Ali Al Gebely

The neighbourhood is the unit of civilisation

The core message of the available session transcript is that a neighbourhood becomes valuable when it turns citywide ambition into daily lived experience: safe movement, usable public space, proximity to services, community belonging, and quality of life close to home. Maryam Amiri frames the discussion by arguing that civilisation is tested at neighbourhood scale, where a child’s journey to school, a senior citizen’s independence, free places to meet or play, and feelings of safety and belonging reveal whether planning actually works for residents. The session positions neighbourhoods as more than buildings and amenities; they are social systems that create relationships, support well-being, withstand challenges, and generate lasting social and economic value. His Excellency Ahmed Fadhel Almheirbi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Municipality, responds by rejecting a purely asset-based view of neighbourhoods. He says the municipality does not only ask whether facilities, materials, infrastructure, and services exist, but whether they connect into an integrated whole that improves daily life. His examples are practical: whether a cycling track leads to a bus stop, whether residents can walk safely and comfortably from transit to home, and whether someone can reach the mosque while feeling safe. For him, the aim is an environment where people feel part of a “bigger home” and an extended family, not just users of separate urban components. Ali Al Gebely of ONE Development then links the same idea to private development. He says new developments must begin with understanding people’s needs, because lifestyles are changing and residents increasingly expect connected, nearby services and facilities. He stresses that technology matters, but should not overwhelm the human part of community life. He describes ONE Development’s focus as creating “livable and lovable communities,” while also saying traditional real estate has ended because developers must stay continuously connected to changing resident requirements. He credits Abu Dhabi’s livability to integration between public and private sectors, with the municipality’s urban planning setting a foundation that private developers continue and refine. The discussion then turns to resident feedback and Abu Dhabi Municipality’s Tawajid Al Baladi model. Almheirbi explains that the concept moves beyond waiting for people to visit a physical centre or use a digital channel; instead, the municipality positions itself inside neighbourhoods as a “next door neighbour” that can feel residents’ pain and coordinate with government, private entities, and community members. He says 69 Tawajid Al Baladi centres have been activated across three municipalities, with more to come, and that this approach is becoming a standard for urban planning. The available transcript ends as he begins to share a specific resident recommendation story based on a planning gap.