walk safely to a park, a family can comfortably reach nearby facilities, and public spaces remain active after sunset, that is a neighbourhood working as it should," Al Blooshi said.
"That is liveability in practice - and it is central to how Abu Dhabi will continue to grow."
The approach extends to major infrastructure. The two new bridges linking Al Reem Island to Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Highway include two kilometres of pedestrian and cycling tracks alongside landscaped public areas.
"Our goal is not to make every journey a walking journey," Al Blooshi said. "It is to ensure that, for shorter everyday trips, residents have a genuine choice."