Abu Dhabi: A new stretch of beach in the capital, with access to a number of water activities, has been opened to public at Al Hudayriat Island.
The facilities, which will be managed by the Abu Dhabi City Municipality, were inaugurated on Sunday in the presence of dignitaries and officials.
Eissa Al Mazrouei, executive director for infrstructure and assets at the Abu Dhabi City Municipality, confirmed that access to Al Hudayriat Beach is free.
The beach also includes a slew of food trucks in the area, along with public washrooms and lifeguard services.
3,000-hectare island
The 3,000-hectare island, located to the southwest of Abu Dhabi Island, boasts a pristine beach and 30km-long waterfront, but they have been closed to the public in the past.
Residents noticed, however, that the bridge connecting Abu Dhabi Island to Al Hudayriat had been opened to vehicular traffic about a fortnight ago.
For the moment, Al Hudayriat Island, situated across from Al Bateen Beach, includes Al Majlis Ramadan tent, as well as facilities for kayaking, diving and jet skiing.
The island also has a protected area, as well as a 10-kilometre and a 5-kilometre cycling track, municipality representatives told Gulf News.
The connecting bridge itself has been built at a cost of $50 million (Dh183.6 million).
The inauguration of the waterfront facilities marks the start of an ambitious development plan for the island, which was announced by the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities in May 2017.
Mixed-use development
A mixed-use development is set to become the heart of the island, and the island itself will be expanded to the south and cut through by canals.
According to a master plan, for the island developed by Boston-headquartered CBT Architects, there will also be a transition to mangroves along the outer areas.
The northern side of Al Hudayriat will also be connected to Abu Dhabi Island by another bridge.
In addition, a series of residential plots will also be developed on the island, and allocated to Emiratis under the Emirati Housing Programme.
The opening of Al Hudayriat’s beach expands the capital’s offering of water front facilities, which currently include those along the Corniche and Al Bateen, as well as others on Saadiyat Island and Al Maryah Island.
