Abu Dhabi: The Higher Corporation for Specialised Economic Zones (Zones-corp) on Monday said it will construct residential units to accommodate 800,000 workers in various categories by 2012.

Zonescorp is the authority responsible for the establishment and management of Industrial Cities of Abu Dhabi where specialised clusters of industries are being set.

The facility will help meet the growing shortage of workers accommodation in Abu Dhabi's industrial belt.

"The construction of residential cities for workers and labourers in Abu Dhabi reflects the human values and the real interaction and response of our government with international laws that call for providing and availing decent living conditions for all types of workers and labourers working in the UAE," Shaikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Zonescorp chairman and Chairman of the Court of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, said.

"Zonescorp has been chosen to construct these residential cities in order to accommodate different types of limited-income workers and labourers working in the industrial and construction sectors in Abu Dhabi," he added.

Units to accommodate about 400,000 workers will be delivered by the end of 2010, of which 122,000 units will be allocated for limited-income workers offering single and double-room accommodation to house engineers, supervisors, technicians, and workers serving the industrial and construction sectors.

About 40 per cent of the workers will be housed in permanent residential cities, while 20 per cent will be accommodated in temporary residential cities.

"These cities will be divided into permanent cities for the industrial sector, temporary cities for the construction sector, in addition to fast temporary complexes to be constructed in Al Faya area to accommodate the increasing number of workers serving the construction sector in order to meet the increasing demand in the labour market," commented Engineer Jaber Hareb Al Khaili, Zonescorp's chief executive officer (CEO).

"According to our five-year strategic plan, those cities will accommodate around 800,000 workers by the end of 2012, of which 270,000 will be for limited-income workers," Al Khaili added revealing that Zonescorp is about to acquire new plots of land for constructing new residential cities for workers and labourers through private investments.

The rent prices will be competitive as these cities will be administered by the government, while the conditions set by Zonescorp will allow investors to manage these cities and complexes.

Will this project be able to meet the demand for low-cost housing? Do you think other emirates should follow suit? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com or fill in the form bellow to send your comments.


Your comments

Its the right move..these projects should come into existence as soon as possible it will definitely solve the highrent problems.other emirates and GCCs should follow
wilson
Abudhabi,UAE.
Posted: June 03, 2008, 14:32

I appreciate this idea of constructing Lowcost hosing, have come atleast now to improve the Living Conditions of the Low Income Group who are the Backbone of this country. This must be followed in all the Emirates. Then only the Rent will come down.
R.Chandramouli
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2008, 13:28

Send us your comments

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Gulf News may edit comments for length and clarity but will not change the tone of the message. Comments will only be accepted if all fields (including name) are filled correctly and the message isn't abusive, defamatory or offensive. The Gulf News website will only print your first name along with your comment. Please state in the message if you wish to remain anonymous. All comments sent may be forwarded for use in the Gulf News newspaper.