Abu Dhabi University (ADU) has laid the foundation stone for its planned campus in Abu Dhabi's Al Ain city, just weeks after the $81.7m (AED300m) project was announced.
According to an ADU statement, the new campus will cover a total area of 6.5ha, with the first phase, spanning 2.8ha, scheduled for completion by September 2019.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by HE Ali Saeed bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, chairman of ADU’s board of directors and the university’s executive director of community relations, Salem Mubarak Al Dhaheri.
ADU chancellor, Professor Waqar Ahmad, as well as Dr Mohammad Fteiha, interim director of ADU’s Al Ain Campus, were also present.
The new campus will replace ADU’s current facility in Al Ain, located on Abu Dhabi’s eastern border with Oman.
The first phase of the project, which will see 2,500 students accommodated, features 70 classrooms and labs, 137 faculty and admin offices, a gym, a clinic, a food court, a library, and prayer rooms.
Phase 2 is set to raise the total capacity to 5,000 students.
As reported by UAE state news agency WAM last month, the new campus forms part of ADU’s initiatives towards the National Strategy for Higher Education 2030.
