President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capacity as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, has issued the Law amending some provisions of Law No. / 23 / for year 2007, on the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC).

Under the new law, the UPC shall prepare and approve the general urban strategic plan, policies and urban development system in the emirate. Municipalities in the emirate shall prepare executive design of documents and maps that define the engineering works through which the general urban plan, approved by the UPC, is implemented.

The law also provides the jurisdiction to the Abu Dhabi UPC to check the building permits issued by the municipalities. The UPC sets up regulations for granting permissions and building permits for projects deemed to have strategic importance or those which have impact on the implementation of schemes and construction regulatory policies of the emirate.

The council has the right to suspend the implementation of permission or the licence issued by the municipality if it is contrary to the regulations and licensing requirements, and can refer the issue to the Executive Council to take a decision.