29 September 2026
Abu Dhabi opened LIVEX 2026, its first Liveability and Investment Exhibition, at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi on Tuesday 29 September 2026. The three-day event is hosted by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), runs until 1 October and presents projects and initiatives worth more than AED 100 billion across several sectors, Gulf News reported. Organisers expect more than 20,000 participants from 50 countries, including 1,500 investors and over 100 international speakers. The main initiative named at the opening is the second phase of the emirate’s Liveability Strategy, allocated AED 42 billion for new projects after a first phase of more than 60 projects worth AED 12 billion.
LIVEX 2026 in figures
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates and venue | 29 September to 1 October 2026, ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi |
| Host | Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), Abu Dhabi |
| Projects and initiatives presented | More than AED 100 billion across several sectors |
| Participants | More than 20,000 from 50 countries |
| Investors | 1,500 |
| Speakers and sessions | Over 100 international speakers, 25 sessions over three days |
| Themes | Liveability, Culture, Education, Economy, Energy and Health |
| Main initiative | Liveability Strategy phase 2, AED 42 billion for new projects |
| Visitor registration | Free, online on the official LIVEX website |
No breakdown of the AED 100 billion by project, sector or investor has been published. The figure is also different from the AED 100 billion investment value of Aldar’s Marsa Al Saadiyat master plan, which the LIVEX partner announcement lists among recent developments.
What was said at the opening
Opening the exhibition, DMT chairman Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa called LIVEX an extension of Abu Dhabi’s vision of putting people and their quality of life at the centre of development. At a media briefing he said the emirate is working with the private sector to activate waterfronts, public spaces and multi-use destinations, and is using data, artificial intelligence and digital planning tools to direct investment where it has the greatest effect. “The goal is to move from implementing individual projects to building an integrated quality-of-life ecosystem,” he said.
The AED 42 billion Liveability Strategy, phase 2
The AED 42 billion figure is not new money announced at LIVEX. Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, chairing the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, approved an AED 42 billion expansion of the Liveability Strategy in a decision announced on 29 September 2025. DMT formally launched phase 2 as a five-year roadmap on 18 September 2026 and, in that release, described the first-phase projects as part of a broader approved programme worth AED 42 billion.
According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, the first phase delivered more than 60 projects worth AED 12 billion, including:
- more than 200 parks and sports courts;
- 24 schools, 21 mosques and 28 community majlises;
- nearly 120 kilometres of walking paths;
- about 220 kilometres of new street lighting and 200 beautification works.
DMT says the District Completion Index, which tracks how complete and integrated residential districts are, rose from 67% to 84% in two years. Phase 2 changes what is measured: a facility is no longer judged only by whether it has been built, but by its operational quality, how actively it is used and the community programmes it hosts. The strategy sets five-year targets for every district, brings current and future master developments of private developers under the same quality standards, and relies on a unified digital platform that combines resident satisfaction surveys with field data to guide capital spending.
PPP pipeline: AED 55 billion in 2026-2027
The LIVEX partner announcement puts Abu Dhabi’s infrastructure portfolio aimed at long-term liveability at AED 200 billion. It is delivered with private partners through a dedicated public-private partnership (PPP) programme or through direct procurement. The PPP part includes AED 55 billion in 2026-2027 across 24 developments, including schools, universities, community assets and specialist healthcare facilities.
DMT’s Urban Planning and Permits Centre (UPPC) works directly with investors and developers to turn community needs into investment models for parks, sports complexes, recreational clubs and integrated community centres. More than 20 organisations support LIVEX as partners, led by Aldar (Presenting Partner), Modon (Founding Partner), Mubadala (Investor Partner), ICTReD (Destination Living Partner) and OMNIYAT (Principal Partner). The announcement says further partnerships and agreements are expected during the event.
On the opening day, Aldar reported more than AED 5 billion in sales at two new villa projects in Abu Dhabi. Our coverage: Aldar villa sales at Talay and Yas Riva Reserve top AED 5 billion.
Programme and Investor Stage
The 25 sessions are spread over three days. Day one, “The Human-Centred City”, covers residents’ needs, access to services and housing, and neighbourhood design; other tracks deal with real estate investment, housing supply, AI in urban planning, autonomous and shared mobility, and health and education.
A separate Investor Stage runs for all three days. Its agenda includes a briefing on the mechanics of entering the Abu Dhabi market: licensing and ownership structures, ADGM versus onshore pathways, incentive programmes, and talent and residency instruments. Other sessions cover co-investment with sovereign capital, AI and data centre infrastructure, and master-planned communities. On 30 September and 1 October the exhibition is open from 09:00 to 18:00.
Digital planning and building permits
According to Gulf News, BINAA, the AI-based building permit platform DMT launched in June 2025, has cut the average time to issue residential villa building permits by 57%, and DMT issued more than 11,000 building permits in 2025, up 15%. A new planning platform, Nabd, links more than 70 data sources, and its first phase is due to go live in early 2027. For the planning side of the same period, see our report on 43.6 million square metres of GFA approved in Abu Dhabi in the first half of 2026.
What it means for companies in the UAE
LIVEX does not change any licensing rule, government fee or visa requirement. Its practical value is access: government departments, developers and investors in one venue, with a published project pipeline.
- Contractors, facility managers, school and healthcare operators. The AED 55 billion PPP pipeline for 2026-2027 is built around social infrastructure. Bidding or subcontracting generally requires a UAE-licensed company whose activities match the scope of work.
- Developers. Major master plans in Abu Dhabi are assessed against liveability criteria such as walkability, accessibility and public space, and phase 2 of the strategy extends district targets to private master developments.
- Foreign investors. The first structural choice is the jurisdiction: an ADGM entity, a free zone company or a mainland (onshore) licence. Our guide to company formation in the UAE explains the options, documents and timelines.
Checklist for companies attending LIVEX or targeting Abu Dhabi projects
- Register as a visitor on the official LIVEX website; registration is free.
- Match your business to the six themes and the Investor Stage agenda before booking meetings.
- Check that your trade licence activities cover the work you want to bid for.
- Decide between ADGM, a free zone and the mainland before approaching government-linked partners.
- Prepare a company profile, trade licence, memorandum of association and bank details for supplier registration.
- Follow DMT and Abu Dhabi Media Office announcements for agreements signed during the event.
How Atlant Capital can help
We help founders and investors who want to work in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE set up the right structure before they bid or invest:
- Company formation on the mainland or in a free zone, with licence activities matched to your projects.
- Corporate bank account opening for new and existing companies.
- Work visas and residency for managers, engineers and their families.
The bottom line
LIVEX 2026 brings Abu Dhabi’s quality-of-life agenda and its investment pitch into one venue until 1 October. The AED 100 billion headline has no published breakdown, and the AED 42 billion phase 2 of the Liveability Strategy was approved in 2025. For business, the concrete numbers are the AED 55 billion PPP pipeline for 2026-2027 and its 24 social infrastructure developments.
Source: Gulf News.
FAQ
What is LIVEX 2026 and when does it take place?
LIVEX 2026 is Abu Dhabi’s first Liveability and Investment Exhibition, hosted by the Department of Municipalities and Transport at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from 29 September to 1 October 2026. Organisers expect more than 20,000 participants from 50 countries, including 1,500 investors and over 100 international speakers, across 25 sessions. Visitor registration is free on the official LIVEX website.
What does the AED 100 billion figure at LIVEX 2026 include?
Gulf News reported that projects and initiatives worth more than AED 100 billion across several sectors are presented at LIVEX 2026. No breakdown by project or sector has been published. The main initiative named at the opening is the AED 42 billion second phase of Abu Dhabi’s Liveability Strategy, approved in 2025.
What is phase 2 of the Abu Dhabi Liveability Strategy?
It is a five-year roadmap launched by the Department of Municipalities and Transport on 18 September 2026, after the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi approved an AED 42 billion expansion of the strategy at the Executive Council in September 2025. The first phase delivered more than 60 projects worth AED 12 billion, including over 200 parks and sports courts, 24 schools and 21 mosques. Phase 2 measures the quality and use of facilities, not only their completion, with targets for every district.
How can private companies take part in Abu Dhabi liveability projects?
Abu Dhabi delivers its AED 200 billion liveability infrastructure portfolio through a PPP programme or direct procurement, including AED 55 billion of PPP projects in 2026-2027 across 24 developments such as schools, universities and healthcare facilities. The Urban Planning and Permits Centre at DMT works directly with investors and developers on parks, sports complexes, clubs and community centres. To bid or subcontract, a company generally needs a UAE licence whose activities match the scope of work.
