Today's Edition
SAMIHAH ZAMAN (ALETIHAD)
Abu Dhabi is enhancing navigation and wayfinding in the emirate through the widespread implementation of its Onwani addressing system.
The Department of Municipalities and Transport (Abu Dhabi DMT) took to social media to demonstrate the ease with which residents and visitors can use Onwani on all global navigation apps to find and share locations within the emirate.
Only three references – the building number, street name and city name – are required to pinpoint a location in Abu Dhabi.
Dubbing Onwani as the "gateway to a smarter, future-ready Abu Dhabi", the Abu Dhabi DMT said the system will assist families, businesses and emergency services by reducing travel time, saving energy, and building a more sustainable Abu Dhabi.
Onwani puts every address within easy reach, simplifying navigation, deliveries, and location sharing for everyone.#AbuDhabi #YearOfCommunity #Onwani #EasyReach #navigation #deliveries #LocationSharing pic.twitter.com/vmJAY2EMmE
— دائرة البلديات والنقل (@AbuDhabiDMT) April 27, 2025
According to details provided by the Abu Dhabi DMT on its website, individuals can also scan the QR code on the building’s sign to obtain the location on the map and share it with others. The address consists of the building number, street name, city name, area and postal code.
Nearly 200,000 buildings in the emirate have been uniquely numbered on the Onwani system, as well as the names and numbers of 19,000 streets, and the definition and names of 240 districts.
The street names will also link to local culture and heritage sites, thereby promoting national identity and the UAE’s rich history.
As part of Onwani, Abu Dhabi DMT is ensuring that all intersections have street name signs, and that all buildings have number plates with QR codes near the main entrance. Buildings with multiple entrances will have more than one number.
In May 2024, Abu Dhabi DMT said that it had achieved an 87% completion rate in Abu Dhabi city, 79% in Al Ain city and 99% in Al Dhafra Region.
While the location database provided by Onwani is used on all global navigation apps, including Google Maps, there is also a dedicated application, launched by Abu Dhabi DMT, called OnwaniClick.
