LIVEX 2026 Concludes with AED150 Billion in Transformative Liveability Agreements

Abu Dhabi's inaugural liveability summit draws to a close having galvanised over fifty agreements and initiatives that position quality of life at the epicentre of the Emirate's continued growth and urban development.

The inaugural LIVEX has concluded a three-day programme that fundamentally repositioned quality of life as the centrepiece of Abu Dhabi’s economic and urban trajectory. Convening an exceptional assembly of international business leaders, urban innovators, investors, policymakers and cultural figures, the summit witnessed the announcement of more than fifty agreements and initiatives valued in excess of AED150 billion.

Investment and Infrastructure Development

The Department of Municipalities and Transport unveiled several pivotal infrastructure announcements that will substantially reshape Abu Dhabi’s physical landscape. The Musaffah Innovation District emerges as a new catalyst for industrial investment and technological enterprise, whilst Mid-Island Parkway Phase 2 will extend a 14.5-kilometre expressway to connect Abu Dhabi’s central islands with both the E-10 corridor and Khalifa City. The department’s newly launched Government Assets Investment Opportunities Portal now provides a unified gateway through which investors can identify and evaluate opportunities across government-owned land and built assets, complementing an extensive pipeline of AED450 billion in committed infrastructure investment advancing across the Emirate. Al Ain’s Future to 2040, DMT’s long-term planning direction, simultaneously received official launch status, establishing a comprehensive framework that guides future growth whilst preserving Al Ain’s distinguished cultural and natural heritage.

Advancing Community Liveability

The Early Childhood Authority, in collaboration with DMT and the Department of Community Development Abu Dhabi, introduced the Cities for Families Framework, a pioneering global initiative that provides a roadmap for communities designed to optimally support families, children, caregivers, seniors and People of Determination. The Department of Community Development simultaneously launched the Jiran Volunteer Programme, which facilitates the integration of new residents into their communities, nurtures connections with neighbours and enables discovery of local services and amenities.

Technology and Smart City Innovation

Technology formed the third considerable strand of announcements. Abu Dhabi Mobility’s DUNE platform integrates artificial intelligence-powered analysis into transport planning and decision-making protocols, whilst Smart Wadi, a collaborative trial between DMT and e& in the Al Ain Region, deploys sensors and artificial intelligence to monitor flood risk and deliver early warning systems. The department and e& further launched DMT’s first Drone as a Service agreement, deploying artificial intelligence-enabled drones to furnish real-time data and insights across traffic management, urban inspection and construction monitoring. Additional agreements extended across smart parking at Etihad Rail passenger stations, autonomous mobility systems, real estate development, professional training, digital integration and community wellness initiatives.

Global Participation and Vision

Addressing the summit’s conclusion, His Excellency Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, expressed his confidence in what the inaugural LIVEX had accomplished. “The conversation does not end here,” he remarked. “Our ambition is for LIVEX to become an ongoing global platform where cities, investors, businesses and experts can share what works, test new ideas and help shape how liveability is understood and delivered around the world.”

The summit engaged more than 1,500 investors through a dedicated Investor Stage and Investor Lounge, creating substantial opportunities for conversations around market entry, partnerships and investment prospects. LIVEX 2026 took place from 29 September to 1 October at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi and will return in October 2027.

Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office