QCC Releases Updated Infrastructure Standards Guidelines

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 13 May, 2017 – Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) has released an updated edition of the Infrastructure Standards Guidelines (ISGL) for the emirate of Abu Dhabi, following its approval by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee of Abu Dhabi Executive Council. 

The updated ISGL will serve as a comprehensive guide to all entities concerned with infrastructure development in the emirate. The manual contains simplified and streamlined procedures which are designed to optimise the speed and ease for entities as they access information relevant to the implementation of infrastructure projects.

The update drew on the engagement of more than 10 working committees comprising 125 government and private sector entities in Abu Dhabi that represented all infrastructural sectors. Over the past three years, the committees reviewed more than 200 technical documents, analysed and bridged gaps, and submitted their expert recommendations to enhance standards in line with global best practices. 

His Excellency Dr Helal Humaid Al Kaabi, Acting Secretary General of QCC, said: “The development of ISGL reiterates our commitment to collaborating with various stakeholders within the Abu Dhabi government and private sector to streamline procedures and services in the infrastructure sector. In harmonising all related standards and specifications related to infrastructure development projects across Abu Dhabi, QCC is delivering on its mandate to promote quality infrastructure in Abu Dhabi as envisaged by the Abu Dhabi Plan and Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. We are confident that the updated ISGL will pave the way for the development of high-quality infrastructure projects in Abu Dhabi that support the advancement of the city’s economy.”

Engineer Abdullah Hassan Al Muaini, Executive Director of Conformity Scheme Services at QCC, said: “The committees benchmarked their recommendations in line with the standards adopted by the world’s most developed countries that possess a proven link between unified infrastructural standards and positive economic, technical and environmental outcomes.”

Elaborating on the significance of the guidelines, he said: "ISGL is a strategic document designed to achieve one of the key mandates of the Abu Dhabi Plan – build integrated urban areas tailored to the needs of the community that enhance the quality of life.” 

He added: “The objective of the current ISGL update is twofold. First, it brings in a greater degree of systemisation to a unified code that is applicable to all entities involved in Abu Dhabi’s infrastructure sector. Second, the guidelines ensure adherence to the highest standards in all infrastructure projects across the emirate.”

Engineer Al Muaini also said that QCC established a mechanism to update ISGL on a regular basis in collaboration with all relevant public and private sector stakeholders including experts and representatives of academia. This approach will allow QCC to utilise the contributors’ domain expertise and adopt best international practices in the field.

He added: “The updated edition of ISGL is the outcome of a consensus among all parties on the standardisation requirements of the infrastructure sector. This will give a strong boost to the sector and add further value to our economy.”

The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council was established in 2009 to raise the quality of the emirate’s exports and locally traded products while protecting the interests of consumers and supporting the UAE’s competitive economy. QCC empowers regulators to establish and implement product safety, legal metrology and conformity schemes. The Council also sets guidelines and benchmarks to verify that the products manufactured and traded in Abu Dhabi conform to the highest quality standards.