Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi's next phase of development is being defined by a more connected model of city-building, where transport networks, water infrastructure, housing, schools, parks and walkable communities are planned as part of the same long-term growth agenda.
Industry leaders speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit 2026 said that the emirate is moving away from a narrow focus on standalone projects, with developers and contractors now working within a broader framework that links economic expansion with quality of life.
According to Ziad Abdallah, CEO of Trojan Construction Holding, infrastructure remains one of the main engines of economic growth, including during periods of slower market activity, because it connects cities and supports long-term urban expansion.
He said that Abu Dhabi's current pipeline includes major transport and utilities projects, with rail and water infrastructure taking a central role in the emirate's development plans.
"We are currently working on Etihad Rail, which is connecting Abu Dhabi and Oman, and we are also working on the high-speed rail, which is going to be a landmark development in infrastructure," he told Aletihad.
Abdallah added that Trojan is expanding its work in water infrastructure through its newly announced joint venture with Orascom Construction under the name Everwater, which will focus on water infrastructure development in the UAE and the wider region. The company is also involved in transportation infrastructure, water projects and national housing schemes across Abu Dhabi, with a focus on intelligent infrastructure.
"Our main focus now is on developing sustainable intelligent infrastructure to serve the vision of Abu Dhabi 2030. As a national company, we always have a role in the growth of the economy and in developing our beloved country," Abdallah emphasised.
The sector's role is not limited to projects on the ground, Abdallah said, as construction remains a major employer and source of technical expertise. Trojan Construction Holding currently employs more than 40,000 workers and professionals, he added.
While contractors are building the networks that support expansion, developers say that Abu Dhabi's planning model is now placing greater weight on how communities function once residents move in.
Carlos Wakim, CEO of Bloom Holding, highlighted Abu Dhabi's structured planning system that determines the schools, services and amenities required for new communities from the start, rather than treating them as later additions.
He explained that Bloom's focus is not only on building homes, but on creating neighbourhoods with schools, parks, greenery and pedestrian-friendly spaces that encourage social interaction and day-to-day convenience.
"We are trying to recreate what we used to call in the past the neighbourhood, this brings back people to community living and humanising the city," Wakim told Aletihad.
This approach, he added, places strong emphasis on long-term investors and end-users rather than short-term speculative buyers, noting that around 55% of Bloom's buyers are Emiratis from Abu Dhabi.
"The quality is important because when you are a long-term investor, maintenance becomes critical," he explained.
That makes build quality, long-term upkeep and community planning central to the success of residential projects, Wakim said, as buyers seek homes that serve family needs over many years rather than short-term market cycles.
