Gulf Construction Online - $45bn plan for Ruwais City expansion unveiled

UAE Focus

A housing complex in Ruwais City ... Adnoc to invest $45 billion in expansion.

$45bn plan for Ruwais City expansion unveiled

01 October 2018

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) will invest Dh165 billion ($45 billion) in development plans for Ruwais City, a 6.9-sq-km community near the Ruwais Industrial Complex in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region, a media report said.

The project will see the city’s population nearly double, over the next 15 years, to more than 50,000 people, as well as the creation of thousands of new, specialised, highly skilled jobs in parallel with Adnoc’s investment in its downstream operations, reported Emirates news agency Wam.

The Ruwais City development plan complements Adnoc’s decision to develop the world’s largest integrated refining and petrochemicals complex in Ruwais. Along with the growth of Adnoc’s own businesses, the development of both the industrial complex and the city will see a significant spill-over impact on the local economy, as local contractors and businesses grow in tandem.

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Adnoc Group CEO, unveiled the new Ruwais City brand identity – Where Opportunity Lives.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, said: “Ruwais is an international centre of various industries, especially oil and gas, and is an important part of the UAE economy, and the main destination for the residents and visitors of Al Dhafra Region. Its growth and expansion will advance the country’s refining and petrochemical industries while updating and improving its infrastructure will enable it to keep pace with the country’s progress.”

To accommodate the immediate population growth, Adnoc is constructing more than 3,000 new residential units bringing the total number of units to 10,000, with more to be built as required. Development plans also include a number of lifestyle, recreation and community projects, including beach facilities, a central park, traditional suq, 18-hole golf course, cricket field, running and cycling tracks, as well as the expansion of the public transport network, a range of community and civic centres and a number of health centres.

Counted among Ruwais City’s community offerings are eight schools and universities, three pharmacies, three major markets, three travel agencies, four fitness clubs, two large parks, a major shopping mall and range of other commercial and civic centers.

The investment programme will see the entire Ruwais complex upgraded to increase its flexibility and integrated capabilities to produce greater volumes of higher-value petrochemicals and derivative products. It includes the construction of one of the world’s largest mixed feed crackers, trebling petrochemicals production capacity from 4.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 14.4 mtpa by 2025. Adnoc will also develop a new, large-scale, manufacturing ecosystem in Ruwais through the creation of petrochemical derivatives and conversion parks.