A new town comprising 2,228 housing units, in addition to schools, hospitals, shopping malls and other civic facilities, is coming up in Abu Dhabi's Western Region.

The town, called Al Hailiyah, is being built by Abu Dhabi Municipality and the Town Planning Department to provide free houses for UAE nationals in the emirate.

The blueprint, feasibility study, architectural design and mapping of the project have been completed by the Department's Planning and Architecture Section.

According to a report, work has already begun to fill the land for the construction of the town behind Al Shawamekh Town near the Abu Dhabi-Dubai Highway.

The houses are being built for nationals under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The project was planned under the Sheikh Zayed Housing Scheme to build 2,270 houses at a cost of Dh800 million for free distribution among UAE nationals.

The department has put out tenders for local contracting companies.

The Chairman of the Department and the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, Sheikh Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, also issued instructions to speed up the work on the project and complete it within a year and a half.

"The work on the project should continue day and night to reach the highest rate of achievement according to the plan, and the town should be ready for occupation as per schedule," the Department Chairman said in a directive.

According to the work process plan, the project will be divided among ten local construction and companies to help more than one local firm benefit from it.

A consultant company will also be hired to supervise the work of the contracting companies to ensure its completion on time and the project's uniformity.

The department, according to a report, has already started receiving project bids from local companies, which will soon be shortlisted and finalised.

According to the procedures, each winning contractor will be assigned to build 100 to 600 housing units in accordance with their records, experience and the nature of work they do.

The houses will be built on 450 square-metre plots, featuring three buildings. They include a building for guests and visitors, with two main halls with attached washroom and bath. Each hall is 5.5 by 8 metres.

The second building is the servant's quarters with the house's kitchen, laundry, storeroom and electricity switchboard room.

The third and main building will be a six-bedroom villa for the family, including the master room with special specifications and fittings.

The building will also be equipped with all the necessary services and facilities.

According to the approved design, each unit will have a front yard and lawns for gardening and tree plantation.

The Al Hailiyah Town will have several small mosques, each with a capacity to accommodate 200 people, in addition to a grand mosque accommodating 1,000.

The other infrastructures include schools, kindergartens, clinics, hospitals, shopping malls, cultural centres, and parks.

A Civil Defence station, an Etisalat office, petrol pumps and banks will also be established in the town.

Spaces for future hotels, restaurants, wedding halls and a transport station have also been allocated.

Parties interested in establishing these premises and private schools and hospitals can contact the Department for more information.