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Community Members Discuss Impacts of Abu Dhabi's Recent Government Decisions
Residents and property owners consider how new real estate rules, fee cuts and livability funding may affect daily life in the emirate.
How we reported this
The Department of Municipalities and Transport issued new administrative decisions to implement Law No. 3 of 2015, amended by Law 2 of 2025, covering real estate escrow disbursements, property ownership rights, owners' committee bylaws and compensation for cancelled units.
These measures follow a series of 2025 approvals by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and arrive as residents manage property transactions and business costs across the emirate. Publication of such resolutions occurs monthly in the Official Gazette of Abu Dhabi in Arabic and English, giving households and firms a clear record of updated requirements.
Real Estate and Governance Updates
Property owners now face revised procedures for escrow accounts and compensation claims tied to cancelled units. Owners' committees must align bylaws with the updated framework, which also clarifies ownership rights. Executive Council Decision No. 1 of 2025 adds rules on folk arts performances, while Administrative Decision No. 5 of 2025 sets new limits on heavy vehicle movement inside Abu Dhabi city. Emiri Decree No. 1 of 2025 reorganises the offices of the Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern and Western regions to strengthen local coordination.
These steps build on the Abu Dhabi Executive Council’s role in endorsing draft laws before final Ruler approval. The changes target transparency in the real estate sector and smoother governance across municipal boundaries.
Fee Reductions and Livability Projects
The Abu Dhabi government lowered licensing fees for all economic activities to Dh1,000, cancelled waste producer tariffs and service provider fees, and set the Abu Dhabi Chamber membership fee at Dh50. In September 2025 the Executive Council approved a AED42 billion expansion of the Livability Strategy to support more than 60 projects, among them 200 parks, 24 schools and 283 cycling tracks aimed at better residential integration.
These adjustments reduce direct costs for businesses and households while directing substantial capital toward neighbourhood improvements. The Livability Strategy expansion, originally launched in 2023, now reaches an 81 percent residential integration target by the end of 2025.
Individuals and companies seeking full text of the resolutions can review the monthly Official Gazette of Abu Dhabi or contact the issuing departments directly for implementation guidance.