SPOTLIGHT: 8 EXCITING NEW

TOURISM DEVELOPMENTS IN

ABU DHABIEHSAN BAYAT

• Increased investments in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tourism sector have sparked interest and business opportunities for local real estate developers. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the flow of investment capital in the UAE should grow at an annual pace above 5 percent between 2015 and 2025.

• In Abu Dhabi, the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) oversees the capital city’s commitment to growth. More specifically, TDIC’s goal is to develop the emirate into a sustainable, globally ranked center for international business and culture, one that competes with cities in France, Spain, the US, and other leading tourism destinations.

• Since its creation in 2006, TDIC has completed several large-scale projects, and the firm’s real estate portfolio continues to expand. Here is a list of the firm’s current and finished developments:

LOUVRE ABU DHABI• The nearly finished Louvre Abu Dhabi will make

history on its opening day. Announced in 2007, the universal museum will be the first of its kind in the Middle East, and the design focuses on conserving energy in unique ways. A geometric lace dome will cover 9,200 square meters of gallery space, and the shade created by the covering will reduce external heat absorption by more than 70 percent. In the planning stages, the Louvre Abu Dhabi received a Three Pearl Design Rating Certificate from the Urban Planning Council. Image courtesy Gabriel Jorby | Flickr

MARSA AL BATEEN

• In 2010, TDIC began transforming the wharf of Marsa Al Bateen, creating an economic boost for one of the city’s oldest inhabited areas. The nearly 6500-square-foot project will include two marinas, one of which will contain the first commercial dry-stack storage facility in the Middle East. In addition to numerous boat and yacht berths, the initiative features new retail and dining locations.

GUGGENHEIM ABU DHABI

• The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi transnational museum will house artwork created during the last 50 years. Designed by Pritzer Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry, the facility will sport a distinct outlay of cones and other geometric shapes that create a modern feel while paying tribute to Arabian tradition. The space will contain more than 30,000 square meters of galleries and exhibitions, as well as a 350-seat theatre, a research center, and a library.

Image courtesy Angelina Earley | Flickr

UAE PAVILION

• First opened for the Expo 2010 Shanghai China, the UAE Pavilion, with its dual domes, is now a local landmark. The facility welcomed more than 2 million visitors in China before the UAE moved it to its current and permanent location in Abu Dhabi. Since its official reopening in 2011, the 3,200-square-meter pavilion has hosted the annual Abu Dhabi Art Fair as well as multiple other exhibitions and galas.

THE WESTIN ABU DHABI GOLF RESORT & SPA• The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa

offers guests a full range of luxury accommodations. A five-star getaway, the resort features a selection of rooms and suites with private balconies, a Westin Heavenly Spa, and a 27-hole golf course, where the PGA European Tour Abu Dhabi Golf Championship takes place. Guest also benefit from several dining options and 16 venues for business meetings or social gatherings.

Image courtesy SUPERADRIANME| Flickr

ZAYED NATIONAL MUSEUM

• One of three museums in the Saadiyat district, the Zayed National Museum honors UAE history and the nation’s founding president, Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The symbolic design, imagined by Lord Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, represents the five tips of a falcon wing emerging from the landscape and pointing toward progression. Visitors to the museum will enjoy gallery displays, an education center, intricate gardens, and a theater.

EASTERN MANGROVES

• Located near the Abu Dhabi International Airport along the mangrove coastline, the expansive Eastern Mangroves development is a mixed-use complex that comprises residential apartments and two choices of hotels for visitors. The Eastern Mangrove Suites by Jannah Hotels & Resorts feature one- and two-bedroom, high-end suites with views of the Abu Dhabi skyline and the Arabian Gulf. Guests at Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara may select from three tiers of accommodations, including suites with a private plunge pool.

THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

• Designed by Zaha Hadid, The Performing Arts Centre is a feat of architecture that incorporates organic contours to create a building that interacts with its environment. Elements such as sizable daylight-absorbing windows allow the facility to use less energy. The world-class edifice houses multiple venues that seat roughly 6,300 patrons for performances of all forms of the arts, including operas, ballets, and experimental productions. In addition, The Performing Arts Centre houses an academy of performing arts for study and training.