Numbers will simplify street map

ABU DHABI // Quick Response codes, which can be scanned on smartphones to allow the public to find out address details of their location, are to be introduced in the capital.

Over the next year, Abu Dhabi Municipality, with the Department of Municipal Affairs, will instal 17,000 new street name signs, as well as 66,000 plates on buildings. These will include the QR codes that can be used by emergency services, utilities companies and delivery drivers to help find their destination.

The Onwani (my address) street system was launched last year by the municipality, but some residents and visitors said they found the system confusing because many of the names sounded too similar. Now, a hybrid of the old number system and new street names has been introduced by the municipality.

While the name system will remain, “route number” signs have been mounted on traffic signals and gantries on major roads. The new route numbers are similar to the old numbering system for the city.

Street 1 is the Corniche, then, moving inland, main roads parallel to it will have an odd number up to 31.

For even numbers, Street 2 will be Khalifa Al Mubarak Street in Al Bateen, then each main parallel road will be numbered sequentially.