Masdar City's first steps

Masdar City -- the ambitious United Arab Emirates eco-city project -- inaugurated its first phase last week.

Abu Dhabi monarch Mohammed al Nahyan was there to preside over the unveiling of the Masdar Institute of Science & Technology, the first fruits of his investment.

It's important to remember that about this display of traditional Arab technology wedded to modern technologies. MIST is showing the key energy sustainability features of the Masdar vision: narrow shaded streets, curved walls, wind towers, etc. New low-energy air conditioning are being tried, as is the Personal Rapid Transit (small  pod vehicles, mass transit in aggregate, that only move when needed).

But as previously reported,

ULTra begins public service

The ULTra PRT system at London Heathrow Airport has become the first contemporary personal rapid transit system to enter public service, beginning 12 hours a day/7 days a week operation. Even so, the project's low-key nature continues in this rollout, for now the passengers are airport employees working at Terminal 5, according to BAA's Hugh Fenn:

Video: In & Around Masdar City

From Al Jazeera:

It's official: Masdar won't be car-free (Update 5)

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Fundamental revisions to the Masdar City program, hinted at and leaked since spring, have been confirmed: Masdar City will be dedicated to developing and piloting sustainable technologies, but demonstrating what they can do on a city-wide scale will be left to others.

Here's what we know based on reports in a number of international news outlets.

• The overall deadline for completing all of Masdar City is now 2020-2025 instead of 2016. The cost will be roughly $18-20 billion instead of $22 billion.

BREAKING: Masdar won't be car-free

We're sifting breaking news about the contents of the Masdar program's review of the Masdar City plan. Full rundown later today, stay tuned.