AED 65 billion Infrastructure Plan to Increase White-Collar Workforce

The Abu Dhabi government will invest AED 65 billion in transport infrastructure and expand its white-collar workforce as part of efforts to double its population to 7.5 million by 2040. The strategy, outlined under the Falcon Economy Initiative, targets knowledge-based industries such as AI, vertical farming, and smart mobility to reduce reliance on blue-collar labour.

White-collar workers now comprise 46% of the emirate’s workforce, up 109% since 2011, while blue-collar roles grew 65%. The UAE federal government is incentivising tech firms, including vertical-farming companies using Abu Dhabi as a regional base, to drive economic diversification.

Transport projects include road expansions, tunnels, and electrifying bus networks. The emirate aims for 20% of public taxis to be autonomous by 2030, building on its 2021 launch of self-driving cabs. Data-driven systems and partnerships with private mobility firms will integrate transport platforms.

Abu Dhabi’s population hit 3.78 million in 2024, an 83% rise since 2011. Officials confirmed infrastructure spending aligns with goals to attract skilled professionals and achieve a USD 100 billion annual export target through re-export hubs.