The initiative, "Imagine Abu Dhabi" that was launched by Abu Dhabi government in celebration of the golden jubilee of the establishment of the emirate government system, has attracted approximately 4900 submissions, ideas and suggestions that support the various aspects of development in the emirate, thus establishing a pioneering experience in promoting society partnership and responsibility towards realizing emirate’s development and prosperity.
The initiative launched in mid-March was a platform for creative ideas opening the doors for the different segments of the society to submit their suggestions and ideas that would support the emirate development aspects, as well as to strengthen the partnership between the emirate’s society and government entities in order to improve the quality of planning and the optimal use and sustainability of resources.
The submissions that were received in different languages included topics related to investment opportunities and service development, as well as a number of proposals on education, health, culture, arts, sport, tourism and other creative and innovative proposals that support the emirate's drive to stimulate initiatives that contribute to realizing the visions of a knowledge- and innovation-based economy.
"The number of submissions received in Imagine Abu Dhabi initiative reflects Abu Dhabi society’s awareness and responsibility as an important part of the emirates’ community, as well as being a key partner in the emirate’s sustainable and comprehensive development in all fields" said Dr. Fahad Matar Al Neyadi, Director General of the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, on this occasion.
"The idea of Imagine Abu Dhabi initiative was to complement the approach of the late founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan - may he rest in peace - by opening direct channels with the society for citizens, residents and visitors to contribute to the ongoing development process in the Emirate" he said.
"Over the past fifty years, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi has witnessed achievements in all fields, placing it today among the world's most advanced cities in the fields of development and human capital development. Therefore, Imagine Abu Dhabi initiative came as a window moving the Emirate’s society to a new stage of progress and prosperity that is based on creativity and innovation." added Al Neyadi.
The Director General of the General Secretariat of the Executive Council stressed that "Imagine Abu Dhabi" initiative is a great opportunity to discover and support talented individuals, investors, innovators and pioneers, as well as to build and develop capacities, as it promotes the concept of competitiveness in the society.
The ideas and suggestions concerned with the city of Abu Dhabi accounted for the largest percentage of the received submissions exceeding 2400 submissions, with more than 300 submissions with regard to Al Ain area and 133 to Al Dhafra, while more than 2000 suggestions and ideas were received concerning all the parts of the Emirate.
A variety of submissions and suggestions were received about different topics and domains with more than 1560 submissions on services, more than 1314 on infrastructure, 1758 on culture and art, 1107 on social development, more than 850 on education and 805 on health topics while the submissions on financial resources and other topics accounted for more than 410 submissions.
The next phase of the initiative will include a team of experts reviewing and assess the suggestions and ideas and classifying them according to specific criteria after completing the form requirements including creativity and originality in the presentation of the ideas and suggestions, which enhance the importance of the received submissions, and the expected profit of the project whether pecuniary or developmental, in addition to the alignment of the idea or suggestion with the Abu Dhabi Plan goals.
The evaluation criteria also includes the positive effects and results of the initiative being intended to the benefit of Abu Dhabi society, and the ease of application, realism and resource availability, in addition to the project ability to expand, as the initiative seeks to form a sustainable character that serves the emirate’s society in the long term.
After that, the submissions that successfully pass the initial criteria will be raised to specialists and experts in the government work sectors who will study their application feasibility and impact in economic, social, environmental and social aspects.
The best proposals will be shortlisted and their owners will be asked to prepare visual presentation of each of them in order to provide them with the opportunity to present them to concerned entities, investors and private sector representatives, to implement them on the ground, in addition to honoring them in a special ceremony on this occasion for their ideas that support the development process in the Emirate.
The team of Imagine Abu Dhabi initiative has launched a promotional campaign through different media outlets and social media platforms to encourage the public and inform them about the initiative and how to participate in it.
The team has also toured a number of government entities introducing the employees of Abu Dhabi Media Company and Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations "ADCO" to the initiative, its goals and great role in shaping a more prosperous future for the emirate as well as developing a spirit of participation and encouraging competition and submission of ideas and proposals to the initiative.
The tours have also covered a number of academic institutions including United Arab Emirates University, the Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Khalifa University, New York University, Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, in order to introduce the students to the initiative and its importance and to emphasize the need for their participation being the generation that will witness the future of Abu Dhabi and carry the banner of its glory.
Moreover, during the twenty-seventh session of Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, drawing workshops were organized for children to include them in the initiative and encourage their creativity in imagining Abu Dhabi, in addition to activating external platforms to publicize the initiative and encourage the public interaction in commercial centers across the emirate.

Source: WAM