A Place for People

An important aspect of Abu Dhabi's Capital 2030 ambitions for the city is the creation of a pleasant and culturally responsive environment. The concept of a people-friendly public domain is central to this integrated view of life and on Al Maryah Island (formerly Sowwah Island) great care has been taken to provide a public realm in keeping with the quality of the private space around it.

Al Maryah Island's podium structure provides widespread pedestrian access in comfort and safety, and a 5.4 km waterside promenade encircles the entire island, offering residents and office workers access to the waterfront, one of the development's greatest natural assets.

In Sowwah Square this water frontage opens out from a 150 m esplanade into a public space in which world-renowned landscape architect Martha Schwartz has created a tranquil, podium-level garden that uses floral designs, water features and tree-lined lawns to make an oasis of calm in Sowwah Square's business hub.