Browse related articles
The update session, held in a five-star hotel in Berlin, also marked the first presentation in Germany of Saadiyat Island's Cultural District project - which will host the largest single cluster of world-class cultural assets.
Developed in collaboration with some of the world's most important art institutions, the Cultural District will also feature a multiple stage performing arts centre and an exhibition park with pavilions - most designed by internationally renowned award-winning architects.
The cultural buildings, the first of which are due to open in 2012, include: the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, designed by Foster + Partners under the direction of its founder, Lord Norman Foster; Louvre Abu Dhabi museum, designed by Jean Nouvel; the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, designed by Frank Gehry; a performing arts centre, designed by Zaha Hadid; and a maritime museum, designed by Tadao Ando.
Leading the delegation to Berlin was His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and Managing Director of the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the agency behind the transformation of Saadiyat Island into a signature destination for culture, leisure and tourism. Accompanying him were H.E. Zaki Nusseibah, Vice Chairman, Abu Dhabi Authority for Cultural and Heritage (ADACH); and Lee Tabler, Chief Executive Officer, TDIC.
Among topics discussed were culture's critical role in the emirate's educational, professional and economic future; progress in infrastructure and visitor amenities; plans for the conservation of the island's natural habitat and wildlife; and cultural initiatives, including exhibitions, music festivals and education programmes, being undertaken to more deeply engage the UAE population with the arts ahead of the Cultural District's inauguration.
'Our long-term ambition is to provide resources for the education and professional development of our people, while building a bridge between our own heritage and the cultures of others around the world,' said Al Muhairi. 'This is the shared intention of Their Highnesses Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Under their direction, our goal is to transform the city of Abu Dhabi into a stately, global capital and a cultural hub for the nation, the Middle East, and the world. Everything we do will be grounded in our heritage and culture, yet reach out in an inclusive fashion with universal appeal.'
Abu Dhabi hosts major Saadiyat Island update in Berlin
A high level delegation from Abu Dhabi hosted a major briefing in Berlin to update the country's governmental, diplomatic, business, tourism and cultural leaders on the progress being made on the Cultural District of Saadiyat Island - the 27 square kilometre natural island lying 500 metres offshore the UAE capital.
- United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, March 05 - 2008 at 14:58
- PRESS RELEASE
- ADD ARTICLE TO
-
Facebook
del.icio.us
Digg
Log in to request more information from TDICNotes and media contacts
About Saadiyat Island:Saadiyat Island - which translates from Arabic as Island of Happiness - is the Arabian Gulf's largest single mixed-use development. The 27 square kilometre natural island, lies only 500 metres offshore Abu Dhabi island - the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. Saadiyat Island is being developed into a signature leisure, cultural and residential destination.
Saadiyat Island represents one of the most important development opportunities in Abu Dhabi's history. The island, which has 30kms of water frontage and boasts many natural eco-features, including mangrove forests, marks a new era in the rapid evolution of Abu Dhabi, the largest of the seven emirates which form the UAE Federation.
Saadiyat Island, which, in Wall Street Journal research was tipped as one of the world's top 10 emerging 'trendy' destinations and voted the 'World's Leading Tourism Development Project' in the 14th World Travel Awards, will be developed in three phases until 2018. The masterplan envisages seven distinct districts - Cultural District, Saadiyat Business Marina, Saadiyat Beach, South Beach, Saadiyat Park, The Wetlands and Eco-point. There are plans for luxury hotels, over three million square metres of office space, marinas with combined berths for around 1,000 boats, two golf courses - one the UAE's first Gary Player Signature course and the Arabian Gulf's first 'ocean' course - civic and leisure facilities, sea-view apartments and elite villas.
The island will also be home to the world's largest single cluster of world-class cultural assets, including the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, concept designed by Lord Norman Foster, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi contemporary arts museum designed by Frank Gehry, the Louvre Abu Dhabi universal museum conceptualised by Jean Nouvel, a Performing Arts Centre designed by Zaha Hadid and a Maritime Museum by Japan's Tadao Ando. Saadiyat Island is expected to be home to a community of more than 150,000 people - the same population size as Chang Mai in Thailand, Oxford in the UK or Hollywood in the USA.
Saadiyat Island will be linked to Abu Dhabi, via a Saadiyat Link road which will connect the Shahama district to Saadiyat Island, and connect to the 10-lane Saadiyat Bridge which is already under construction from Abu Dhabi's Mina Zayed area.
Saadiyat Island is being developed by the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), an independent public joint stock company of which Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) is the sole shareholder.
About Tourism Development & Investment Company:
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) is Abu Dhabi's leading tourism asset developer and the name behind some of the world's most significant tourism projects. Its flagship development is Saadiyat Island, a 27 square kilometre natural island lying just 500 metres offshore Abu Dhabi city, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The island is being transformed into a signature leisure, cultural and residential destination. TDIC is also behind the unique Desert Islands project, one of the world's largest sustainable island tourism destinations currently under development.
TDIC will develop the real estate assets that support Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority's (ADTA) mission of assisting UAE economic diversification through tourism development. The company launched with an initial paid-up capital of Dhs100m with its shareholding fully owned by ADTA, operates along strictly commercial lines with its projects being self-sustaining and economically feasible.
TDIC's activities include creating development and tourism related concepts for specific sites and locations, disposing of, or repositioning, government-owned tourism related assets, entering into joint ventures with investment partners for assets such as hotels or residential products, as well as serving as the master developer for large scale projects.
For further information:
Bassem Terkawi. PR & Communications Manager, TDIC
Tel: +9712 4443000;
fax: +9712 4443111.
or
Barbara Saunders, MCS/Action.
Tel: +9714 390 2960;
fax: +9714 390 8161
Or visit Saadiyat Island online at: www.saadiyat.ae or www.tdic.ae
Posted by Lara Lynn Golden, News EditorWednesday, March 05 - 2008 at 14:58 UAE local time (GMT+4)
Replication or redistribution in whole or in part is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AME Info FZ LLC / Emap Limited.
This Article was updated on Tuesday, April 29 - 2008
Disclaimer:
Articles in this section are primarily provided directly by the companies appearing or PR agencies which are solely responsible for the content. The companies concerned may use the above content on their respective web sites provided they link back to http://www.ameinfo.com
Any opinions, advice, statements, offers or other information expressed in this section of the AME Info Web site are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of AME Info FZ LLC / Emap Limited. AME Info FZ LLC / Emap Limited is not responsible or liable for the content, accuracy or reliability of any material, advice, opinion or statement in this section of the AME Info Web site.
For details about submitting your stories, please read the guide - all content published is subject to our terms and conditions
Articles in this section are primarily provided directly by the companies appearing or PR agencies which are solely responsible for the content. The companies concerned may use the above content on their respective web sites provided they link back to http://www.ameinfo.com
Any opinions, advice, statements, offers or other information expressed in this section of the AME Info Web site are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of AME Info FZ LLC / Emap Limited. AME Info FZ LLC / Emap Limited is not responsible or liable for the content, accuracy or reliability of any material, advice, opinion or statement in this section of the AME Info Web site.
For details about submitting your stories, please read the guide - all content published is subject to our terms and conditions
Web Feeds