Museums and performing arts centre to be built on Saadiyat Island

Abu Dhabi: Designs for four projects to be built on Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island were unveiled yesterday by General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The museums and performing arts centre will be part of the island's Cultural District, and have been commissioned by Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC).

Four internationally renowned architects presented their designs; Frank Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Tadao Ando and Zaha Hadid have designed the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, the Classical Museum, the Maritime Museum, and the Performing Arts Centre respectively. Gehry, Ando and Hadid were present at the opening of the exhibition.

The exhibition, open to the public at the Emirates Palace, showcases the Cultural District's building models. The island will also hold the Shaikh Zayed National Museum, devoted to the history and traditions of the capital and the legacy of the late President.

"The first part of the Cultural District will be developed by 2012, with the opening of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum," said Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and TDIC. "The rest of the plan will be done in stages."

Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General of the ADTA, said the authority is in talks with renowned French museum, the Louvre.

"We are in the very advanced stages of negotiating with the Louvre, and we hope it will conclude positively." There are also talks of building an oil and gas museum, as well as a science museum.

The projects for the Cultural District are entirely funded by the Abu Dhabi government.

Shaikh Sultan said a study concluded that the completed project is expected to generate $1.34 billion (about Dh4.91 billion) a year in returns.

Al Muhairi said the multi-billion dollar project is part of an initiative to attract three million visitors to Abu Dhabi by 2015. The cost of the Cultural District project is expected to be finalised in 30 days.

Eco-sensitive

Lee Tabler, CEO of the ADTA, said the project is expected to be an 'environmentally sensitive' destination. "We don't anticipate damaging any coral reefs or turtle nests. We feel safe that we won't damage the environment; we are trying to protect it and enhance it, if possible."