Forty development projects covering an area of seven million square metres have been approved by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, it has been announced.

The approvals raised the percentage of approved development projects to 3%, compared with the same period last year.

The UPC endorsed the expansion of the Mayan residential project, which is located near Yas Links Golf Course. This increased the project area to 69,500sqm and will include five ‘state-of-the-art’ buildings overlooking the sea, a WAM report said.

The expansion will provide 500 new residential units, including studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments. One of the buildings in the Mayan project have already been approved under the Estidama system, which is affiliated with the UPC.

All five new buildings will be looking to get Estidama approval, the council added.

Officials have confirmed that 17 projects and four masterplans will be carried on the islands around Abu Dhabi city. A further 12 projects and a single masterplan will be built on the mainland.

The UPC has also approved four projects and master plans in Al Ain City, while another two projects in the Eastern Region have also received the go ahead.