UAE-based Abu Dhabi University has started construction work at its new campus, which will house the engineering college, on a sprawling 9,200-sq-m area in the UAE capital, said a report.

The project, which is estimated to cost Dh37.75 million ($10.2 million), will see the development of 12 new classrooms, 110 faculty offices, multi-purpose and meeting rooms, reported the Emirati news agency Wam.

The new addition, set to be unveiled in August 2016, will also see the construction of 30 new labs that will cater to the different specialties of engineering offered at the university, including civil, mechanical, electrical, computer and chemical engineering, as well as aviation, information technology, interior design and architecture.

Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University Dr Nabil Ibrahim announced that the new academic year 2015-2016 will witness the implementation of a comprehensive plan to update and enhance the university's facilities, including the new addition dedicated to centralise the College of Engineering on Abu Dhabi campus.

"Our Engineering College is perhaps the largest in terms of the number of students enrolled in its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The college has 2,077 students enrolled in nine undergraduate programmes and 144 students enrolled in eight postgraduate programmes, making up 30 per cent of our student population," he stated.

Dr Ibrahim said the new building was designed as per highest international standards to provide students with an enriching educational environment that caters to their various academic needs.

"We've also started the implementation of our annual plan to ensure that all our facilities are in top-shape to welcome the upcoming semester of the academic year 2015 - 2016, and our new and continuing students, faculty and staff. This plan focuses on the renovation and maintenance of classrooms, labs, equipment, networks and infrastructure on both university campuses," he added.