Pr 402- Abu Dhabi Lighting Manual -
One of the most critical aspects of PR 402 is its strict stance on light pollution. Abu Dhabi is surrounded by delicate desert and marine ecosystems. Uncontrolled lighting can disrupt wildlife, particularly migratory birds and marine life.
PR 402 mandates:
When lighting the cycling and running tracks on Al Hudayriat Island, the contractor proposed 4000K LED bollards at 30 lux. PR 402 required a redesign to:
The manual divides Abu Dhabi into Lighting Zones (LZ0 to LZ4), similar to ILP guidance but tailored locally: pr 402- abu dhabi lighting manual
| Zone | Name | Description | Max Illuminance (Pedestrian) | |------|------|-------------|------------------------------| | LZ0 | Protected | Dark sky reserves, ecological sanctuaries | 1 lux | | LZ1 | Rural | Low-density villages, desert roads | 5 lux | | LZ2 | Suburban | Residential communities, local parks | 10 lux | | LZ3 | Urban | Commercial centers, mixed-use boulevards | 20 lux | | LZ4 | High-Activity | Downtown Abu Dhabi, Corniche, major squares | Up to 50 lux |
Each zone has dedicated luminaire types, mounting heights, and shielding requirements.
PR 402 — Abu Dhabi Lighting Manual
Unlike standard electrical codes, PR 402 dedicates significant attention to the "daytime appearance" of lighting fixtures. It dictates that poles and fixtures must complement the architectural vernacular of the surroundings.
PR 402 provides strict average lux (lx) and uniformity (Uo) values for each road and area type. Unlike Western standards that use maintained lux, PR 402 uses initial lux values, which are higher to account for dust depreciation.
Examples of key requirements:
| Road / Area Type | Average Maintained Illuminance (Lux) | Uniformity (Uo) | Glare Rating (GR) | |----------------|--------------------------------------|----------------|-------------------| | Arterial Roads | 20 – 30 lx | ≥ 0.4 | ≤ 25 | | Collector Roads | 15 – 20 lx | ≥ 0.35 | ≤ 25 | | Local Streets | 10 – 15 lx | ≥ 0.3 | ≤ 28 | | Pedestrian Zones | 5 – 15 lx | ≥ 0.25 | N/A | | High-Risk Intersections | 40 – 50 lx | ≥ 0.5 | ≤ 25 |
Note: Values vary by sub-zone; always refer to the latest PR 402 tables.
Zero uplight is not a suggestion; it is a specification. Every luminaire must be full cutoff (BUG rating of 0 or 1 in the Uplight category) . Light spill above 90° horizontal is prohibited. One of the most critical aspects of PR