The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City was established in 1962 as the “Department of Abu Dhabi Municipality and Town Planning”. In 1969, a royal decree was issued to appoint the first municipal board for the city of Abu Dhabi, with the task of providing comprehensive services to the public and ensure proper planning of the developing city, with regularized road networks, maintenance services, sewerage, lighting works, launching the Agriculture Development Plan in the Emirate and establishing public markets in various areas. With the ongoing growth of the Emirate, it was decided, in 2005, to merge the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain Municipality, Works Department, Agriculture and Animal Production Department of Al Ain into the Department of Municipalities and Agriculture, to create a streamlined administration and to provide a higher standard of service to the customer.