Abu Dhabi: Saadiyat Island Cultural District in Abu Dhabi suffered a setback yesterday when it emerged that three major projects on the island would be delayed.
In a statement yesterday, the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) said that all three of its high-profile museums — the Zayed National Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi — would not meet their original deadlines.
The news comes less than a week after a major construction contract for the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim was cancelled, and amidst a backdrop of speculation that Abu Dhabi's property market is slowing down. A report by Jones Lang LaSalle claimed earlier this month that rents in Abu Dhabi have fallen 40 per cent since their peak, while a report by Arqaam Capital last week found that many major construction projects in the capital were being slowed down.
"TDIC's initial plan was to open all these museums between 2013-2014; however, due to the immense magnitude of the work associated with the development of such consequential projects, the company has decided to extend the delivery dates," the company said yesterday.
TDIC would not comment on the length of the delays when contacted by Gulf News yesterday.
