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Sheikh Khalifa: UAE spent Dhs40bn in development projects under former President’s rule

Sheikh Khalifa became President of the UAE on November 3, 2004, and remained in that role until his death on May 13, 2022

by Varun Godinho

May 17, 2022

The UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure implemented nationwide development projects worth over Dhs40bn during the rule of the late President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The number of federal assets number more than 3,000 buildings varying between educational and health facilities, government services and mosques.

Sheikh Khalifa became President of the UAE on November 3, 2004, and remained in that role until his death on May 13, 2022. During his tenure, the establishment, completion and upgradation of more than 230 public schools as well as a healthcare system of leading hospitals and 32 federal government health facilities was undertaken. He also supported fishermen by establishing more than 24 fishing ports.

The ministry achieved considerable progress in terms of roads, with the total length of federal roads reaching more than 900km with the completion of more than 140 projects, according to news agency WAM. The total length of traffic lanes on federal roads reached 4,300km over the past 18 years.

The ministry has also prioritised water facilities as a key driver of the water development process. Over 106 dams were constructed and maintained over the past 20 years. The capacity of the country’s dams and reservoirs increased to more than 200-million cubic metres, strengthening the country’s water security.

The Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme meanwhile provided housing support to more than 33,838 Emirati families and established integrated residential districts too.

With regards to the development of the country’s maritime industry, the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP stands at Dhs90bn annually. UAE ports handled over 19 million TEUs during 2021, and there were over 25,000 port calls in the UAE during the same year.

UAE’s national fleet capacity stands at 21 million DWT and national fleet in 2020 consisted of 970 vessels. The country’s ports rank among the top 10 internationally in the volume of container handling. There are over 27,000 maritime companies in the UAE.

Read: Timeline: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan – UAE President