Abu Dhabi to Have Unified Building Codes in Early 2010

ABU DHABI, UAE, November 12 - Outside banking and economics, regulators
rarely hit the headlines but the rapid expansion of the built environment in
burgeoning Abu Dhabi has put the men and women who ensure the safety of those
who live and work in the emirate under unusually intense scrutiny.

(Photo:
www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091112/366651 )

The Abu Dhabi Government has recently signed up to new and rigorous codes
in urban and industrial building ,enforced by tough and inquisitive
regulators, with hundreds of delegates from both private and public sector
being despatched to training courses on every aspect of construction from
seismic protection to fire control.

The new rules, the Abu Dhabi Building Codes, conform to the most
demanding global standards and have been developed in tandem with the
International Code Council (ICC), responsible for advising US regulators on
their exacting regime.

The challenge is significant not least because of the extraordinary speed
of construction growth across Abu Dhabi (construction industry contributed
4.7 per cent to 2008 GDP*) but because of its demanding climate,
seismological features and the wide range of industrial activity powering the
Emirate's economic expansion.

The regulatory environment needs to be all encompassing but sufficiently
clear and practical that developers can act rigorously without slowing Abu
Dhabi's infrastructure drive.

"Abu Dhabi has stated clear ambitions not only in providing the best
environment in which to live and work but to delivering the services which
support that ambition. Top five governments supply this kind of legislative
and regulatory framework and that is where we want to be," says His
Excellency Rashid Mubarak Al Hajeri, Chairman of DMA and Chairman of the
Building Codes Higher Council.

"However, more important than this is the safety and welfare of people in
our emirate. On that there is no room to compromise and government and
private sector have come together to enhance confidence in our built
environment." added His Excellency Al Hajeri.

The International Building Code also takes in energy efficiency and
property maintenance in a region where climate soon takes its toll on
building fabric. Training and legislation to support the code continues in
Abu Dhabi in consultation with the ICC.

Notes to the editor:

*according to the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry as mentioned
in Oxford Business Group's THE REPORT Abu Dhabi 2009

Earlier this year, DMA signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) and service agreement with the International Code Council (ICC), the
world's leading building code authority and developers of the International
Codes to establish the framework for adoption of the International Building
Code (IBC), which will take effect by 2010 and the development of the Abu
Dhabi International Building Code, the new localised set of standards which
will guide the development of Building construction projects in the Emirate
of Abu Dhabi.

About Department of Municipal Affairs:

The Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA) commenced operations in May
2007, following the Abu Dhabi Executive Council's decision to integrate the
Emirate's municipal system. As a new government entity, the Department of
Municipal Affairs was created to lead, coordinate and oversee three
municipalities in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region. The DMA has a
regulatory role while the service delivery and operations are at the
municipality level.

    For further information, please contact:
    Department of Municipal Affairs
    Mrs. Amal Al Jarwan
    Tel: +971-2-4030311
    Email: media@dma.abudhabi.ae

Photo:
www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091112/366651

For further information, please contact: Department of Municipal Affairs, Mrs. Amal Al Jarwan, Tel: +971-2-4030311, Email: media at dma.abudhabi.ae