Al Gharbia Investment Roadmap www.algharbia.ae Contents Leadership commitment 04 About Al Gharbia 06 Introducing WRDC 11 Business opportunities 18 Guidance and support 12 2 3 Leadership commitment As an integral part of Abu Dhabi Emirate, Al Gharbia is being developed under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. The region is also strongly supported by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and is under the direction of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative for the Western Region. Vision 2030: Towards a Brighter Future • Plan Al Gharbia 2030 has been developed to lead Al Gharbia towards a brighter future through managed and responsible growth. • The overall strategic plan targets economic development, social health promotion, the preservation of cultural identity and environmental protection. It strives to promote the region’s economic growth while valuing and maintaining its historical, cultural and ecological significance for the benefit of many generations to come. • The Western Region Development Council (WRDC) together with their strategic partners are transforming Al Gharbia into a unique destination for thriving and promising opportunities to ensure providing best services to residents, investors and visitors. His4 Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region 5 Fast facts Al Gharbia A unique opportunity, waiting to be discovered Al Gharbia, a growing market of world-class opportunities Al Gharbia, the Western Region Al Gharbia is appropriately named, best described as ‘where the desert of Abu Dhabi, is quite simply the meaning “Western” in Arabic and meets the sea’. Location-wise, “To achieve largest investment opportunity in was the name commonly used by the region is close to the borders sustainable the UAE. Located in the United Arabic speakers in the country due of Saudi Arabia and Qatar – and 0% 9% of First Nuclear power Arab Emirates, the region covers to its geographical location within is known as the main land access 6 Abu Dhabi’s development, we of Abu project in the a staggering 40,000 square the UAE before being officially gateway to the UAE. total population Dhabi’s land Middle East encourage business kilometres, which equates to 60% re-named in 2008. The region is mass of the total land mass of Abu Dhabi home to seven main cities; Liwa, Al Gharbia is as big an investment diversification Emirate. Madinat Zayed, Ghayathi, Ruwais, opportunity as you are willing to to enhance Mirfa, Sila and Dalma Island. It make it. boasts of undulating deserts and the investment approximately 350 kilometres of environment in pristine and untouched coastline; Largest 7.1% of the Al Gharbia and and most fertile of pristine World’s oil farms in Abu support productivity coastline reserves and Dhabi the largest improvement.” oil refinery H.E. Mohamed Hamad bin Azzan Al Mazrouei, Director General, Western UAE has Region Development Council Biggest of the 3.2% Largest solar power World’s proven gas reserves Petro - plant in the Chemicals world (2012) and, Al Gharbia has the majority facility in the of the UAE’s world (2014) gas fields 6 7 World class businesses already in Al Gharbia Why invest in Al Gharbia? Top competitive advantages Strategic location and Booming investments Solid support services geographic advantage Investments are consistently Apart from implementing investor- Al Gharbia is close to the borders of growing, with AED 240 billion* being friendly regulations, the local Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The Region invested in development projects government also provides potential is also seen as one of the main in key areas such as: Oil & Gas investors with full support from gateways to the Middle East. With (AED 120 billion), Power Generation the start of a project until the its vast geographic scope and low (AED 62 billion), Infrastructure & final set-up. One-stop service density population, Al Gharbia offers Transportation (AED 54 billion) and providers called TAMM Centers are a huge untapped land area just Tourism (AED 4 billion). strategically located throughout the waiting to be explored. region. Business-friendly environment Bustling industries As part of Abu Dhabi Emirate, The main industries in Al Gharbia’s Al Gharbia offers a tax-free cities are oil and gas upstream and environment, economic stability, downstream, power generation, no foreign exchange controls and chemicals, agriculture, tourism and trade barriers, high purchasing construction. Al Gharbia generates power, low interest and borrowing 40% of Abu Dhabi’s total yearly rates, consistent favourable returns, GDP, over AED 115 billion ($31bn). efficient workforce of varied specializations at competitive wages and a lot more. Agriculture & Which sector? Oil and Gas Manufacturing Logistics Ranging in size across all of the Food Processing seven cities of Al Gharbia each sector has many opportunities Commercial Tourism Healthcare Retail directly or indirectly. Real Estate * Figures detailed are estimated costs for both ongoing and announced projects 8 9 Introducing WRDC The Western Region Development to actively promote Al Gharbia, they Council (WRDC) works with its aim to attract inward investment and For more information WRDC’s vision strategic partners, businesses, to help businesses reach their full on WRDC, please visit investors and its community to capabilities. www.wrdc.ae drive the economic development To lead Al Gharbia, the Western and long term sustainability for the By supporting a wide range of region. The council is committed initiatives to encourage enterprise, Region of Abu Dhabi into becoming to high value investments for the maximise productivity and improve region and its people, whether this local workforce skills, WRDC a model of sustainable economic is the creation of small to medium wants to allow those already living, enterprises or large scale industries, working, and investing in the they are on hand to support, assist region to benefit from its economic and social development by and offer direction. Working at a prosperity. local, regional and international level setting the standard of excellence in the development of people, enhancement of infrastructure and improvement of enterprises. 10 11 11 WRDC will help with guidance and support WRDC will help with research analysis and guidance necessary to unlock success Al Gharbia GDP 160,000 30% 140,000 25% Business 20% 120,000 15% Plan Al 100,000 planning • High level evaluation of business plans • Guide investors and developers with the 10% 000 80,000 Gharbia overall strategic plan of 2030 to ensure D' 5% and • Advice on financing US 60,000 that project and plans are aligned 0% • Potential linkage to local investors 40,000 2030 -5% financial 20,000 -10% 0 -15% advice 2007 2008 2009 2010201520202025 2030 Total GDP Percentage Growth Al Gharbia Population 400,000 60% 350,000 • Provide available sector / regional data 50% 300,000 • Assessment of market forces and • Analyse demand size and growth 40% 250,000 Integration roadblocks that may influence the project Regional • Assess margins and competition to 200,000 30% with other • Location identification understand the underlying regional 150,000 data 20% • Estishara scheme - affordable access to statistics 100,000 Population (individuals) activities 10% business consulting 50,000 0 0% 2010 2015 20202025 2030 Population (Individuals) Percentage Growth Rate Ghayathi: Non-citizens’ residential supply/demand gap 2030 2,500 2,000 • Share available information on market Guidance • Assistance with statutory controls, Market gaps and benchmark analysis 1,500 regulations and guidelines • Analyse results from commissioned Villa - Low with • Communication assistance with relevant testing 1,000 Villa - Mid research government entities Villa - High authorities 500 Apartment - Low Apartment - Mid 0 Apartment - High 2030 12 13 Examples of how WRDC has assisted entrepreneurs Special programmes to Mixed Use Community Developments – Madinat Zayed lower the costs of entry A newly agreed scheme for a mixed use development with a private sector developer (NTCC) in the heart of Madinat Zayed for 21,000 sqm of space with 100 apartments, 4,500 sqm of retail & F&B, 2000 sqm of The Estishara Programme is a The services include providing office and 4,000 sqm of healthcare with a construction joint initiative led by a taskforce technical assistance on following: cost of circa AED 90m. that includes members from the • Development of pre concept Western Region Development design Council (WRDC), the Urban Planning Council (UPC) and the Western • Obtaining preliminary design Region Municipality (WRM) to approvals assist the Al Gharbia community • Demand gathering in taking an effective role in the process of implementing the ‘Al • Development of feasibility Gharbia 2030 plan’. The program studies enables a coordinated approach to support developers by collaborating specialists within the WRDC, UPC and WRM and other private sector consultants who are committed to this initiative. 14 15 Tourism - Desert Camp Agriculture - Poultry Farm Industrial – Sandwich Panel Assessment of a new eco-tourism desert hospitality attraction in Liwa. Review and assistance with the feasibility Assistance with the assessment of the business Manufacturing Unit Factory and business plan, concept planning, development strategy and financing opportunities through the Khalifa Fund.