Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
More climate-controlled walkways could reshape urban life in Abu Dhabi, offering a host of social, economic, and environmental benefits, experts say.
The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) opened the emirate's first-ever 'air-conditioned' pathway in December 2024, providing a new level of urban comfort to pedestrians.
Located in Al Nahyan near the Al Mamoura building, the innovative walkway is designed to maintain a cool 24°C year-round, even during the peak of summer.
The passageway features advanced cooling technology embedded beneath the floor, along with noise-reducing walls and a specially designed roof that filters sunlight while minimising heat.
How Walkable Spaces Transform Cities
This cutting-edge infrastructure aims to enhance walkability in the city, providing residents with a comfortable and shaded route regardless of outdoor temperatures.
Dr. Rahaf Ajaj, Chair of the Environmental & Public Health Department at Abu Dhabi University, highlighted the wide-ranging social benefits of such initiatives.
"[These spaces] make walking enjoyable year-round, even when summer temperatures soar above 45°C, thereby encouraging physical activity and reducing health problems such as obesity and heart disease," she told Aletihad.
"They also transform areas around cafes and offices into inviting social spaces, fostering community interaction and enhancing quality of life," she added.
From an economic perspective, increased foot traffic could provide a significant boost to local businesses, reviving activity in commercial districts, according to Dr. Ajaj.
"By offering safe and enjoyable outdoor options, these walkways also ensure equity and accessibility for residents without cars in a city where driving is often the norm."
Small Gesture, Big Impact
Nahla Nabil, an ESG & Sustainability Strategist, highlighted the small ways that climate-controlled walkways can enhance everyday life for the people of Abu Dhabi.
"For me, this is really about making cities feel human again," she told Aletihad.
"A shaded, cooled walkway can allow an elderly person to walk to the mosque without fear of heatstroke. It lets children walk to school safely. It gives people the chance to take a walk, grab a coffee, or run an errand without always needing a car."
Increasing access to safe, shaded and comfortable routes can help cut transport emissions by encouraging people to walk, cycle, and take public transportation, she added.
While one walkway might seem like a small gesture, its long-term impact is not to be underestimated, according to Nabil.
"Sometimes, it's these small changes that shift behaviour over time. And once habits start to shift, the culture around movement and space begins to change too," she said.
"This pilot, if done with urban inclusivity in mind, sends a message that we are thinking ahead. We're building a city that works with our climate, not against it. And we're making it easier for people to choose healthier, cleaner, and more connected ways of moving," Nabil added.
Dr. Ajaj also pointed out that incorporating greenery and reflective surfaces can help cool urban areas, counteracting the heat island effect worsened by concrete-heavy landscapes.
"Utilising renewable energy and efficient cooling also supports sustainable urban development, with the potential to inspire other cities in hot climates to follow suit," she added.
"These cumulative impacts not only enhance daily life but also have the potential to make Abu Dhabi a model for innovative urban planning, with ripple effects across the region."
Blending Tradition and Technology
Dr. Ajaj highlighted design features and sustainable technologies that can be adopted in this pilot project to create more climate-controlled pedestrian zones that are both eco-friendly and energy-efficient.
"One feasible option is integrating solar energy through the installation of panels on the walkway roof or nearby structures. With Abu Dhabi enjoying an average of 319.85 sunshine hours per month, this could effectively power the cooling system, lessening fossil fuel use and operating costs the project is already exploring," she said.
The passive cooling features in the current design, such as a shaded roof and noise-absorbing walls, could also be supplemented with heat-reflective surfaces and green spaces, like vertical gardens, which cool naturally with minimal energy use, she added.
While the use of evaporative cooling, which is energy efficiency, may be hindered by Abu Dhabi's high humidity, Dr. Ajaj believes that "advanced two-stage adiabatic systems might offer a hybrid solution worth exploring".
Nabil pointed to the region's architectural heritage as a source of inspiration for sustainable design.
"If we want to make these spaces energy-efficient and sustainable, we don't need to reinvent the wheel we just need to look at what we already know, both from our culture and what modern design can offer," Nabil said.
She highlighted traditional architectural elements from the region like the mashrabiya, which filters light and keeps spaces cool, or the barjeel, a wind tower installation that channels airflow naturally.
"Now imagine combining these ideas with solar powered systems, materials that reflect heat, and green spaces planted with native species that don't need much water but help cool the area."
She also suggested optimising the use of cooling systems so that they only operate when people are present, instead of running constantly.
