Abu Dhabi has approved 13 key projects covering an area of four million sq m in the first quarter of 2014, of which about 70 per cent are residential developments, said a report.

Five of these approved projects are masterplans, with the remaining eight being detailed project plans, reported the Emirates 24|7 citing officials of the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC).

Among the project approvals were Aldar Properties’ masterplan for Al Raha Beach East, a mixed-use development on Abu Dhabi mainland comprising more than 3,000 residential units and 50,000 sq m of Grade A office space, close to Yas Island.

Another key project is the Petroleum Institute on the Abu Dhabi mainland to be developed by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. The new enhancements to the campus will include a new male undergraduate centre, a new research centre and research park, and a Women in Science and Engineering and residential blocks.

The remaining eight approvals were for detailed project plans, which included Farglory’s EW11 development on Al Maryah Island and Aldar Properties’ Shams Abu Dhabi development on Al Reem Island, both residential projects.