Saadiyat Museam designs 'Individual works of art' says Queen Rania of Jordan

Touring an exhibition on the Cultural District, which runs at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, Queen Rania said the designs - conceptualised by some of the world's most eminent architects - were significant artistic assets in themselves.

"These museums will not just be magnificent buildings that house art works, they will be valuable works of art in themselves. The designs are on a scale and of a grandeur not seen in this century," said Queen Rania.

"I am particularly taken with Jean Nouvel's proposed design for the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Tadao Ando's concept for the maritime museum. These projects will drive a new genre of cultural education in the region from which all in the Arab world and beyond will benefit."

Queen Rania was given a tour of the exhibition by Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and Managing Director of Tourism Development & Investment Authority (TDIC), the emirate's leading tourism and cultural asset developer and the name behind the transformation of Saadiyat Island into a signature leisure and cultural destination. Jordan's Ambassador to the UAE, His Excellency Turki Al Khraisha accompanied Queen Rania.

Saadiyat Island's Cultural District will be home to the largest single cluster of world-class cultural assets including the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi modern and contemporary art museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi universal museum, a maritime museum, performing arts centre and arts pavilions.

With a corporate commitment to partnering with world-class providers, TDIC commissioned multi-award-winning architects for the museum designs. Frank Gehry is behind the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi concept, Zaha Hadid designed the performing arts centre while the UK's Foster + Partners, under the direction of Lord Norman Foster, won an international design competition to conceptualise the Sheikh Zayed Museum.