As per media reports, work on a key 1.3-km bridge, that joins the UAE capital with Hudayriat Island earmarked to build homes for Emiratis, will soon be commenced by Abu Dhabi.

The $50-million project, which is a part of Abu Dhabi's plan to become a city of islands connected by dozens of bridges and tunnels, is a JV between the UAE's Overseas AST and Swiss firm VSL.

With the aim of becoming a global city under its Abu Dhabi Plan 2030, the emirate has taken on several mega infrastructure schemes.

The predicted cost of these projects runs into hundreds of billions of dollars.

Abu Dhabi is utilizing its oil wealth with the aim of pressing ahead with several of its announced plans, even when the UAE's construction sector has been hit by the global economic crisis.

"Hudayriat Island will be significantly expanded to the south and cut through by canals with a transition to mangroves along its outer edges. The island will be connected to Abu Dhabi near Arzanah, a community being developed by Capitala around Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Abu Dhabi is extending its urban footprint to incorporate neighboring islands as the Government invests heavily in developing new housing and infrastructure projects," as per the master plan.