Abu Dhabi is putting liveability at the centre of urban expansion with a new planning framework that will assess major developments on factors ranging from walkability and accessibility to mobility, public spaces and community connectivity.
August 31, 2026 | Palak Kataria | UAE | Real Estate | 3 Min Read
Abu Dhabi is introducing a new layer of scrutiny to the way large-scale communities are planned, with the launch of the Livability by Design Framework, an initiative designed to ensure that major developments contribute not only to the emirate's physical growth but also to the everyday quality of life of the people who live in them.
Introduced by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) and overseen by the Urban Planning and Permits Centre, the framework brings liveability considerations into the master-planning process from an early stage.
It will apply to new and updated master plans intended for more than 2,000 people, covering a broad range of projects including residential and mixed-use communities as well as tourism destinations.
At the heart of the framework is a shift towards evaluating developments through the experience of their eventual residents and users. Rather than looking at buildings and infrastructure in isolation, planners will consider how effectively communities allow people to move, interact and access the services and spaces they need.
Among the areas receiving greater attention are walkability, connected mobility networks, public spaces, universal accessibility and the overall quality of the public realm. The approach is intended to encourage neighbourhoods where homes, amenities, open spaces and transport infrastructure work together as part of a more integrated urban environment.
For Abu Dhabi's real estate sector, the framework is significant because liveability is increasingly becoming an important part of the value proposition of new communities. Buyers and tenants are looking beyond individual properties towards factors such as access to green spaces, pedestrian-friendly streets, community facilities, mobility options and proximity to everyday services.
Embedding these principles at master-plan level could therefore influence how future residential and mixed-use projects across the emirate are conceived.
The initiative also places greater emphasis on inclusive urban design. Universal accessibility is among the considerations incorporated into the framework, reinforcing the principle that public spaces and community infrastructure should be usable by people with different needs and abilities.
For developers, DMT has introduced an updated assessment checklist alongside supporting guidance documents and submission templates. These tools are intended to provide clearer expectations around the liveability requirements that projects will need to address.
Crucially, the authority has said that the existing submission and approval process will remain unchanged. This means the liveability assessment will be integrated into established planning procedures rather than creating an entirely separate approval route.
The move comes as Abu Dhabi continues to see substantial development across residential, commercial, hospitality and mixed-use real estate. With new communities adding to the emirate's urban footprint, the quality and connectivity of neighbourhoods are becoming increasingly important considerations alongside the volume of new supply.
The framework forms part of Abu Dhabi's wider Livability Strategy, which seeks to make communities more connected, inclusive and responsive to residents' needs.
For the property industry, the broader implication is clear: future development in Abu Dhabi will increasingly be assessed not simply by what is built, but by how well the resulting neighbourhood functions as a place to live.
Source: Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport; WAM
