{
  "id": 10457877,
  "title": "Why building better cities makes good business sense",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/why-building-better-cities-makes-good-business-sense-10457877",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-28T14:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2026/09/28/abu-dhabi-livex-livability-society-cities-families-commuting-work-jobs/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Abu Dhabi is experiencing rapid growth, with new homes, roads, and businesses sprouting up throughout the emirate. The crucial question remains: does this expansion enhance the quality of life for residents? They seek a secure home, a manageable commute, top-notch schools and healthcare, alongside parks and shops in close proximity. These elements simplify daily routines and prove economically beneficial. Historically, cities vied for business by highlighting their infrastructure, such as airports, roads, ports, and office spaces. Although these factors remain essential, modern companies also consider an additional aspect. They evaluate whether individuals would be inclined to relocate to a city, whether their families would feel content there, and whether they would choose to remain. This is significant because losing valuable employees incurs considerable costs. Companies must subsequently recruit, train, and rebuild their staff's expertise. A city that prioritizes a high quality of life aids employers in retaining skilled individuals for extended periods. Furthermore, it instills investor confidence in finding the workforce necessary for growth. The advantages extend beyond the city itself. When inhabitants settle in a city, they rent or purchase residences, patronize local businesses, and engage in community activities. They are more inclined to plan for the future and spend their money locally, leading to stronger neighborhoods and a more stable economy over time. Strategic city planning can also yield a valuable yet often underrated aspect: time. Reduced travel time to work through shorter and more reliable journeys, coupled with nearby schools, clinics, or shops diminishing lengthy trips, make public infrastructure, such as shaded walking paths or local parks, more accessible. Abu Dhabi is actively implementing this concept. Since its Liveability Strategy commenced in 2023, numerous communities have gained improved services and facilities. Over 60 projects valued at Dh12 billion ($3.26 billion), part of a larger programme worth Dh42 billion, have contributed to this progress. These initiatives encompass over 200 parks and sports courts, 24 schools, 21 mosques, 28 community majlises, and more than 20 shops and retail facilities. Abu Dhabi has also expanded approximately 120 kilometers of walking paths and 283 kilometers of cycling tracks. This effort will transition into Phase Two of Abu Dhabi's Liveability Strategy, focusing on the functionality and community service of these facilities. Feedback from residents and data on completed infrastructure will guide investments towards local needs, ensuring that the value of these projects is measured by their impact on everyday life. Transportation is another illustration. Two bridges connecting Al Reem Island to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Highway opened in March, capable of accommodating up to 7,200 vehicles per hour and projected to decrease busy-hour travel by 15 minutes. This improvement benefits commuters, delivery personnel, and parents transporting their children to school, ultimately saving time and resources for businesses due to reduced delays. Housing must also keep pace with economic growth. In the previous year, Abu Dhabi authorized plans for approximately 190,000 homes as part of a broader development of around 75 million square meters, encompassing industrial zones, data centers, advanced factories, and nearly 5,000 hotel rooms. Balancing residential, industrial, and commercial development is crucial because new job creation necessitates homes, roads, schools, and services surrounding them. Sustainable growth requires all these components to be planned concurrently. Efficient government services also play a vital role. The Binaa platform leverages technology to expedite and simplify building permit approvals, diminishing waiting times, paperwork, and unnecessary expenses for homeowners, architects, and builders. This means that beneficial projects can advance more swiftly while maintaining necessary safety measures. Cities that streamline daily life for their residents and businesses are more likely to retain the individuals and enterprises that contribute to their economic expansion. However, solving every city challenge simultaneously is unrealistic. Cities evolve, and people's needs shift over time, but the key lies in planning around everyday life, engaging with communities, and continuously enhancing the places where individuals reside. This approach will be central to LiveX 2026, the inaugural Liveability and Investment Exhibition, taking place at the Adnec Centre Abu Dhabi from September 29 to October 1. LiveX will showcase how Abu Dhabi is integrating liveability with investment through existing projects, policies, and partnerships shaping daily life across the emirate. The most competitive cities of the upcoming decade will be characterized not solely by growth but by whether that expansion enhances residents' daily lives, visitors, and businesses. When people can count on appropriate housing, efficient transportation, and neighborhoods catering to their families' needs, they are more likely to stay put. Businesses can retain talent, and investors can plan with greater assurance. In essence, continuously improving everyday life in Abu Dhabi is an investment in the city's future.",
  "summary": "Abu Dhabi is growing, and the signs are easy to see. New homes, roads and businesses are taking shape across the emirate. The important question is whether this development also makes everyday life better for the people who live here. They want a safe home, a reasonable journey to work, good schools and healthcare, and parks and shops close by. These things make daily life easier, but they also…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Why building better cities makes good business sense",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/why-building-better-cities-makes-good-business-sense",
        "published": "2026-09-28T14:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}