Abu Dhabi: The emirate's cultural sector has received a boost as funding approvals for the Saadiyat Cultural District, which includes four museums and a performance centre, have been announced by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
The stalled projects, which are worth $27 billion (Dh99.09 billion), were initially set to open in 2014 but will now open later. The Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by Jean Nouvel, is expected to welcome the public for the first time in 2015 while the Zayed National Museum, designed by Lord Norman Foster, and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, designed by Frank Gehry, are set to open in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Details of a performing arts centre designed by Zaha Hadid and a maritime museum planned by Tadao Ando are yet to be revealed.
"[The] Saadiyat Cultural District will create a cultural destination that will repeatedly attract visitors from the world of arts and culture. The museums will facilitate the development of cultural leaders and experts through education and employment, creating fulfilling career opportunities for UAE nationals. In turn this will integrate culture and arts into the daily life of the community, assisting to value, sustain and preserve the cultural heritage," said Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan in a statement. Shaikh Sultan is the chairman of the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), which is overseeing the project.
World Heritage List
In addition, two projects in Al Ain have received approval from the Council. They are the redesigning and building of Al Ain National Museum and the development of the cultural Hili site, which is among 17 sites placed on Unesco's World Heritage List in July 2011. According to Unesco, Hili has one of the oldest examples of the sophisticated falaj irrigation system dating back to the Iron Age.
"The placement of these cultural sites on Unesco's World Heritage List will provide Al Ain with further opportunities to enhance efforts to preserve them," said Dr Sami Al Masri, Deputy Director General of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage.
