Abu Dhabi, Feb 14th, 2012 (WAM) -- The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City announced a change in the name of "Bain Al Jisrain" area, to Al Maqtaa in a step aimed to showcase the historical importance of the area in a way befitting its geographical location and historical evolutionThe area is located between the Al Maqtaa Bridge and Al Musaffah Bridge and considered one of the newest suburbs of Abu Dhabi City.
The renaming of the area comes in the context of the Municipality's efforts to develop the neighborhoods and districts of Abu Dhabi city, including names, to keep them in line with the progress and comprehensive development drive seen by the city in all social and economic spheres. The name of "Al Maqtaa City" was chosen to replicate the importance of the area and its distinctive location as it is situated near Al Maqtaa Castle, standing tall at the entrance of Abu Dhabi City; a name given to the area over hundreds of years ago. The Castle also lies between two modern metropolitan landmarks: Sheikh Zayed Bridge and Al Maqtaa Bridge, giving the Castle another cultural dimension besides its historical bearing; which in turns enhances its standing as one of the most important historical landmarks among the key tourist attractions of the capital. The Tower, located at the entrance of the city, was used in the middle of the twentieth century to protect the city and monitor the movement of visitors from this sea frontier as the Creak used to be shallower and people can easily wade to cross it as it was their first defence point. In 1950s, a guard and customs outpost was established in the vicinity of Al Maqtaa Tower, just on the other side of Al Maqtaa to serve as an alternative to Al Maqtaa Tower for security matters, aptly named "Al Maqtaa Castle, Al Maqtaa Checkpoint, and Al Maqtaa Fort" as written there today after being rebuilt to retain its authentic design in 2003. The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City has already started changing all signage and updating the geographical database to reflect the new name, and communicated the concerned service-providers to change their correspondence to reflect the new name.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2012.
