In line with its strategic vision to enhance quality of life and deliver exceptional municipal services, Abu Dhabi City Municipality has implemented a series of landmark projects during the first half of 2026 to upgrade and improve the efficiency of the street lighting network across Abu Dhabi Island and the mainland. The projects aim to enhance the quality and appearance of road lighting, ensure the long-term sustainability of lighting infrastructure, and provide the highest standards of safety and comfort for residents and road users.
The programme focused on upgrading the lighting network for streets, bridges and tunnels in accordance with the highest international standards and specifications. By adopting the latest lighting technologies, the Municipality has enhanced the performance and quality of its lighting infrastructure while further strengthening Abu Dhabi's distinctive cityscape and enriching the visual character of its roads and public spaces.
Engineer Majed Alkatheeri, Acting Executive Director of the Operations and Maintenance Sector at Abu Dhabi City Municipality, said that the lighting upgrade projects across Abu Dhabi Island and the mainland represent a key component of the Municipality's ongoing efforts to enhance quality of life, strengthen infrastructure, and create a safe and sustainable environment that meets the needs of residents and road users alike.
He added that the achievements realised during the first half of 2026 reflect the Municipality's commitment to adopting innovative and sustainable solutions that improve the efficiency of street lighting networks, enhance road safety, and elevate the appearance of roads, bridges and tunnels. These initiatives also support greater energy efficiency and contribute to reducing carbon emissions, in line with Abu Dhabi's wider sustainability ambitions.
Alkatheeri further noted that the Municipality continues to develop its street lighting system in accordance with international best practice by deploying advanced technologies, improving operational and maintenance efficiency, and enhancing response times to service requests and emergency incidents. These efforts ensure the delivery of high-quality municipal services that meet community expectations while reinforcing Abu Dhabi's position as a leading global city renowned for its quality of life and commitment to sustainability.
The Municipality's continuous investment in upgrading and maintaining its lighting network has resulted in significant improvements across a range of key performance indicators. During the reporting period, the lighting performance indicator achieved a 100% rating, reflecting substantial improvements in illumination levels, lighting intensity and overall system performance in accordance with the highest international standards. The programme also contributed to a 79% reduction in carbon emissions, strengthened environmental sustainability, and improved energy efficiency through reduced electricity consumption.
Decorative Lighting and Achievements by the Numbers
During the first half of 2026, Abu Dhabi City Municipality completed several decorative lighting projects, including the design and installation of architectural lighting for vehicle bridges along the Abu Dhabi–Dubai (E11) Highway, including Al Bahia Bridge, Al Samhah Bridge, KEZAD Bridge, and Saih Shuaib Bridge.
As part of its lighting maintenance and rehabilitation programme, the Municipality completed the installation and replacement of approximately 2,791 lighting columns, maintained 1,035 lighting columns, repaired and replaced approximately 4,379 cable pull boxes, replaced 630 lighting column foundations, installed approximately 2,115 LED luminaires, repaired and replaced 81 lighting control panel foundations, removed approximately 2,394 cable pull boxes, maintained 285 control panels, and replaced 17,975 metres of lighting cables.
Maintenance works across Abu Dhabi Island also included the installation of decorative lighting for vehicle and pedestrian bridges and tunnels, supervision of maintenance, enhancement and development works for road lighting networks, rehabilitation of the decorative lighting system on Sheikh Zayed Bridge, and the modernisation of lighting control systems for pedestrian and vehicle bridges and tunnels throughout Abu Dhabi.
The programme also included the maintenance of lighting assets across mainland cities through cable rehabilitation, improvements to road lighting, maintenance of lighting infrastructure along external roads, and the enhancement of the centralised lighting control system.
Effective Emergency Response
During the first half of 2026, Abu Dhabi City Municipality achieved outstanding performance in responding to lighting network reports and incidents, handling a total of 6,355 reports and service requests. The Municipality achieved a 100% completion rate for all reports received through the Emergency Office, public observations submitted via social media platforms, and reports received by email. It also completed and closed 100% of infrastructure permit applications.
Awards and Professional Engagement
During the first half of 2026, Abu Dhabi City Municipality was shortlisted among the Top Three initiatives in the Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance under the Strategic Impact Initiative category for its Energy-Efficient LED Road Lighting Project (Phase Two).
The Municipality also participated in the ThinkLight Summit, held as part of the Light + Intelligent Building Middle East exhibition, and conducted a benchmarking exercise through which a delegation from Ajman Municipality was introduced to Abu Dhabi's best practices in street lighting.
The Municipality's lighting projects continue to support a wide range of community initiatives and public events by providing the technical infrastructure required for decorative lighting during national and seasonal occasions. This includes the installation of electrical distribution units along Corniche Road, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Street, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Street, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street, and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street. These efforts reflect the Municipality's commitment to enhancing the city's appearance, improving public safety, and ensuring better visibility and safer movement for pedestrians and motorists at event locations.