Best of Abu Dhabi intro vol2 by Global Village

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Contents

Best of Abu Dhabi Pgs 11 - 58 1

Hotels & Hospitality Pgs 59 - 72 2

Tourism, Culture & Heritage Pgs 73 - 102 3

Luxury Lifestyles & Retail Destinations Pgs 103 - 116 4

Wellness, Health & Leisure Pgs 117 - 130 5

CSR & Green Innovation Pgs 131 - 140 6

Training & Education Pgs 141 - 146 7

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Banking Pgs 147 - 158 8

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Finance, Insurance & Security Pgs 159 - 168

Oil & Gas

Pgs 181 - 188

Construction & Real Estate

Pgs 169 - 180

Communication & Technology Pgs 189 - 196

Get up and Go Pgs 197 - 204

Celebrate Success

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Turnover 2008 Employees & Partners Circulation US$ 8 000 000 100 500 000

International Head offices Bangalore, Brussels, Cairo Copenhagen, Dubai Johannesburg, London Santiago, Singapore Washington DC

Management Sven Boermeester Lisa Durante Charles Neil

Building an Atlas of Success, Sustainability and Culture

Brand Image

Product - The Folders

Branding a Nation, a City and its People GVP brands and builds the image of the world’s most exciting economic regions to affect a change in the perception of a nation, a city and its people by the rest of the world. This then promotes the region in terms of its investment opportunities, key industries, innovations, people, culture, tourism potential and international objectives.

Fast track to the world Market Essentials works closely with Foreign Embassies, High Commissions, International Chambers of Commerce and Trade Associations worldwide to produce high quality trade folders. Each folder is designed to offer support and advice to companies interested in trading with or investing in overseas markets.

Product - The Books Celebrate your success The ‘Best of…’ publishing series produces annual maxi format book publications in over 30 territories, from Bangalore to Belgium. These detail success stories of people and companies making positive inroads into the commercial fibre of both mature and emerging markets. The books showcase entrepreneurial spirit; establishing powerful global networks and the creation of individual brand awareness by bridging cultures. The result is the ultimate interactive corporate gift and P.R. marketing tool for governments, companies, hotels and business people providing leading products and services for their region.

Product - www.gvpedia.com Connecting the world’s most interesting people and organisations The portal provides GVP customers an interactive Public Relations Box managed by a user friendly ‘Enterprise Content Management System’ that allows clients to upload their press releases, photos, videos and management profiles. The latest networking addons and social media applications are integrated within the site providing maximum reach and feedback. The value proposition for Subscribers to gvpedia.com essentially covers four elements: exposure, expertise, exclusivity and networking.

REGIONAL HEAD OFFICES

= Bangalore

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= Brussels

= Cairo

= Copenhagen

= Dubai

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Sven Boermeester, Chairman with Lisa Durante, Managing Partner, GVP

With its mission to serve as the premier platform for showcasing and networking the world’s top brands and companies in business, tourism and lifestyle, Global Village Partnerships (GVP) is building an atlas of success, sustainability and culture. This is carried out through the ‘Best of’ book series, the Global Village online information portal and the development of an ever expanding business network of international partners and clients. Market Promote and network the ‘red apples” within each economy GVP’s market sectors embrace publishing, public relations, corporate gifting, online community building and networking. Its target market covers large, medium and small entrepreneurial organisations enjoying growth, success and sustainability. GVP explores every geographic region to pick the ‘red apples’ in business, exports, innovation, design, fashion, retail, hospitality, specialty foods, the arts and more.

Unique Selling Point (USP) New markets create new business opportunities GVP publications promote, showcase and network successful economies,

= Johannesburg

= London

organisations and individuals from across the globe. The organisation celebrates success and provides recognition amongst its ever expanding international network of influential clients. Its online portal, www.gvpedia.com, provides a platform for clients and readers to network, share best practice and grow new markets, creating exciting new business connections and opportunities.

Corporate Social Responsibility There is no success without ethics and sustainability The best of world business, travel and lifestyle within the Global Village is dependent on more than monetary profit. There is no success without core values such as sustainability, integrity and Corporate Social Responsibility

= Santiago

(CSR). GVP’s exclusive client base is selected by invitation only based on these criteria, with the added focus of dedicated chapters covering CSR, sustainability, green innovation and giving back to the community.

Growth and Opportunity Exchanging knowledge, skills and economies of scale in media With regional head offices in 5 continents, the organisation is currently involved in more than 30 territories where the ‘Best of’ series is published. GVP has a 5-year growth plan to develop a further 150 economic territories organically, through each continent’s regional head office, and through partnerships with companies and individuals that have the expertise to showcase their city, state or country.

= Singapore

= Washington DC

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Image Courtesy - Space Imaging

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Chapter 1 Best of Abu Dhabi

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;What fruits and welfare we have reaped throughout the past years, make us more certain and confident about the capacity of our people to carry the strategies and plans to their intended goals and objectives.â&#x20AC;? H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Abu Dhabi

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Saadiyat Cultural District

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Best of Abu Dhabi

In 1969, Sheikh Khalifa was nominated as the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, this being followed by his appointment as the Head of the Abu Dhabi Department of Defence.

Sheikh Khalifa was appointed, in 1974, as the first Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, which replaced the Emirate’s Cabinet.

Mubadala Development Company, established in 2002, is the main investment vehicle for the Abu Dhabi Government to achieve social and economic benefits.

Abu Dhabi’s oil resources make it the richest and most powerful of the seven emirates.

Fathers of the nation The UAE ended the first chapter of its history with the death of its much loved founding father and President, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in November 2004. Ruling Abu Dhabi since 1966, he guided the unification of the seven emirates into a federation established in 1971. His son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince since 1969, took over the reigns of power after his father’s demise. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed has brought a fresh wave of transformation and development to the UAE. Together with his charismatic brother, Crown Prince General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the royal team espouse sustainability and measured socio economic development, fostering global alliances in line with the UAE’s increasing stature. Together they inherit the leadership of one of the world’s richest and most vitally strategic countries, which embraces heritage and progress in a seamless united federation representing a prosperous and safe haven in an otherwise geo-politically vulnerable region.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE, Ruler of Abu Dhabi

Minister of Abu Dhabi and Minister of Defence and Finance. In 1973, is Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Sheikh Khalifa assumed the post of Deputy Prime Minister in the second Dhabi, was elected as the new President of the UAE in 2005, to UAE Federal Cabinet. succeed his father, the late President, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Shortly afterwards, when the Cabinet of Abu Dhabi Emirate was Sultan Al Nahyan. Committed to continue in the footsteps of his charismatic father, a task dissolved, as part of the process of strengthening the institutions of the UAE federation, Sheikh Khalifa was appointed, in 1974, as the that he has set himself for nearly 30 years since he first became Crown first Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, which replaced Prince of Abu Dhabi in 1969, he explains, “My father is my teacher. I the Emirate’s Cabinet. Under his direction, and in accordance with learn something from him every day, follow his path and absorb from him the instructions of HH Sheikh Zayed, his values, and the need for patience and the Executive Council oversaw the prudence in all things.” implementation of a wide-ranging HH Sheikh Khalifa was born in the development programme in Abu inland oasis-city of Al Ain in 1948, where Dhabi, including the construction of he went to school, learning the values housing, water supplies and other of respect for the environment and for essential services, roads and the general traditional heritage. In 1966, following his infrastructure that led to the emergence of father’s assumption of the post of Ruler of the city of Abu Dhabi as the modern city Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa was appointed that it is today. as Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern Known for the benevolence that Region of Abu Dhabi and as Head of the mirrored that of his father - of particular Courts Department in Al Ain. In a region importance in terms of ensuring that traditionally underscored by instability and citizens were able to benefit from the hardship, and was undergoing a radical country’s increasing wealth - Sheikh Khalifa paradigm shift towards an era of exalted established the Abu Dhabi Department of wealth and demographic change, he Social Services and Commercial Buildings successfully managed the oil rush which in 1981. Charged with the provision of propelled socioeconomic expansion on an loans to citizens for construction, over unprecedented scale. Through his wise Dh 35 billion have so far been lent by this stewardship, HH Sheikh Khalifa reinforced Department, with over 6000 multi-story the period of prosperity, peace and growth “The future of the country is contingent on our ability to buildings being constructed throughout which reflects his rule today. manage our national resources with wisdom and keenness on the Emirate. The establishment of the In 1969, Sheikh Khalifa was nominated the interests of the future.” Department, popularly known as the as the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, ‘Khalifa Committee,’ followed another decision taken by Sheikh Khalifa this being followed by his appointment as the Head of the Abu Dhabi in 1979 to alleviate the burden on citizens of the repayment of loans from Department of Defence, in which post he oversaw the building up of the commercial banks. This involved a fixing of the interest rate payable the Abu Dhabi Defence Force, (ADDF), which later became the nucleus by citizens of loans for construction at 0.5 per cent, with the balance of of the UAE Armed Forces. In 1971, as part of the restructuring of the the interest being charged by the banks being paid by Government. Government of the Emirate, Sheikh Khalifa was appointed as Prime

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A further step to ensure that citizens were able to build the properties that they needed, both for residential and for investment purposes, came with Sheikh Khalifa’s creation of the Private Loans Authority, early in 1991. Soon after, 11,034 citizens had already received loans amounting to AED 11.15 billion. The continuing growth of the population, and rising costs, led to a further step in 2000, when Sheikh Khalifa instructed that the total amount of individual house-building loans should be raised from AED 900,000 to AED 1.2 million. President HH Sheikh Khalifa has also been involved extensively in other areas of the country’s development. In 1976, following the unification of the armed forces of the Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa was nominated as Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. In this capacity, he devoted much attention to the building up of the country’s defensive capability, through the establishment of many military training institutions and through the procurement of the latest military equipment and training. He has moved forward with the United Arab Emirates’ keenness to ensure that its armed forces are on par with developments in the military sphere elsewhere in the world, with a focus on planning, weaponry and training so that UAE troops can attain the maximum efficiency possible. Sheikh Khalifa has held a number of other top posts in the Abu Dhabi Government. Since the late 1980s, for example, he has been Chairman of the Supreme Petroleum Council, in which capacity he has also sought to ensure that the country diversifies its economy away from reliance on oil and gas production. In particular, he has worked to develop the UAE’s downstream petrochemicals and industrial complex at Ruwais. He is also Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, (ADFD), which overseas the country’s overseas aid programme, from which over 40 countries have now benefited; the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, (ADIA), which manages the financial reserves and investment;

“The understanding of heritage enlightens one’s judgment and illuminates one’s life”

As the eldest son, Sheikh Khalifa always enjoyed a close relationship with his father and ultimate mentor, Sheikh Zayed.

and the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, (ERWDA). Upholding the belief that with unity comes strength, externally, Sheikh Khalifa is a staunch supporter of developing heightened synergies between the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), believing that the success and achievements of this body “reflect the depth of

understanding reached amongst its leaders”. A keen supporter of the regional policy of HH Sheikh Zayed, he is a tireless promoter of solidarity between the Arab states. Known his having spearheaded humanitarian efforts on a massive scale, HH Sheikh Khalifa is firmly committed to assist with the plight of the Palestinian people and the restoration of stability in war-torn Iraq.

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Characteristically unassuming and sincere in fulfilling his key objectives as the President of the UAE, he says: “We progress on the path laid down by my father. In particular we will continue with the ‘open door’ policy and with the practice of holding regular consultations with the country’s citizens, so that we may become aware of, and follow up on, their needs and concerns.”

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces

is Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. He became Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in 2004 and was appointed Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces soon after. Since 2004, he has also been the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. A staunch believer in the development of Abu Dhabi’s private sector, General Sheikh Mohammed has held positions of authority, drawing upon a wealth of diverse experiences. He says, “We believe in more economic liberalisation, with the encouragement of the private sector and foreign investment. Today the UAE is economically powerful, but more importantly, security in the country is something we can be proud of.” Charged with numerous official responsibilities, in 1993, he was appointed Chief-of-Staff of the UAE Armed Forces and held the rank of Lieutenant General from 1994 until 2005, when he was promoted to the rank of General. In 2003, General Sheikh Mohammed was appointed Deputy Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. In 2004, His Highness was appointed the Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. He says, “We are focusing on encouraging private investment and outsourcing more government services, with my particular priorities lying in education and health.” After receiving his formal education in the UAE and England, General Sheikh Mohammed graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1979. Always close to his father, in addition to his military responsibilities, General Sheikh Mohammed was the principal advisor on security issues to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. As the Head of the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development (ADCED), which is the premier economic planning institution in the UAE, his keen understanding of economic strategy has been invaluable in leading Abu Dhabi into the next phase of development. Mirroring the ramified integration of the next phase of evolution outlined in the ‘Abu Dhabi Plan 2030’, he asks, “How can we sell Abu Dhabi to the outside world? We want visitors to see it as an interesting location to visit and invest in”. However, “we must focus on what the UAE needs, on where its interests lie, on doing the best for the UAE.”

As the Head of the Mubadala Development which, since its establishment in 2002, represents the main investment vehicle for the Abu Dhabi Government to achieve sustainable social and economic benefits for the Emirate, he is also the Head of the UAE Offsets Group. In addition, His Highness is the Head of the Abu Dhabi Education Council which was set up in September 2005 to develop education and vocational training. “We have to enable the coming generation to be able to integrate and communicate with the world”, he says. Modest and affable, with the appealing ‘human touch’ instilled by his father, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed has received numerous citations and decorations from the UAE, the Kingdom of Bahrain, Qatar, the Kingdom of Morocco, Pakistan, the US, UK, France, and Italy.

A staunch promoter of all that denotes progress, Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, is committed to opening up Abu Dhabi to the world – sustainably.

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The Guggenheim Museum coming to life in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s understated capital, has often been unfairly overlooked in favour of its more flamboyant neighbour, Dubai, but this has changed dramatically with Sheikh Mohammed’s drive to throw the doors of the Emirate open to 2.5 million tourists by 2010. He is recognised as the mastermind who has propelled Abu Dhabi into fostering prominent global alliances for the betterment of industry, tourism and diversification. They will arrive in the city with the Louvre and Guggenheim museums; with a dedicated Formula 1 themed integrated park; with sustainably designed real estate projects set among its offshore islands such as Saadiyat overlooking the turquoise-coloured sea; where mangroves and palms create the feeling of a verdant oasis; and where the character of the city remains truly Emirati – but with a relentlessly modern twist famous as the ‘the Richest City in the World.’

Abu Dhabi and Dubai – Partners in Progress

he formation of the seven-member UAE in 1971 drew together the southern Gulf States with a common policy in foreign affairs, internal security, defense and immigration. HH Sheikh Zayed took charge as the president and HH Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, as the vice-president. Under their leadership, the UAE has grown from disparate states into a powerful and unified country. Far from being tugged apart by the dominant partners in the union, a healthy and friendly competition between the two emirates has raised the fortunes of the UAE, with the other five emirates carried along. Thanks to its oil resources, Abu Dhabi is the richest and most powerful of the seven emirates, putting it in the natural position of leadership. Because of this, the presidency rests with its ruler. After the demise of Sheikh Zayed, his heir, Sheikh Khalifa has taken charge as the UAE President. What Dubai lacks in terms of oil wealth, it tries to make up with shrewd business. While it accedes to Abu Dhabi’s superior political clout in many matters, Dubai exercises autonomy over its internal affairs, especially over economic development. For instance, Dubai

decided in 2002 to sell freehold title to foreigners. It has also taken liberal decisions in tourism. Currently, Abu Dhabi seems to be following its example. The two are mutually dependent - wealthy investors in Abu Dhabi constantly seek investment opportunities and Dubai needs funds for its projects. So Dubai can rest easy with the knowledge that Abu Dhabi needs to protect its investments in Dubai. For its part, Abu Dhabi values Dubai’s entrepreneurial spirit. Today, the partnership between Abu Dhabi and Dubai looks healthy. While Dubai drives the economic engine, Abu Dhabi keeps the union secure and stable, evolving its diversification plan at a sustainable pace. There is a new order in place in both emirates with HH Sheikh Khalifa in Abu Dhabi and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai. This new generation of leaders has much in common; chiefly, their commitment to the economic growth, stability and security of the union. Together, they steer a steady course towards the common good of all Emiratis. HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has followed the tolerant and generous policies adopted by his father, whom he succeeded in November 2004. However, there is now a difference of pace. HH Sheikh Khalifa has brought a new generation of leaders to the fore, among them many of Sheikh Khalifa’s younger brothers, notably the charismatic new Crown Prince, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the third son of Zayed. Younger technocrats have been appointed to senior positions and the rate of development has quickened in the hydrocarbon, tourism, real estate, and industrial sectors. HH Sheikh Khalifa has made a point of touring the other six Emirates to ensure that the benefits of economic development reach all Emiratis, especially in those smaller Emirates that are not blessed with major oil and gas reserves like Abu Dhabi. He has also shown himself open to innovation in the Bedouin system in this conservative part of Arabia: Elections were held for the Board of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with two foreigners and two women being appointed. In addition, elections were also held for half of the forty seats in the UAE Federal National Council, which is the highest consultative body in the country.

In their own inimitable ways, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, work tirelessly for the sustainable socioeconomic diversification of the UAE.

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Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the remarkable first President of the UAE who took charge in 1966, saw his Emirate grow, over 38 years as Ruler, into the leading role in one of the most prosperous countries in the world, with a $100bn economy. His skills, which were derived from his native wit and the lessons learned from conducting tribal relations with his neighbours in the erstwhile Trucial States, were perfectly adaptable to managing a rapidly expanding modern state. Sharing his wealth derived from the oil industry with his people, he was also was exceptionally generous to other nations less fortunate than the UAE.

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1918 - 2004

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our people should not forget their past and how their ancestors used to live and on what they relied on in their lives. The more they come to feel and know more about their heritage, the more they are interested in their country and willing to defend it.â&#x20AC;?

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Best of Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is the largest and most populated of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates.

Abu Dhabi’s current population is 2,563,212, of which an estimated 1,606,079 are expatriate workers and professionals from India, Pakistan, Egypt, Philippines, Europe and elsewhere.

Abu Dhabi is shown to have 9 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves and almost 5 percent of the world’s natural gas.

The Emirate’s GDP per capita income surged to a record US$71,200 in 2007, the world’s second highest per capita income.

Abu Dhabi Overview Even though Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it is the second most populous emirate after Dubai. With a population of approximately 1.45 million, traditionally its economy was based around pearl diving, fishing and cultivating the date palm. The discovery of oil in 1958 engendered radical transformation. Exports soon took off and newfound prosperity, coupled with enlightened leadership, nurtured a dramatic turnaround to Abu Dhabi’s fortunes. A modern city evolved; with infrastructure rising up from scratch to accommodate its evolving status.

Formation Founding Fathers 18

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bu Dhabi’s ongoing exploration, both onshore and offshore, has to date identified 10 percent of the world’s known crude oil resources. As the third largest oil producer in the Gulf, after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Abu Dhabi also has four percent of the world’s known natural gas reserves. As the economy diversifies, moving away from its reliance on oil wealth, the export of nonoil related products has grown threefold since 1990 and is still rising. Private and overseas investment is actively encouraged both government and private sector investment in tourism, real estate, agriculture, retailing and manufacturing has progressed rapidly. Even though it is still not as developed as in Dubai, tourism in Abu Dhabi is going to play a key role in the future of the economy. With the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority in 2004, this statutory body created to oversee the development and promotion of tourism is coordinating the development of an array of sensitively devised attractions: the mixed use lifestyle and entertainment ‘Saadiyat Island’; cultural landmarks such as Guggenheim and Louvre Museums; the spectacular Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque, otherwise known as the Grand Mosque. Abu Dhabi, the understated capital of the United Arab Emirates, has often been unfairly overlooked in favour of its ostentatious rival city, Dubai, but that is all about to change with Sheikh Khalifa’s drive to throw the doors of the Emirate open to 2.5 million tourists by 2010. They will arrive in a city where families promenade on curved corniches which overlook the turquoise-coloured sea, where mangroves and palms create the feeling of a verdant oasis, and where the character of the city is truly Emirati - this new-old city has an ‘Oriental’ pace, to be enjoyed among many parks, fountains and picnic areas. Here is some background on ‘the Richest City in the World.’ Geography The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is the largest and most populated of the seven that make up the United Arab Emirates, comprising of 86 percent of the country’s landmass. The landscape is mostly desert, stretching from the striking scrub lands near the coast to the oasis of Liwa in the south, where some of the world’s largest sand dunes can be found. Liwa is the last outpost before the uninhabited, hostile ‘Empty Quarter.’ Approaching the capital city, the desert ends in forests of palms and mangroves. Massive environmental modification has taken place, with 120 million trees planted in Abu Dhabi alone. The city is on an island, accessed by the Maqtaa Bridge. Formation The UAE is a federation of seven sheikhdoms: Abu Dhabi; Ajman; Dubai; Fujairah; Ras al-Khaimah; Sharjah; Umm al-Quwain. Along with Bahrain and Qatar, these emirates became known as the Trucial States on account of a defense pact they signed with Great Britain in 1853. Following the British withdrawal from the region in 1971, the emirates, fearful of their larger neighbours, drew together under the guidance of Abu Dhabi’s ruler, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the original six were federated as the UAE. Qatar and Bahrain chose to remain independent, whilst Ras al Khaimah joined the federation in 1972. Population Abu Dhabi’s current population is 2,563,212, of which an estimated 1,606,079 are expatriate workers and professionals from India, Pakistan, Egypt, Philippines, Europe and elsewhere. History Although parts of the Abu Dhabi Emirate were settled as far back as the 5th millennium BC, the city itself has been populated since the 1790’s, when The Bani Yas tribal federation moved from the ancient oasis of Liwa. The tribe split in two in the 19th century, and the factions became the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Into the mid-20th century, Abu Dhabi was sustained by camel herding, small scale agriculture, fishing and pearl diving, with most of the population living in palm huts. When the global pearl industry collapsed, the region’s economy was devastated. No one could have anticipated the 180 degree change in fortunes that was to come. Oil was discovered in 1958, and Abu Dhabi was the first Emirate to export ‘black gold’ in 1962. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan saw oil wealth’s transformative potential, and his visionary policies laid the foundation for the glittering but well-regulated bastion of wealth that is Abu Dhabi today. In 1968 Britain announced that it would withdraw from the Persian Gulf by 1971 after two hundred years as the colonial power, and Sheikh Zayed became the driving force behind the formation of the United Arab Emirates, which came into existence on 2 December 1971.

Government His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the hereditary Emir and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, as well as the current President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In 2004, Sheikh

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Khalifa announced that half the seats on the Federal National Council, a parliament-like consultative body, would be opened to general elections in the near future.

Economy Abu Dhabi possesses 70 percent of the UAE’s entire wealth, largely derived from oil - the Emirate is the fourth largest OPEC producer after Saudi Arabia, Iran and Venezuela, and oil accounts 30 percent of the GDP. One hundred years of oil supply (as opposed to ten years in Dubai) ensure that this will be the case for some time to come. Despite a recent unexpected slowdown in the global economy that is having a negative spill over onto current forecasts in the UAE (which may affect its growth rate), the economy is currently estimated to be growing at eight percent a year, vying with China for the fastest growing economy in the world. With wealth comes optimism, such as the massive investment of funds repatriated by expatriate Arabs moving back to the region from the West. A zero-tax regime, massive concentration of capital, and high demand for goods and services have all ensured a hefty rise of investment in businesses listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market. Until very recently, investors could expect 30 to 90 new IPOs over the next year, with domestic equities being so popular that the value of shares traded grew by 343 percent in 2004. Together with The Mubadala Development Company, the state owned company of Abu Dhabi that is the investment vehicle of the Abu Dhabi government with high profile investments in the energy, telecommunication, aerospace, automotives, healthcare, real estate

and ship building sectors, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) is equally flush, with estimated at $200 to $500 billion, making it one of the world’s biggest investment funds. The Emirate plans to invest Dh41 billion ($11 billion US) in tourism by 2015, with the goal of making Abu Dhabi a premier destination for European vacationers. The 394-room mega-luxury Emirates Palace Hotel already graces 1.3 km of private beachfront, and construction will soon begin on a Dh55 billion ($15 billion US) gateway city at Al Raha beach comprising of 60 luxury towers and an integrated city district serviced by water taxis. A development at Saadiyat Island will have a 17 story five star hotel, golf course and equestrian centre, and Lulu Island, 600 metres off the coast, will boast 600 000 palm trees. Visitors will arrive via a new airport, to be constructed by 2010, capable of handling 20 million passengers per year. Despite a recent unexpected global recessionary downturn, the next industry that is booming is real estate, with the introduction of ‘Law 19,’ a decree issued in August 2005 that allows non-nationals to own property. Some experts predict an influx of Dhs186 billion ($50 billion US) worth of capital into real estate in the Emirate in the next two years alone. Several massive real estate projects are already underway, and the vast expanse of uninhabited land around the capital can accommodate many more. Yet real estate accounts for just a third of the Dh367 billion ($100 billion US) that the Emirate plans to spend in the next five years. There are plans for an underground railway, a giant petrochemicals complex, a steel mill and the world’s largest aluminium smelter. Oil production is also to

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be increased by 70 percent, ensuring that for years into the future, Abu Dhabi will remain ‘the Richest City in the World.’ Education and employment Mandatory primary and secondary schooling has resulted in a comparatively strong literacy rate, currently set at around 78 percent. However public schools have fallen well behind the private sector, which now accounts for 50 percent of pupils. Higher education has been more successful in the UAE in recent years. There are two government-funded universities: Zayed University, which has campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and UAE University based in Al Ain. The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCTs) were founded in 1988 and offer a more technically driven programme of courses in IT, engineering and technology. Last year there were 15,000 students enrolled at the HCTs’ 12 single-sex campuses across the UAE. Remarkably, more than 65 percent of students in higher education are female. This is in part because young men have alternative opportunities, such as the police or armed forces, but it is also a sign of the increasing eagerness of young women to pursue a career. Unemployment among nationals is apparently far lower than in other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries such as Bahrain and Oman. This is largely because the country’s considerable hydrocarbon wealth allows more job opportunities. Religion The local population is predominantly Sunni Muslim and most of the imported labour is also Muslim, although this is by no means a prerequisite. There are also many expatriate Christians, especially from South Asian and from Europe. Islam is the official religion of all seven emirates and the federal UAE. The government generally adheres to the principle of religious tolerance, and freedom of worship is enshrined in the federal constitution, provided that religious practices do not conflict with public policy or violate public morals. There are several Christian churches across the country, often next to mosques. Language The official language of the UAE is Arabic, although English tends to be the lingua franca. Urdu and other subcontinental languages are also widely spoken amongst the expatriate communities. The local dialect is distinct from that of the rest of the Arab world, and even from the rest of the Gulf. There are even disparities between local tribes. However, the presence of a large number of expatriate Arabs in the country is changing the dialect to something more similar to that spoken in the northern Arab states. Standard classical Arabic is used in newspapers and broadcasting. Natural resources Sitting atop 9 percent of the world’s proven

oil reserves (98.2 billion barrels) and almost 5 percent of the world’s natural gas (5.8 trillion cu m), the UAE’s extraordinary hydrocarbon wealth gives it the highest GDP per capita in the world. Abu Dhabi owns the lion’s share of these resources – 95 percent of the oil and 92 percent of gas. Currently the UAE is producing about 2.5m barrels per day (bpd) of crude, just above its official OPEC quota of 2.4m bpd. Nonetheless, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and its foreign partners is investing heavily in an expansion programme that will push production above 3m bpd. Given these vast resources, oil and gas continue to dominate the country’s economic profile, despite some progress in diversifying the economy. By contrast, the UAE has very little fresh water - the growing population is sustained instead by vast desalination projects. Climate Relentlessly sunny skies prevail throughout the year. In June through September, the weather is

generally very hot and humid with temperatures averaging well above 40°C (110°F). The weather is pleasant and temperate from October to May, although January to February is cooler and a light jacket may come in handy in the evenings. Food Almost any type of food is available in Abu Dhabi - most international fast-food chains have branches here, such as McDonalds’s and Dunkin’ Donuts and a plethora of restaurants serve cuisine from almost any country in the world. However visitors must try the delicious Gulf and Middle Eastern food, whether from a cafeteria or a gourmet restaurant. Try fresh fish, like the local ‘Hammour’, which is excellent grilled, stuffed, or fried with spices. Or order a variety of ‘Mezze’ (starter or hors d’oeuvre) such as ‘Hummus’ (a chick pea dip), ‘Kebbeh’ (meat patties made from minced lamb) or ‘Tabbouleh’ (a diced tomatoes salad with onions, mint and

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parsley). Desserts are generally very sweet, with indulgent use of honey and nuts. After dinner, try a leisurely pull on a Shisha, or water pipe. Tobacco comes in numerous flavours, and you could accompany it with mint tea or strong Arabic coffee. Since Muslims are prohibited from eating pork so it is not included in Arabic menus, hotels frequently have substitutes such as beef sausages and veal bacon on their breakfast menus. If pork is available, it will be clearly labeled. Bars Although the UAE is a Muslim country, alcohol is widely available in hotel restaurants and bars. These range from sophisticated cocktail lounges to informal traditional British or Irish pubs, to piano and jazz bars. You can also visit local nightclubs with Arab singers, belly dancers and musicians. Holidays January: New Year’s DayApril: Islamic New Year’s DayJune: Prophet’s Birthday - The celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. August: Accession Day - (6th) - Commemorates the accession of the ruler of Abu Dhabi. December: National Day - (2nd) – Celebration of the founding of the UAE. Ramadan Muslims fast from dawn to dusk during this month. Visitors should avoid eating in public during daylight hours. After sunset, the fast is broken in a meal called the ‘Iftar,’ and restaurants and businesses stay open well into the night. Eid al-Fitr - The celebration of the end of Ramadan, which lasts for three days. Eid al-Adha - The Festival of Sacrifice. Sheep are slaughtered and the meat is distributed among family, friends and the needy. Note: Dates of Islamic holidays vary according to the lunar calendar. Shopping Shopping is a national pastime in the UAE and one of the major attractions for visitors. Glitzy state-of-the-art malls are in abundance, but have not replaced traditional souks (markets), of which there are several in Abu Dhabi offering everything from Persian carpets to electronics to fish. Shopping malls in Abu Dhabi offer an incredible array of international brands, and many malls include multi-screen cinema complexes, coffee shops and childcare facilities. Dress Code Abu Dhabi is an Islamic country and clothing should be modest. Beachwear is only acceptable at beach clubs, hotels and public beaches. During the daytime, the dress code is fairly casual although more exclusive restaurants may expect guests to dress more formally during the evening.

Visas The type of visa required will vary depending on country of origin and whether travelers have arrived for business or pleasure. It is best to confirm visa requirements online before your trip to ensure a minimum of hassle. See: http://www.uaeinteract.com/travel/visas.asp Airport Abu Dhabi airport is situated on the mainland, 35km (22 miles) east of the city. The journey to the city centre should take about 45 minutes. Limousines and Al Ghazal taxis can be pre-booked or picked up at the airport. Fares are approximately Dh70 to the city centre, although orange and white airport taxis charge approximately Dh40. Many hotels run an airport shuttle service. Local time The UAE is 3 hours ahead of GMT.

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Language The official language is Arabic although English is widely spoken and understood. Currency The local currency is the UAE Dirham and is divided into 100 fils. Underpinning itself against the US Dollar, the conversion rate is a fixed AED 3.67to USD 1. Money can be changed at hotels, banks, and licensed money changers in souks and malls. ATMs are widespread and accept most major credit and debit cards. Credit cards Most retail outlets, hotels and car rental companies accept internationally recognized credit cards. Business hours Recently changed from Saturday, the week now begins on Sunday, with Friday and Saturday being considered the weekend in line with schools; Friday is the holy day. Some businesses open on Saturday or stay closed for half a day on Thursday. The maximum number of working hours per week is officially set at 48, though exceptions are made for certain industries. The working day varies between straight and split shifts but generally speaking, government departments and services work from 07:00 to 15:00, Sunday to Thursday. Private businesses usually work a split shift from 08:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 19:30. Most shops operate split shifts though the outlets in many of the big shopping malls open at 10:00 and close between 22:00 and 24:00. Some food shops and petrol stations are open 24 hours a day. Most shops donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t open until around 15:00 on Fridays, though corner shops only close during prayer times, but will stay open till 22:00. During the holy month of Ramadan, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has declared that daily working hours should be reduced by two, in order to allow time for prayer. Many offices start work an hour or so later and shops are open much later at night. The more popular shopping malls are crowded at midnight and parking at that time is tough to find. Food outlets and restaurants generally remain closed during the day, opening for Iftar; some provide take away services during the day. Electricity The voltage in Abu Dhabi is 220/240v. Most sockets are three-pin, although adapters for two pin plugs are available at most hotels. Drinking water Tap water is safe to use although bottled water, which is served in hotels and restaurants, is recommended for drinking.

Telecommunications Communications are the responsibility of the federally run Emirates Telecommunication Corporation (Etisalat). Currently a near monopoly with Du, a second state owned Telecoms Company; it is actively globalising and continuously expanding its services. The objective to privatise this sector has been postponed until 2015. Useful websites www.abudhabi.com www.timeout.com/travel/abudhabi www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/ middle-east/ united-arab-emirates/abu-dhabi

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Best of Abu Dhabi

Branding a nation sustainably The underlying message of the Tourism Development & Investment Company’s (TDIC) mission – indeed, its very existence – highlights a simple and fundamental premise of modern-day nation building: The accumulation of a country’s wealth, especially accruing from its natural resources, should be used to diversify its socio-economic base. TDIC epitomises this ethos by spearheading infrastructure projects that are based on environmental sustainability and stewardship – total respect for the local environment and culture.

The Angsana Resort19& Spa, is located 20 minutes BestEastern of Abu Mangoves Dhabi from the city centre and 10 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Construction is well underway for this urban resort designed to reflect the natural environment and offer an escape from the city’s urban sprawl, whilst contributing to the preservation of the valuable mangrove area.

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Construction is well advanced on the luxury Anantara Resort & Spa Qasr Al Sarab, located in the Emirate’s Liwa Desert in the Empty Quarter. Rising like a mirage in the desert, this retreat is just 90 minutes drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport will boast a five star hotel with 150 rooms and villas with a luxury heath spa.

or nation-states, regions and cities, destination branding is more relevant than ever. Vital for attracting allies, investment and visitors, those that fail to brand effectively get left behind. With the effective fine tuning of a strong ramified brand, Abu Dhabi has accepted this rationale. Lee Tabler, CEO, TDIC explains, “In line with Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority’s strategy of delivering managed growth, we are adopting a leadership role in the arena of environmental preservation, for example. TDIC is working on delivering a hospitality landscape underscored by managed growth, where changes will be gradual and measured.” Strong place brands are important for four reasons • Attracting business and foreign direct investment • Attracting visitors • Recruiting the best and the brightest • Wielding political and economic influence When it comes to TDIC, in existence since 2006, its success in the delivery of best practices can be “tangibly measured by the partnership with world class operators across a number of segments – culture, architecture, construction, leisure and hospitality.” Because of this, Tabler explains, “We have encouraged leading international brands to enter the Abu Dhabi market.” By creating and facilitating projects that add to the emirate’s unique positioning and reinforce a memorable tourist experience, TDIC is participating in establishing an image based on positive national values and perceptions on which the emirate can rely when promoting sustainable socioeconomic diversification, exports and services. In this sense, the destination becomes a valuable tool, conveying an emotional and intangible component that can affect investment decisions. Even though its shareholding is fully owned by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), TDIC’s ambition is to transform from “a relatively small scale player to a major organisation which plays a key role in the development of Abu Dhabi’s tourism infrastructure”. Clearly, its relevance is becoming increasingly evident in the tourism sector in which TDIC is involved. With competing locations vying for global tourism spend, destinations offering similar high quality products are being pushed to devise that extra

sales edge that makes destinations ‘stand out’ from the crowd. So, what challenges does TDIC face in ensuring its operations serve the truest interests of its stakeholders and of Abu Dhabi? Tabler clarifies, “It is in ensuring that our stakeholder values are delivered across every segment of the developmental chain. This requires additional research and preparation time, exceptional human resources and partners whose operational and delivery rationale is in total synch with our own.” He adds, “TDIC is distinguished in that the company’s approach is not purely commercially driven. Though TDIC does have to stand on its own feet economically, is has responsibilities to the community of Abu Dhabi and to the emergence of the destination in terms of economic, cultural and socio-economic sustainability.” A place brand is the collective sum of its’ • History • People • Culture • Products or services • Customers • Financials • Operations • Leadership In this crowded arena, nations, regions or cities that lack the relevant brand equity will not be competitive in the long-run. This is why TDIC is tracking measurable ways in which its philosophy of best practices across every segment in which it operates is being translated across existing projects. Mr Tabler says, “Environmental sustainability is a key element of TDIC’s corporate ethos and is drilled very much into the company’s corporate DNA. This, of course, is in line with the overarching development principles of the Abu Dhabi Government as outlined in its Urban Plan 2030. TDIC has strict environmental guidelines for all its sub-contractors and development investors. “The company has instigated numerous initiatives across a number of projects including its flagship Desert Islands multi-experiential destination and Saadiyat Island – the 27 square kilometre island which is just 500 metres offshore Abu Dhabi city. These initiatives include work

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on Sir Bani Yas Island – the largest of the Desert Islands – to expand and upgrade a bird sanctuary to ensure that the island remains the migratory home of hundreds of species. “Sir Bani Yas Island also hosts the Arabian Gulf’s first wind turbine, which is now producing electricity, and it is working with the Abu Dhabi future energy initiative, Masdar, to ensure Desert Islands utilises as much renewable energy as possible. “On Saadiyat Island, TDIC has created an inter-tidal mangrove nursery in its Saadiyat Reserve district where it is cultivating 100,000 propagated mangrove seedlings to be transplanted. It is also propagating an additional 180,000 seedlings for transplantation during the island’s development. These schemes will enhance the ecological value of Saadiyat Reserve. TDIC has also restricted resort development on Saadiyat

Beach to within 60 metres of dune lines so as to protect the breeding grounds of Hawksbill turtles. “Saadiyat will also have the UAE’s first Gary Player-designed golf course – the Saadiyat Beach Golf Course – and here again the company’s environmental credentials come to the fore. Mr. Player was selected for his reputation as an environmental guardian. He has delivered an ecologically-conscious, amphitheatre-style course which will be capable of hosting a major tournament in the future. It follows a class figure-of-eight configuration with over a third having views of the Saadiyat coastline, where dolphins are regularly spotted. Landscaping here utilises native grasses and desert palms. Water management will be through a modern, computer-controlled irrigation system that allows for flexibility to ensure sound

irrigation practices. TDIC intends to enroll this course in the Audubon International Awards certification scheme, which recognises courses that protect the environment, conserve natural resources, provide wildlife habitats and are governed by high standards of environmental management. “On the cultural side, our partners include the French Government for the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Foundation for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. On architecture – we have made a huge difference – by commissioning the world’s best to design the cultural assets of Saadiyat Cultural District, which will be home to the world’s single largest concentration of premier cultural institutions. Lord Foster for the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, Frank Gehry for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Jean Nouvel for the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zaha Hadid for the district’s Performing Arts Centre and Tadao Ando for the Maritime Museum. Close by we expect to open the Saadiyat Beach Golf Course by the final quarter of 2009 – and another golf course master architect, Robert Trent Jones II has been commissioned for the design of a remarkable tidal course in the Saadiyat Reserve district. And we have partnered another major golf name – Troon – to run these facilities. “Hospitality has been a hugely successful area for us with TDIC’s philosophy of partnering the best to deliver the best, attracting some of the world’s leading operators to Abu Dhabi. These include Westin Hotels & Resorts, Angsana, Anantara and St. Regis, which will operate a TDIC property on Saadiyat Beach. I believe our strategy has significantly raised the hospitality benchmark within Abu Dhabi and ensured greater awareness for the destination as a whole as these brands begin their tried and tested international cross-marketing campaigns”, he concludes.

www.tdic.ae

Personal Biography Lee Tabler Chief Executive Officer Lee Tabler, TDIC’s Chief Executive Officer, has more than 25 years international real estate development experience, 17 of them in senior management positions with technical and financial responsibilities throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Having been a founding member and past chairman of the Middle East Council of the Urban Land Institute – the international non-profit research and educational organisation that caters to professionals in land use and real estate development – Lee Tabler is now chairman of the council’s planned Real Estate Education Centre. He is also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centres, the International Real Estate Investment Council, the US Real Estate Commission and the Asian Society in Hong Kong and New York. Lee Tabler holds a bachelors degree in architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture, US, a masters degree in urban and regional planning from the American School of Architecture in Fontainebleau, France and a masters degree in real estate finance from the American University in Washington DC, USA.

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The Abu Dhabi Golf Resort will be a unique location where lifestyle and leisure exist together to create a perfect living environment. In addition to the hotel there will be a gated residential community comprising exclusive villas, luxury townhouses and premium apartments with picturesque views of the golf course.

The ADTA & TDIC Headquarters building will be an important landmark for the city of Abu Dhabi in a prominent position known as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Between the Bridgesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. It has been designed from the outset to be an environmentally friendly building and will aim to set the highest standards for environmental design.

Saadiyat beach, Saadiyat Island

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Saadiyat Island: A treasured destination Abu Dhabi, the largest of the seven emirates which makes up the United Arab Emirates, is successfully capitalising on its natural assets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; clean seas rich in marine life, unspoilt islands, oases sheltered by mountain heights and vast desert tracks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to deliver distinct experiences among a people renowned for their hospitality and pride for their heritage. Saadiyat Island is an ideal case in point. This exquisite destination, with its innovative mix of attractions, is intent on appealing to visitors and investors looking for a sustainable environment to call their own.

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Development should not disturb the natural habitat of Saadiyat Island that is rich in natural mangrove forests and protected fauna.

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The Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize-winner Jean Nouvel, will encompass a broad historical and geographic canvas with thematic exhibitions and special programmes. Inspired by Islamic architectural forms, Jean Nouvel’s dome-like structure allows for the dynamic interplay of natural light within interior gallery spaces.

aadiyat Island is progressing in many phases with a first – the opening of a world-class golf course designed by sporting legend Gary Player – due to open in September 2009. This is in line with Abu Dhabi’s objective to appeal to the 2.7 million guests it hopes to attract by 2012, By carefully managing its growth with a series of sensitively articulated infrastructure innovations, the face of sustainable tourism is taking shape. In 2004, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) embarked on developing Saadiyat Island into a world-class, environmentally sensitive tourist destination that included, as its centrepiece, a cultural district for Abu Dhabi, the region and the world. The task of delivering this transformation was entrusted to Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) which has since taken Saadiyat onto the world stage. Hyperbole notwithstanding, Saadiyat Island represents one of the most important development opportunities in Abu Dhabi’s history. Meticulously planned, the island, with its 30 kms of water frontage and natural environmental-features, including mangrove forests, is evolving as a strategic international

tourism destination that epitomises a new dawn in Abu Dhabi’s evolution to regional and global pre-eminence. To be developed in three phases, with total completion expected around 2018, the masterplan envisages highly individual districts and includes hotels, marinas, international standard museums and cultural centres, golf courses, civic facilities and sea-view residential properties. In many ways Saadiyat Island will be an extension of the UAE capital which the Abu Dhabi Government has masterplanned as a “stately global capital.” Saadiyat is being linked to the mainland via a 10-lane freeway, making the destination easily accessible from Abu Dhabi International Airport just 25 kms away. “Saadiyat Island and its beaches represent special opportunities to hotel and resort developers”, explains Mubarak Al Muhairi, ADTA’s Director General and TDIC’s Managing Director. With a strategy to dispose of development land on the island to private investors who will each develop their sites in accordance with a sustainable master plan and supporting stringent planning regulations and design guidelines, “guests will access

resort beaches by a series of boardwalks and pathways that will meander through the picturesque dune environments”, he adds. By including a comprehensive array of amenities, including commercial and residential properties, resort hotels, recreational facilities, nature preserves, as well as most significantly, the notion of bringing together a cluster of renowned cultural facilities to be operated in partnership with established museums and performing arts institutions from across the world, Abu Dhabi has embarked on one of the most ambitious urban and cultural development projects ever conceived. Take for instance, the 24,000 square metre Louvre Abu Dhabi, a universal museum with exhibits encompassing a diversity of cultures. It will have 6,000 square metres of permanent displays and 2,000 square metres of temporary displays. Heralding a “new era of cultural co-operation, in the long term the Louvre Abu Dhabi will become autonomous, a national, regional and international asset allowing all to participate in an interconnected global understanding”, said HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at the launch of the unprecedented 30-year cultural

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SAADIYAT RETREAT

SAADIYAT BEACH SAADIYAT CULTURAL DISTRICT Sheikh Zayed National Museum Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Louvre Abu Dhabi Biennale Park Maritime Museum Performing Arts Centre Office park Boutique hotels Retail & commercial environment Luxury town homes & apartments

International tourist destination 9 kilometers of natural beaches Five-star hotels and resort Private and public beach clubs Championship golf course with luxury residential villas and apartments designed by Gary Player

Boutique hotels Luxury residential villas

SAADIYAT LAGOONS Luxury low-rise waterfront residential Waterside living Tidal lagoon system

SAADIYAT RESERVE Championship golf course Luxury residential waterside living

SAADIYAT MARINA World class Marina Waterfront restaurants & hotel Luxury apartments Central business district Leisure & entertainment facilities Commercial & retail environment

SAADIYAT PROMENADE Family resort Dynamic beach lifestyle Boardwalks with cafés & restaurants Leisure & entertainment

accord between France and the UAE in March 2007. So with the guiding principles for the Cultural District to make it, by definition, a destination everyone in the worlds of art and culture would want to visit and revisit, this cluster of permanent institutions, through its collections, architecture and programmes, will become one of the world’s greatest concentrations of cultural experiences. This is being achieved by the addition of the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Performing Arts Centre and the Maritime Museum. An equally important focus in Saadiyat’s positioning as an island experience of genuine and enduring worth is its management of tourism assets, with strict environmental codes designed to ensure that

development respects, and is aligned to, Abu Dhabi’s strong culture of protecting its sensitive coastal and desert ecologies. For instance, a batch of 58 Hawksbill turtles that recently hatched safely on the island are being protected and monitored as part of a sustainable breeding programme - as part of TDIC’s proven commitment to environmental responsibility. Saadiyat Island is a flagship project for TDIC, for Abu Dhabi and the region. Its name is already resonating within global cultural and golfing circles and as its development progresses; much more is expected from this island which is designed as a destination apart.

www.saadiyat.ae

l Saadiyat Island will eventually house around 160,000 residents and will be connected to Abu Dhabi via a ten-lane causeway. l Building of the world-class Cultural District is underway. l New York Universitys’ first overseas liberal arts campus is to open on the island. l The Gary Player designed Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is to open September 2009. l Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH) is investing around AED 750 million in a five-star Park Hyatt resort on Saadiyat Beach. The resort will boast a 400 room hotel overlooking a 300 metre-wide stretch of beach. l Abu Dhabi-headquartered Al Jaber PSC, one of the most prominent construction and development companies in the UAE, is to build a signature Shangri-la Resort on Saadiyat Beach. The hotel will have 400 rooms and front over 300 metres of pristine beach.

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Designed by golfing legend, Gary Player, the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is a uniquely captivating golfing development being built on Saadiyat Island - the Arabian Gulfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first ocean course. Boasting two freshwater lakes and one salt water lake, the course features several beach-front holes and weaves in and out of nine 5-star beachfront hotels. Adopting a figure of eight concept, the course is organically designed in total harmony with the surrounding environment.

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Saadiyat Island Saadiyat Island is a truly special place. Born out of collective inspiration, it is a rare destination experience of rich depth and diversity. A symbol of progress, a tribute to vision, a celebration of talent, Saadiyat Island embraces nature and human achievement with enlightened balance. It will be an irresistible magnet attracting the world to Abu Dhabi – and taking Abu Dhabi to the world. Home to an international arts and culture hub, with new levels of resort hospitality, as well as groundbreaking leisure, retail, business and residential offerings, Saadiyat Island is the vibrant new heartbeat of modern Arabia. Designed to build bridges between cultures, create harmony through integration, and inspire understanding through creation, Saadiyat Island will transform local and global perceptions of Abu Dhabi.

Saadiyat Cultural District The pulsing cultural hub for celebration and innovation in the arts, and the soul upon which the entire fabric of the island is built. With its array of architectural icons, Saadiyat Cultural District fuels the imagination, fosters interaction, and allows people of all backgrounds to embrace a common bond of creativity.

Saadiyat Beach Where turtles nest, dune grasses sway gently in the breeze and the bluest of azure waters sparkle with the sun. This rare 9 km stretch of natural beach is a resort and leisure space of luxury. Home to a championship golf course and the stunning horizon of the Arabian Gulf.

Saadiyat Retreat A secluded haven of peace and tranquility, this private ‘island within an island’ hides exquisite luxury homes ‘suspended’ above calm waters, intimate resorts, and a very special kind of harmony for the body, mind and spirit.

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Saadiyat Reserve Home to flourishing natural wetlands, lush mangroves, free-flowing waterways, and the region’s first ever tidal golf course. An unforgettable place where man and environment become one.

Saadiyat Marina Vibrant and sophisticated, this is the commercial heart of the island. Boutique retail, café society chic, designer apartments and colourful nightlife combine to create a waterfront space of energy and excitement.

Saadiyat Promenade The colourful downtown waterfront hub for families. A place to while away the day and lose yourself in exploration and the total enjoyment of togetherness.

Saadiyat Lagoons Nature’s private show. Beautiful homes nestled on the banks of tiny islets, where pristine waters gently lap, and nature’s morning chorus greets each new day.

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Presenting a new face of Arabia Welcome to Desert Islands’ launch phase one, the nature-based ‘Sir Bani Yas Island’ destination. Abu Dhabi is emerging as a major international destination as the government identifies sustainable tourism as a potential market growth area. Driven by the will to diversify the economy, the Abu Dhabi Executive Council has placed tourism at the core of its strategic thinking.

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ir Bani Yas Island, the first phase of Desert Islands, a remarkable destination that presents a rarely seen face of Arabia, has opened in Al Gharbia, the Western region of Abu Dhabi. As a flagship legacy product of Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), a major developer of residential, leisure and cultural destinations in Abu Dhabi, Desert Islands reflects the rationale of environmental sustainability which is embedded in its corporate DNA. Sir Bani Yas Island – a former Royal nature reserve – opened to international tourism with guests staying at the 64-room boutique Desert Islands Resort and Spa operated by Thailand’s award-winning Anantara brand. It has proved an instant hit with visitors who can opt for a series of adventure activities from 4x4 guided tours of the Arabian Wildlife Park (home to one of the world’s largest herds of Arabian Oryx), to kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and snorkeling in the island’s marine-life rich seas. “I believe our strategy of partnering with the best to deliver the best, attracting some of the world’s leading operators to Abu Dhabi, has significantly raised the hospitality benchmark. This ensures greater awareness for the destination overall”, he clarifies. Preparatory work has also begun on TDIC’s Desert Islands socio-economic initiatives with the opening on the nearby heritage-rich Dalma Island of the Desert Islands Education Centre, where up to 500 Emiratis are undergoing vocational training to empower them to benefit from the tourism career opportunities that are beginning to emerge. With Emiratisation the order of the day, TDIC is taking on board the challenges

of training and retaining HR expertise, in line with quotas and the pressures of global competition. Tabler explains, “TDIC has a solid commitment to the recruitment, training and development of a professional national cadre – indeed our Desert Islands Education Centre is a physical testament to this commitment. In addition, TDIC already has a significant number of Emiratis working within its various departments including marketing, the cultural division as well as project development. We are always eager to meet and recruit aspiring Emiratis who are looking to be mentored and trained to play a role in a company which has a significant nation-building role. The training of nationals and the opening up of new career streams for them are also key components of our partnership agreements with both the Guggenheim Foundation and the French Government”. Desert Islands is being managed sensitively with respect for, and with the aim of developing, the local culture and traditions, he says, “It will provide a significant economic boost to the Western region and nationals residing there, by increasing employment, education and investment opportunities,” he adds. Tabler says that the overall sustainability strategy is aimed at meeting present needs without compromising those of the future. “We want to expand on the late Sheikh Zayed’s eco-philosophy and ultimately reduce the need for non-renewable resources.” The strategy is being developed jointly by TDIC and Masdar, Abu Dhabi Government’s advanced energy and sustainability initiative responsible for developing renewable energy strategies for the emirate.

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Already earning international recognition, Sir Bani Yas Island is at the core of Abu Dhabi’s effort to create a world model of sustainable development. Its legacy reserve status was created by the late UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, to ensure the survival of some of Arabia’s most endangered species including the Arabian Oryx. This gazelle, indigenous to Arabia, was labelled extinct in the wild in 1972 – now Sir Bani Yas Island is home to several hundred of them. Tabler explains, “Sir Bani Yas Island is a nature-based destination which in many ways represents the true essence of Arabia. A simple vision for a single island has formed the basis and guiding principles for environmental conservation throughout and beyond the Desert Islands.” Sheikh Zayed planted the first tree on the island and TDIC’s master plan for the destination was based on the former leader’s eco-philosophy. Dalma Island is the destination’s cultural jewel; it is a true symbol of UAE heritage mirroring an authentic Arabian lifestyle in a genuine environment. Currently 5,000 people live on the island. Discovery Islands is an exclusive and luxurious retreat nestled on six natural islands. It is home to a vibrant marine life and untouched animal habitats. Two islands will be developed into exclusive boutique resorts, while two others will offer camping experiences on untouched desert islands. The remaining islands harbour undisturbed breeding grounds for birds and turtles. “The launch of Desert Islands’ first phase is a milestone, not only in TDIC’s history, but in that of the western region of Al Gharbia,” explained Tabler. “As the first TDIC destination to come on line, the opening up of Sir Bani Yas Island has given us a great sense of satisfaction, particularly since it has been achieved in less than three years of the company’s launch. It is a paradigm of how the great potential of this region can be leveraged in a solid, sustainable manner”, he concludes.

www.desertislands.com

Sir Bani Yas Island is also host to the Arabian Gulf’s first wind turbine, which is now producing electricity, and is working with the Abu Dhabi future energy initiative, Masdar, to ensure Desert Islands utilises as much renewable energy as possible.

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The Arabian Oryx is native to the Arabian Peninsula. It is an endangered species and has been classified as extinct in the wild since the early 1970s. Its distinctive white coat reflects sunlight and helps the Oryx stay cool in the harsh summer heat. Sir Bani Yas has one of the largest herds in the world.

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Best of Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has the world’s highest per capita GDP, currently standing at $46,147. 9.2 percent of the world’s oil reserves are located within the Emirate, and these are expected to last for at least the next 150 years.

A $10-billion investment in the tourism sector is projected to increase the number of visitors to Abu Dhabi to 1.2 million by 2015.

Abu Dhabi International Airport welcomed a record 6.9 million passengers in 2007, up 31% on the year before.

With a Formula One race track and a Ferrari theme park added to more intellectual attractions such as the Louvre and the Guggenheim museums the Emirate aspires to be a centre for art, culture and entertainment.

Open for business Abu Dhabi has already been named the world’s richest city, with the most abundant oil reserves in the UAE, over 700 kilometres of coastline and the country’s highest mountain peak; but the Emirate’s ambitions are soon set to eclipse all this and more. The capital of the UAE, and the largest of the seven Emirates, has made vast investments in order to attract international business and increase socio-economic development. Bringing together the forces of entrepreneurship and innovation, the guiding force of this rapid expansion is the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ADDCI). Since 1969, this autonomous institution which serves the public interest and represents the various private sectors in Abu Dhabi has evolved from being a service provider to becoming an active player that fosters close ties with the business community locally and worldwide.

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HE Salah Salem Bin Omar Al Shamsi, President, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry

E Mohammed Rashed Al Hameli, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry shares his insights on the mission, vision and strategy of ADDCI. In what specific ways is ADCCI successfully positioning Abu Dhabi as a leading commercial and business destination? How has the innovative promotion of its commerce and business opportunities added to the economy and global profile of the emirate?

The Abu Dhabi Corniche is a visual statement of the emergence of Abu Dhabi as a worldclass city. It features hotels, residential and commercial properties that are contemporary and iconic while fully maximizing the value of this important location.

The ADCCI is an autonomous body supporting government policies in promoting trade, commercial and industrial activities. In this context, we provide a series of services to both national and foreign businessmen who have businesses in Abu Dhabi or are prospective entrepreneurs. The Chamber has played a significant role in harnessing the potential of the private sector to contribute to Abu Dhabi’s non-oil economy. Having embarked upon an aggressive approach breaking away form the traditional role of merely issuing licences, the ADCCI has now taken up the more active responsibility of linking the private sector with the public sector. At the same time, the Chamber is also involved in finding solutions to problems faced by businessmen in setting up business or entering into joint ventures with foreign companies. This year we have launched two very important work centres: the Members Services Centre and the Business-Link. These two centres are like a ‘One-Stop Shop’ providing A-Z services to members as well as the business community, traders and entrepreneurs. Abu Dhabi is emerging as the centre of very vibrant economic activity, with the government adopting an open foreign investmentfriendly economic policy and allowing the private sector to play a pivotal role. Abu Dhabi is on fast track. Our strategic location supported by the bold and dynamic open economic policies, has turned our Emirate into a beehive-like hub for global business and commercial activities. The ‘Abu Dhabi Plan 2030’ is an unprecedented, phased undertaking to be shared by the government and the private sector to refurbish and build a modern infrastructure. Over the next two decades, Abu Dhabi will be spending trillions of dollars on tourism facilities, building hotels and resorts for high-end tourists. Health and education projects will be launched to provide the best in the two essential services sectors. Real estate, commercial and residential properties, modern network of roads, seaport, airport, and light rails will be provided. Our economic growth during the past couple of years is a brilliant achievement reflecting the strong long-term growth through wealth creating opportunities. Our real estate market has emerged as a strong challenge to other players in the field and is now exploding, registering unprecedented demand-based growth expected to cross $500 billion when completed. Our innovative specialized industrial zones set up in selected parts of the emirate and our government’s policy of allowing 100 percent ownership to foreign investors and entrepreneurs offer excellent opportunities to industrialists and entrepreneurs to set up their businesses. What partnerships with industry stakeholders has ADCCI fostered, and why? As I said earlier, the ADCCI has undergone a basic change from being a mere basic service provider to be an active player fostering close ties with the business community. The establishment of the Abu Dhabi Business Group Forum and its interaction with ADCCI brings the International business community on one platform, which would help

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Since its inception in 1969, the Chamber has discussed many economic laws and legislations that regulate economic performance in the Emirate. As a member of the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry, it plays a significant role in discussing and drafting these laws and regulations at the UAE level. Its presence in the international arena has been gradually expanded through multi-membership in many Arab and world chamber counterparts, including the Arab-French, the Arab-Swiss, the Arab-American, the ArabBelgian, the Arab-Luxembourg and the Arab-German Chambers of Commerce & Industry.

Abu Dhabiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategy for financial success is based on both the enhancement of the economic structure and the diversification of income sources through nurturing the non-oil sectors, strengthening the public-private partnership (PPP), encouraging the direct foreign investment (DFI), as well as through entering into joint ventures hinged upon comparative advantages. Any local economy managed by global standards seeks to apply the laws of the knowledge-based economy. trade and business ties with foreign businessmen, firms and companies.

HE Mohammed Rashed Al Hameli, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry

networking amongst national businessmen and entrepreneurs. The ADCCI is aware of the changes on the market-place and the growing importance of the private sector in contributing to the development of non-oil economy. We have two elected expatriate members on our board of directors to give more representation to the private sector. Diversification from oil-related revenues is a long-term strategy that is sometimes difficult to implement. What concrete steps is ADCCI taking to ensure that it is realistically implemented? Our progress and success depend on our strategic planning, building friendly working relationships with various segments of the business community at all levels to develop Abu Dhabiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s non-oil economic sectors. We encourage our businessmen and trading community to foster strong

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Despite the recent and well-documented successes of Abu Dhabi as a business hub, what challenges does ADCCI face in marketing this location to the evergrowing volumes of investors? We have successfully marketed the economic and commercial benefits that Abu Dhabi has to offer to foreign investors, and the vast potential that the Emirate has to offer in real estate, tourism, health and industry. The private sector plays a very crucial role in developing a strong economy; ADCCI realizes this and has established open, transparent and fasttrack policies in dealing with members and foreign businessmen. The government has liberalized the economy allowing full-scale involvement of foreign investors. However, we want to go for high-end quality partnerships that will help us develop a sound and stable non-oil economy. Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven emirates endowed with rich natural resources other than oil and gas. We have about 200 natural islands, sand dunes, sea coast. We have the advantage of turning these resources into developing a strong non-oil-based economy. Our FDI reached about $ 6 billion in 2006 and there is potential for more, as there are more opportunities for investment in our burgeoning tourist and travel industry, hotels, health and education to name but a few. Competition is always healthy and key to

growth. Competition does not mean we try to undercut one another. Chambers of all the seven emirates under the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) have a common goal to help boost and strengthen the UAE economy by providing guidance, help and support to businessmen and entrepreneurs. What further innovation can be expected from ADCCI in the future? In line with the changes in global economic activity, the Chamber has laid down a well-planned strategy to meet emerging challenges, especially laying emphasis on perfection and excellence within the various departments of the Chamber. It is our continuous endeavour to provide best services and guidance to our members so as to help them increase their trade and business activities. In addition, the Chamber is keen to encourage young UAE men and women entrepreneurs to start small- and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) to help boost the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to build the non-oil economy. As an important part of its strategy, it also provides its members with orientation programmes to develop and polish their skills and capabilities to acquire modern know-how and knowledge of international market-place trends. To this end, the e-commerce culture has been assimilated at the ADCCI with ease to be in tandem with developments around us and has greatly improved the

Best of Abu Dhabi

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internal and external workings of the organisation. The Chamber’s duty is to render the best possible services to its member firms and companies. According to Chamber Law, all individuals and companies that are based in the Emirate and participate in any commercial or professional activities in this area must be registered. Membership certificates are issued to all members and from this moment onwards they are kept updated on the latest data and information available from the Chamber, as well as being educated about how to make the most of the services which it offers. Members are notified of the Chamber’s frequent functions and events whilst being kept abreast of its general duties and the tasks it carries out. The wealth of data and information which the Chamber possesses allows it to be an active participant in a variety of functions and events, both locally and internationally. Through these, the Chamber is able to introduce its member companies and products so that they too can benefit from these opportunities. This interaction helps the Chamber to gain a clearer vision of the problems and obstacles that members may be facing. These problems are discussed and appropriate solutions are devised; if necessary, further action is taken by approaching the authorities. Through its website, the Chamber makes all information required by the business community in Abu Dhabi and the UAE instantly available. Their vision, “to be the leading chamber in achieving socio-economic development” by consistently seeking to support the national economy and improving both the development of the services it offers and the domestic and foreign relations it fosters, is being realised across diverse spheres. Embarking on a strategy to invest in the best and most advanced practical education in order to upgrade the level of professionalism of its staff, they are becoming recognized by the community as being highly qualified role-models who uphold the Chamber’s values and enhance its prestigious position, nationally and internationally. In this way, the Chamber’s mission, ‘to contribute effectively to the enhancement of our national economy through adoption of the best professional and technical practices,’ is coming to fruition in tandem with Abu Dhabi’s pre-eminence in the 21st century. Abu Dhabi is the number one city in the Arab world across diverse indicators. It is seeking to integrate into the global market and to achieve prosperity for its citizens and residents. To make this a reality, the government has adopted a scientific approach based on standards that would make it possible to measure its performance against that of other economies.

Tel: +9712 621 4000 www.adcci-uae.com

The Chamber is also represented in boards, including the UAE-Turkish Businessmen Board, the UAESyrian Businessmen Board and the UAE-Indian Businessmen Board. It is a member of the Federation of the AGCC Chambers of Commerce & Industry, the Federation of Arab Chambers of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture, the Islamic Chamber and the Arab Labour Organization. Such representation falls within the framework of its membership in the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry.

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Tourism, Culture & Heritage

Abu Dhabi is looking to have 26,000 hotel rooms by the end of 2012.

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ADTA supports Abu Dhabiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourism industry in a manner consistent with the indigenous cultural and social values of UAE society.

ADTA has gained many international awards for enhancing the tourism sector in Abu Dhabi and worldwide.

Abu Dhabi International Airport is undergoing expansion to increase capacity to 40 million passengers.

Managing a distinctive destination Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority was established in 2004 with wide ranging responsibilities for the promotion and development of the emirateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international tourism industry. Its mandate covers key areas including destination marketing, infrastructure and product development as well as regulation, licensing and classification.

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Vision ‘To be a leading tourism authority that is positioning the emirate of Abu Dhabi as an outstanding, globally recognised, sustainable tourism destination, while enriching the lives of the Abu Dhabi community and visitors alike’ - Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority

Mission ‘To drive and support the development and promotion of tourism in Abu Dhabi efficiently, effectively, and transparently, in partnership with all our stakeholders while ensuring the highest quality standards’ - Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority

DTA activities also include supporting the emirate’s tourism industry in a manner consistent with the indigenous cultural and social values of UAE society. ADTA is achieving this aim through intense and extensive international promotion, the opening of dedicated offices in key markets, dynamic product development innovative and precision-targeted marketing to build brand and destination awareness as well as impactful educational campaigns for consumers and the travel trade. In all its activities, ADTA works closely with stakeholders and partners including the immigration services, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, hotel owners, developers and operators, Etihad, the national airline of the UAE, the Department of Transport, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, Abu Dhabi Authority For Culture & Heritage and municipalities throughout the emirate. This has resulted in the authority having a substantial presence at key industry events worldwide, the staging of road shows and trade workshops as well as inbound familiarisation trips for trade and media. ADTA activities also include regulation and monitoring of the tourism industry, which is helping to upgrade services, standards and performance throughout the industry and the promotion of training opportunities to encourage more UAE national participation in the industry. ADTA is also closely involved in the development of the emirate’s tourism infrastructure and products and it plays a

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For centuries the tribes that inhabited the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula lived a tough nomadic life, or earned a living by diving for pearls and fishing along the coast. In 1958 massive oil and gas reserves catapulted these impoverished desert sheikhkdoms into a dimension of wealth and plenty. Slowly embracing socio-political reform, today the region’s most socially liberal country, is a federation of modern city states replete with gleaming skyscrapers towering above manicured oases and palm-lined boulevards. With economic diversification and enlightened development plans in diverse spheres, there is more to life in Abu Dhabi than meets the eye.

leading role in attracting inward investment to further the sector’s role in economic diversification. ADTA is also responsible for supervising existing and future government tourism projects and services. ADTA strategies span the development of the business tourism (formerly Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) sector, the enhancement of leisure services and products and the implementation of a comprehensive events strategy. The ADTA also works in close co-ordination with the

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Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) to further the emirate’s ambitions to become a world-class business tourism destination. Throughout every aspect of its work, ADTA is dedicated to leveraging Abu Dhabi’s rich natural heritage and traditions and delivering socio-economic and environmental sustainability. ADTA’s corporate ethos is based around Abu Dhabi’s brand message of respect, which leads to an inclusive approach embracing

all segments of its home community and its valued overseas partners and guests. As an employer, ADTA strives to be the ‘best of the best’ promoting innovation and leadership by encouraging ongoing training and development both for its own staff, national and expatriate alike, and by providing training to employees of its stakeholders and industry partners.

Tel: + 9712 444 0444 www.abudhabitourism.ae

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Tourism, Culture & Heritage

Three years ago, Abu Dhabi set up Watani, a social and cultural development project that aims to engage its youth in local Emirati culture, with a particular emphasis on art.

The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which offers services like tours of the Grand Mosque, expects 2.7 hotel guests in the UAE capital by 2012.

Part of its plan to promote local culture, ADACH held a photography exhibition on “The Costumes and Adornments of UAE Women,” by artist Cibely Dohle.

Artistic Perspectives By 2012, Abu Dhabi will be making headway as one of the cultural hubs of the Middle East. As the clock counts down to that date, with the opening of museums, art centres and art fairs aplenty, ‘Best of Abu Dhabi’ gives you a taste of the artistic adventures the emirate has already undertaken, as well as those yet to come.

Image Courtesy - Sadaqat Ali Syed

Guggenheim - Abu Dhabi’s upcoming art icon of Heritage and art culture

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Louvre - A home of a prestigious performing arts centre and a maritime museum Currently one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Abu Dhabi is also setting itself up to become a leader in yet another field: the international art scene. By putting in place the infrastructure to propel art, heritage and culture, the emirate aims to open its doors to artists and culture-based tourism from around the world, as well as fostering the talents of its home grown art fraternity.

Ali Syed

n 2005, Abu Dhabi took significant strides towards becoming a Middle Eastern cultural focal point by creating the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH). An offshoot of the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, this organisation aims to promote the cultural and historical aspects of Abu Dhabi, with a focus on literature, music, theatre, cinema, art and photography. ADACH caters to all types of art lovers through its ‘Plan for 2008-2012,’ which takes up the challenge to keep the local Emirati heritage alive while promoting the art that is reflective of an increasingly developed and cosmopolitan city. Recently, the organisation demonstrated its range in artistic offerings. Among other things, it set up: ‘Picasso Abu Dhabi: Masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso’, which featured 186 paintings, sculptures and drawings and marked the first presentation of the Musee National Picasso collection in the Middle East; ‘The Arts of Islam’, which attracted over 61,000 visitors in just three months; and the screening of 9 Iranian films. ADACH also showed its commitment to promoting the culture of the surrounding Arab region, with its exhibition on ‘Treasures from Sudan’. Thanks to the realisation that the federal capital must invest in community initiatives in order to foster meaningful societal values and substance to its tourism investment efforts, major inroads have been made through a collaboration with one of the most famous art fairs in the world: artparis. artparis is an

international fair dedicated to modern and contemporary art that takes place annually in France’s City of Lights. The organisers of this event have come together with the ADACH and Abu Dhabi Tourism Development and Investment Company to create a fair for modern and contemporary art in the UAE capital. Dubbed artparis Abu Dhabi, the event will provide a yearly meeting point for lovers of art across the Middle East and further afield. The November 2008 exhibition witnessed the second running of artparis Abu Dhabi in Emirates Palace. The show had expanded by a mind-blowing 40 per cent from its earlier debut, exhibiting 58 modern/contemporary art galleries worldwide and encompassing over 3,300 artworks by more than 700 artists, including Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso and Paul Cezanne. Capping all of these artistic achievements is the opening of Saadiyat Island’s Cultural District, earmarked for 2012. This section of Abu Dhabi will embody the largest concentration of premier cultural institutions in the world. The project will house various museums, including: the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. It will also be home to a prestigious performing arts centre and a maritime museum. The buildings for the project are being designed by award winning architects from around the world, like the famed Frenchman Jean Nouvel. A project unprecedented in scale and scope, the Cultural District will brand Abu Dhabi as a meaningful addition to the region’s burgeoning art scene.

Best of Abu Dhabi

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Tourism, Culture & Heritage

The Grand Mosque is home to the world’s largest chandelier, a 9 tonne behemoth made of 1 million Swarovski crystals imported from Germany.

Initiated by Sheikh Zayed in 1998, the Grand Mosque was a global meeting point since inception, bringing together over 3,000 workers and 38 contracting companies from around the world.

The overall cost of the Grand Mosque is just over AED 2 billion ($545 million).

The Grand Mosque’s courtyard and prayer halls can fit over 40,000 worshippers at one time.

Beauty and truth Shiekh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late founding father of the UAE, had a vision: to create a world in which religious and cultural understanding reigned supreme. This enlightened leader left us the physical manifestation of that ideal in the legacy of the Grand Mosque. At a time that is on occasion witnessing the devaluation and demonization of the sacred precepts of Islam, the Grand Mosque epitomises the beauty and purity that has long been part of the Islamic tradition.

In a region famous for creating the biggest and the best, the Grand Mosque had much to live up to – and it did. Covering 22,412 square metres, the mosque is about the size of five football fields, making it the third-largest mosque in the world. Image Courtesy - Sadaqat Ali Syed

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4 The mosque has the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest carpet at 7,119 square metres, from Iran. 4 It has 28 types of marble and 24-carat gold throughout. 4 The 22,412 square metre mosque site equates to around the size of five football fields. 4 More than 3,000 workers and 38 renowned contracting companies took part in the construction work. 4 The mosque has 82 domes of traditional Moroccan design - all decorated with white marble. 4 The main domeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outer shell is 32.8 metres in diameter and stands at a height of 70 metres from the inside and 85 metres from the outside.

Image Courtesy - Sadaqat Ali Syed

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Image Courtesy - Sadaqat Ali Syed

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Image Courtesy - Sadaqat Ali Syed

The Grand Mosque’s courtyard is a delight. Stretching out to 17,000 square metres, this open-air section of the mosque is the meeting point of the manmade with nature. Giant floral marble designs pave the courtyard, while the sky provides the grandest roof one can find. The mosque’s 4 marble and gold minarets, one at each corner of the courtyard, tower 104 metres into the air, as if providing a staircase into heaven.

ocated in the heart of Abu Dhabi, the Grand Mosque (officially called the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque) is a cultural and architectural landmark. This white marble wonder sits atop a 9.5-metre high hill, as if descending onto the city from another world. Just looking at the exterior is enough to impress the visitor. Eighty-two extraordinary marble domes crown the building with its endless rows of pillars, and intricate calligraphy and colourful floral patterns crisscross its outer walls. The surrounding tile-inlayed lakes reflect the mosque in their dark waters, creating the impression of a building that goes beyond the boundaries of human reality. The inside of the mosque is perhaps even more remarkable. Just beyond the entrance is the main prayer hall, a glittering room with the capacity to hold up to 9,000 worshippers. On the West Side is the marvelous Qibla wall, the direction Muslims pray towards. Subtly decorated so as not to distract the worshippers, the wall is

nonetheless breathtaking. At 23 metres high and 50 metres wide, it is covered in 6 pages of Quranic verses and lit with fibreoptics, making it shimmer a soft gold. The rest of the mosque’s interior is equally impressive, as it attempts to mimic nature. Gracing the floor is the world’s largest carpet, a hand-woven 7,119 square metre masterpiece from Iran. The greens, whites and pinks of the carpet give off the feeling of sitting in a grassy garden. White columns rise like trees from the ground, covered in colourful images of marble vines and flowers that seem to be growing towards the mosque’s traditional Islamic arches. The multicolored chandeliers that hang down from the ceiling could be bunches of fruit drooping from heavily laden tree branches. And further up in the domes the lighting turns blue, emulating a night sky, with delicate white carvings for the stars. As Abu Dhabi grows into a global capital city, embracing globalisation in its various manifestations, the Grand Mosque is keeping the city’s traditional identity alive,

as well as promoting the religious and cultural understanding envisioned by the country’s leaders. Although non-Muslims are not allowed in Abu Dhabi’s mosques, the Grand Mosque is an exception. A few months after the Mosque opened on the first day of Eid in December 2007, guided tours were made available for people of all faiths and backgrounds. The tours, conducted mostly by UAE nationals, provide insight on the mosque’s architecture, Islam, and the national culture of the UAE. There is no fee for the tours, thereby allowing as many people as possible to benefit from learning about the region and the sacred religion that the mosque represents. Although Sheikh Zayed was unable to see the completion of his beloved mosque, his vision is what continues to drive it forward as a centre of religious and cultural understanding. When complete in 2009, it will be the crowning achievement of a city that emblemises the harmony and tolerance to be found in the moderate Islam espoused by Shiekh Zayed and his descendents.

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Tourism, Culture & Heritage

Flavours of the Emirates With exotic gourmet delights like Khanfarosh, Lokaimat, Sagu, Jazariya and Balalit, lamb kabsah with jarrish, chicken tajine and saffron couscous, regional cuisine is very much a communal experience. With diners sitting together on the floor sharing from large platters, it is as diverse as the social and ethnic origins of the UAE. Reflecting the variety of cultural influences that the country has experienced over the centuries, traditional Emirati cooking consists primarily of dates, fresh and dried fish, camel meat as well as milk. However, typically Lebanese cuisine, with its grilled meats and characteristic dips, has been embraced whole-heartedly by all.

ishes are served together, not as separate courses and a typical meal consists of slow cooked spiced lamb on top of a bed of warm rice, with other accompaniments ranging from hummus, ful (spiced bean paste), falafel, and shawurmah (shwarma; broiled meat served on flat bread) as well as stuffed vine leaves and other Arabian fare. In addition to dishes standard to the Arab world, the influence of Iranian cuisine can be seen in the Emirati preference for rice as a staple and ingredients such as saffron, cardamom, and rose water as flavouring in desserts. The traditional dish of Meshawah, made of dried fish and spices, and eaten with bread or rice and usually mixed with onions, bears an Iranian influence too. Like in other countries of the region, the preference is for lamb and chicken, and fresh fruits, vegetables and unleavened bread (khubz) are staple fare. Numerous spices are used for flavouring. In the olden days, these would help conceal the taste of less than fresh produce. Today, however, blends such as baharat (mixed spice that is a combination of cumin, cloves, coriander, nutmeg, pepper and cinnamon) are still popular as the base for many preparations.

Best of Abu Dhabi

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Image Courtesy - Sadaqat Ali Syed

Immigrants have brought their culinary tastes with them and thanks to the Levantine Arabs; Lebanese food has become an integral part of Emirati cuisine. So too has South Asian fare, as Indians and Pakistanis have always had strong links to Gulf region, bringing their foods and spices to fill the souks with their appetizing aromas. Whilst restaurants serve every hue of Arabic, Western and Oriental cuisine, the best place to eat wholesome Emirati cuisine is at home. Meals in traditional homes are social occasions where the whole family gathers. Even when low tables and chairs are used, shared platters and eating together by using the right hand are the norm. A remnant of the Bedouin mentality, what really gives Emiratis pleasure is in extending hospitality. And if guests are around at meal times, they are invited to join in the traditional mansaf of whole lamb and spiced rice. The meal is laid out on trays for everybody to help themselves. Most homes have reception rooms or a Majlis whose sole purpose is to serve meals to guests on special occasions. At breakfast, the first meal of the day is light and tasty. Starting with Balaleet, which is vermicelli fried with eggs, onions, cinnamon, sugar, oil and saffron, followed by Khubs khameera, a bread-like preparation made with saffron and sesame seed. This could be eaten on its own or with honey, date syrup or even cheese spread. This could be followed by Arsiya which is made from cracked wheat and cooked in meat. It has a savoury taste with a consistency like porridge. Each meal has to end with a sweet; at breakfast it would be fried dough balls eaten with date syrup, lugaimat, or dates. All of it washed down by the drink Arabs favour the most - ghawah, the hot and strong Arabic coffee. Drinking coffee is an integral part of Arab culture and is a habit that is indulged every where, from the humblest cafĂŠ to the palaces. In the past, coffeehouses were the main meeting places in the Gulf. A cup of coffee was

Even though traditional Emirati cuisine is based on a healthy subsistence diet of dates, fish, rice and camelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s milk; today, Lebanese culinary influences pervade. Best of Abu Dhabi

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usually followed by a turn at the gaduo, the traditional smoking pipe shared by men folk. Coffee is served on many occasions and if offered, it is gracious to accept. As a symbolic extension of welcome, it is served black and is usually flavoured with cardamom or cloves. Indeed, Arabs love spices and every imaginable spice can be found in the spice streets or atarinehs. Freshly ground and served with cardamom, Arabic coffee is served in tiny cups with no handles. The cup must be held by the right hand and the server will constantly replenish the cup. Shaking the cup from side to side indicates that enough has been drunk. Milk and dairy products play a strong role in the Emirati diet. Camel’s milk, as much as its meat, was a staple food for the Bedouin and enabled small populations to occupy and make economic use of the extensive desert regions. In modern times, camels are reared

chiefly for racing and no longer used for food supply and transport. But camel milk is still consumed by Emiratis and some families keep a camel for milk in the family compound. The milk is drunk as a fresh drink, haleeb. Haleeb Ghanam, Haleeb Kharouf - Goat’s and Sheep’s milk is processed into laban, raab, labneh, chami, dihn/zibda, samn and kami/bathith for immediate consumption as well as commercial purposes. These are still available at local markets though production is now concentrated on the rearing of goats and sheep for meat. Haleeb Baqar - cow’s milk is consumed fresh and is also used for the preparation of laban, dihn/zibda and samn that is a liquid garnish ideal on savoury and sweet dishes. Of late, it has been replaced by ghee - a similar product originating from the Indian sub-continent. Full-bodied and multi layered, Emirati cuisine never disappoints. Just what is expected from a hearty meal.

Machboos (or Fooga) Ingredients

Directions

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4 cups water

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4 chicken bouillon cubes or 5 teaspoons chicken stock powder

1. 2.

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2 tablespoons olive oil

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8-10 bone-in chicken pieces, skin removed (if it is the breast pieces, cut those in half since they are very large)

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2 whole dried limes (loomi)

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1/8 teaspoon saffron

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1 large onion, chopped

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1 large tomato, chopped

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1 garlic clove, minced

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2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

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1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric

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1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

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1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder

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1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) or chili powder (optional)

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2 teaspoons salt

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2 cups basmati rice, rinsed and drained

Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9x13 baking dish. Bring water to boiling and add chicken bouillon cubes, lower heat and add dried limes and saffron and let simmer till bouillon is dissolved --keep it hot. 3. Sprinkle chicken with half the spices (except the garlic). 4. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet on med-high to high heat and fry the chicken till both sides are brown, lower heat to medium and remove the chicken to a plate. 5. In that same skillet sauté the onions for 2 minutes, add tomatoes, garlic and remaining spices and sauté another 2 minutes, then turn off the burner. 6. Add the rice and stir for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, till well coated. 7. Spread rice in the baking dish and place the chicken pieces over the rice. 8. Gently press the dried limes on the sides of the pot to distribute flavor in the broth and then poor on the rice and chicken (the whole thing including the dried limes) and cover tightly with foil. 9. Bake for 40-45 minutes--do not open the foil cover at all until the time is up. 10. If you want to eat this the authentic way, you can lay newspaper on the floor (for easy cleanup of spills), put all of this on a very large platter or on a couple large sheets of aluminum foil laid on the newspaper and everyone sits around and eats with their right hand! Can be eaten with ketchup.

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Tourism, Culture & Heritage

Camelicious Every December, thousands of camels flutter their long eyelashes at one of the biggest camel beauty pageants in the world. Part of the Mazayin Dhafrah Festival organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage, this spectacle of camel comeliness boasts a prize bigger than that of Miss World.

oming as part of the UAE’s second Dhafrah Festival, a desert carnival sponsored by Abu Dhabi’s royal family that aims to preserve traditional Bedouin heritage under pressure by the so-called westernized ‘Coca Cola’ culture in the oil-rich Gulf region, the camel pageants rounded up around 17,000 camels. The first event made international headlines with prizes amounting to AED 35 million in prize money and 100 cars up for grabs. In its second year, the Dhafrah Festival has proved its popularity by attracting some 24,000 camels belonging to over 2,000 people from around the Gulf, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain. These camels, also known as ‘the ships of the desert’, are registered for the beauty contest in several categories, defined by age and skin colour. They are required to be of pure-bred origin and free from any contagious diseases or defects. Five judges assess the animals on strict criteria, including the curvature of their ears, the size of their nose relative to the rest of the face and the fullness of their hump. They first inspect the camels’ overall bodies, then examine their individual body parts, like their necks, heads, lips, noses, legs and feet, separately. Owners can participate with more than one camel as long as they can prove ownership, and those owning the top three camels in each category split a AED 7 million prize fund, and each receive a car from a pool of more than 100 4x4 vehicles and pickups. The money and cars for the contest were donated by the members of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Butti Al Hamed, Head of the High Committee for the Festival, Representative of the Ruler at the Western Region, praised the role of the

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4 There are two types of camels: the Bactrian (or Asian) camel, which has two humps, and the Dromedary (or Arabian) camel, which has one hump. 4 The camel’s nickname, ‘Ships of the Desert’, comes from their walk. Like a giraffe, the camel moves both legs on one side of its body at the same time, then on the other side. The rolling motion resembles a ship at sea. 4 Camels can be milked, but the flavour is an acquired taste. Camel dairy herds are kept in parts of the Middle East. 4 Camel wool is of high quality and is used in the Arab world for rug-making and clothing. Camels shed around 2 kgs of wool every time they moult. 4 Camels have a complex system of eye protection involving: a double row of long curly eyelashes to keep out sand and dust; a third eyelid that moves from side to side, like a windshield wiper, to wipe any sand away; and thick bushy eyebrows to shade their eyes from the sun. 4 Camel humps are full of fat, not water, and will shrink if the camel doesn’t eat. Baby camels are born without a hump, and must start eating solids before they can develop any.

89 camel in traditional Arab life, as it was a mode of travel, a source of food and constituted the main measurement of wealth. “Although the camel has always been a companion to the Arab during his travel in the old days, today camels still play a part in our lives, as thousands of people continue to attend camel races and watch what is perceived as part of our heritage.” Although the beauty pageant is its main

event, the Al Dhafrah Festival is much more than a camel show. It includes various events and activities that aim to revive Bedouin traditions and to improve the economy in the Western Region of the Abu Dhabi Emirate, through both commerce and sustainable tourism. Among these events is the Dates’ Packaging Competition, meant to find the best wrapping that prolongs the dates’ freshness; the Poetry competition, which

received hundreds of entries; a photography competition; and a handicrafts competition for traditional Arabian hand-made objects. The Al Dhafrah Festival, however, doesn’t stop there. Apart from these shows it also offers an entertainment programme, with evenings of traditional poetry, music and dances, as well a traditional style Arabian souq for a spot of ‘olde worlde’ retail therapy.

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Tourism, Culture & Heritage

Abu Dhabi at a glance Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s undeniable that the UAE has made intelligent use of modern technologies and management systems in order to further its impressive socioeconomic diversification programme. Recognising however that there is more to development than meets the modern eye, taking a fresh look at its unique desert and seafearing heritage is equally important in maintaining valued traditions and maintaining the balance of an increasingly sensitive ecosystem. FALCONRY

alcons were once used to hunt food by the desert people but today falconry has the status of a national pastime in the UAE. Two breeds of falcons: the Saker and the Peregrine falcon are among the most popular for hunting purposes. In the old days when falcon and Bedouin hunted for food together, they would be trapped along the coast during their autumn migration. They were then trained, used in hunting food and later released in the spring to carry out their hunter role. Trust, bonding and a rare understanding between the captive bird and the trainer is needed to train the falcons to catch prey. Because the houbara bustards, the birds of prey, were due just three weeks after the falcons were captured themselves, it was also an intense exercise sport. Once the falcons were trained to catch prey, in time for the migrating bustards, the falcon remained a constant hunting companion to the Bedouins throughout the winter. Even other prey such as curlews, hares and gazelle, were occasionally hunted with the help of the saluki dogs.

Pearling

vital source of livelihood in the Arabian Peninsula since ancient times, income from pearling was cyclical and a bad season often resulted in mounting debt for families involved. By the end of the Nineteenth century pearling flourished and physically fit men began to opt for pearling as a profession over nomadic life. They participated in the diving expeditions known as ghaus in the summer, and wound their way home to cultivate their date gardens in the winter. This was especially the case with the Bani Yas sub-tribes, based out of Liwa. In a couple of generations, pearl diving had become entrenched as a profession in the area we now know as the UAE. There were over 1,200 pearling boats operational and a rudimentary business model had been carved out in the industry. Many of the Bani Yas pearlers formed cooperatives, jointly owning their boat and sharing the profits according to a mutual agreement. Each boat carried a crew of about 18 men. The captain or nakhuda took the biggest share and a larger share was taken by the divers as compared to the haulers. Money was then left in the kitty for the following season. Life at sea on the pearling boats required physical endurance and mental fortitude. Pearling also imposed long periods of absence from home resulting in tremendous responsibility for the women left behind to tend to children and old folks. It was as if entire villages were bereft of young able bodied men during the four summer months. Over time certain tribes grew roots in particular areas and coastal habitats such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. However, the advent of the cultured pearl in Japan in the 1940s caused the natural pearl markets to collapse and this had a ripple effect on the pearling settlements and tribes dependent on this trade.

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Ibn Majid

xploring uncharted territories is not new to Arabia. Ibn Majid, fondly known as the ‘Lion of the Sea’ is a figure of the region’s sailing history. Although his is the more well known name, his father, grandfather and other ancestors were part of a family of illustrious sailors long before Vasco da Gama even sighted Cape of Good Hope or had treaded Arabian sands. History shows that Arabs had explored European waters much before the Europeans had crossed the Indian Ocean. Although we don’t have the exact date, Ibn Majid’s date of birth is said to be between 1432-37. Born in Julfar, which is close to present day Ras al Khaimah, his sailing adventures were documented by him in 40 surviving works, of which 39 are in verse. While all his writings are marked by a lyrical quality, some short, others long, the 805-verse Al Sofaliya, that narrates the journey between India and Sofala on the Mozambique coast, is possibly the longest. The Fawa’id is another opus that is a comprehensive tome detailing Ibn Majid’s vast store of navigation knowledge and also deftly weaves in the knowledge base of early Arab astronomers. Ibn Majid died at the age of about 70, soon after he wrote his last known poem in 1500 AD.

The Camel

he camel has functioned as the ship of the desert and was practically a life line for the old time inhabitants of the UAE who had a partly nomadic lifestyle. The Bani Yas, the largest tribe in the UAE, trudged the vast sandy stretches of what we now know as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Awamir and Manasir tribes too roamed the desert region but closely guarded the locations of oases. Crossing wide swathes of the desert in search of brush and bush vegetation that sprang to life after erratic rains, some of the Bani Yas Bedouins were fortunate enough to be able to return to a home in the oases to cultivate their date palms. Camel owners among them who had a grazing pasture near their palms were especially lucky as they could harvest dates while their livestock grazed and drank at the wells shared by the community. The original multitasking friend of the desert Bedouin, the camel needed water and had the job of fetching it too. When the caravans were on the move it served as a beast of burden to transport household goods as it was uniquely suited to the inhospitable terrain. The Bedouins raced camels for entertainment and for the most part camel milk was the only source of diary protein available to the Bedus during long summers. The hardy camel could go without water for days and its meat was considered a delicacy reserved for feasts. Camel skin made sturdy bags, useful containers for carrying water and other utensils. Fine cloaks, known as bight, woven from fine camel hair were coveted items. Even the bedu’s rugs and tents were fashioned from the hide of this supremely versatile desert mammal.

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Tourism, Culture & Heritage

Zoom into pole position If there is one common passion among the people of the Emirates, it is for cars - the faster, the better. Small wonder then that there is jubilation at Abu Dhabi hosting UAE’s first Formula One Grand Prix in 2009 on a track expected to offer the best F1 racing in the world.

The capital and the largest of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, is an idyllic location for one the world’s most popular sports. Abu Dhabi has more than 200 natural islands; with pristine and unspoilt beaches in the region, it is rapidly gaining popularity among leisure tourists from across the world.

ork is proceeding at a fast clip on the track in time for the 2009 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Yas, the 2,550-hectare natural leisure island, on the east coast of the capital. Designed by renowned Formula 1 circuit designer Hermann Tilke, the track is being built by master developers Aldar Properties. “A mix of high-speed and low-speed corners will be the hallmark of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Circuit. The cars will touch 250 km/h through the third turn and achieve 300 km/h on the 1.2 km long main straight, which is followed by a tight hairpin” says Tilke, “We are working hard with the Abu Dhabi team to create an exciting race”, he adds. Moving from Bahrain, where the high adrenalin competition was hosted for five years, spectators in Abu Dhabi will soon be treated to unrivalled high speed excitement played out on three distinct sections of the 5.6km circuit, including high speed areas ending in tight overtaking turns, a street section and a marina section too. Originally flat, Yas Island today is being refashioned with man-made hills to ensure track undulations up and down, upping the level of skill required by drivers and thrill experienced by spectators that will be watching close at hand. A special feature of the track is that it will be have two parts. One part will be permanent and is meant for everyday use and the other part of 2.5km for is for the exclusive use of F1. “It

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Richard Cregan views the Yas Marina Circuit model with John Howett, president of Toyota F1

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will be characterised by different variants of track alignments”, he explains. The Grand Prix plan is part of a grandiose $40 billion project to transform Yas Island into a premier leisure destination with over 100 new hotels as part of well planned developments. In addition to the motor race track, the island will boast a Ferrarithemed park, museum and theatre. This will allow visitors to experience the thrill of the exclusive Ferrari Driving School (Pilota Ferrari), kart track and dune buggies. The first phase of the project will be completed in 2008 and the overall project will be completed in 2014 on the island’s 32kms gulf shoreline.

By signing a seven-year deal for a race in the capital of the UAE with the Formula One management company, finally Abu Dhabi has succeeded in grabbing the opportunity to host this spectacular spectator sport considered the most expensive in the world. The green signal from the Chairman and CEO of Formula One Management, Bernie Eccelstone was long-awaited as this is without doubt one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events, in the same category as an Olympic Games or World Cup. Clearly the Executive Affairs committee of the Abu Dhabi government who clinched the deal to bring Formula One to the

federal capital until 2016 understand how it will propel tourism and socio-economic diversification into the services sector. “We wanted to create an event for that enjoyed high viewership worldwide. We also wanted to introduce a new sport to the region by bringing it right to the people. This is a sport for the future of Abu Dhabi, a sport for our children”, explains HE Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, Abu Dhabi Tourist Authority. The massive global media impact of the sporting event will increase the stature and visibility of Abu Dhabi as a leisure destination. With its enormous reserves of financial liquidity ranging from $250 billion and $500 billion secured by its vast oil

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The UAE is the second country in the Middle East to host the race after Gulf Arab partner Bahrain, which hosted its first Grand Prix in 2004. There had been some doubt if the close proximity of Bahrain would scuttle Abu Dhabi’s chances but the Formula One management felt that neither country would be a threat to the other and would in fact work closely together to make sure F1 is very successful in this geo politically crucial part of the world. The F1 track will cement racing, already a major pastime of Emirati youth, into the local culture.

and gas reserves that are comprise nine per cent of the world’s proven oil reserves, the federal capital is not only keen to steal the limelight from its sister emirate Dubai, that put in place fundamental tourism infrastructure a decade or so earlier – it has the cash too. The aim is to plan a fruitfully diversified future for the emirate’s 1.5 million population. On a structural level, by integrating typical elements of the Arabian landscape into the prized 5.5 km track, the aim is to merge local traditional elements into a rampantly progressive sport at the cutting edge of technological innovation. This integration of world class sporting events with a purpose-

built infrastructure that takes from the west but merges with traditional landscape will ultimately reinforce the appeal of a luxury lifestyle destination in the making. Overall inbound tourism figures that stood at 1.2 million in 2005, increasing by 16 per cent rise in 2006 prove this. And with estimates reaching 3.5 million and by 2015, it is obvious that policy makers are confident about their strategy and the continuous global resonance that the event will spark. Clearly tourism revenues and visibility underscore the desire to start a new chapter in a bold, outwardly focussed era of Abu Dhabi’s development, after the death of the UAE’s first president, HH Sheikh Zayed Al

Nahyan in 2005. HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, predicts “very real macroeconomic benefits” for Abu Dhabi and rest of the UAE from the opportunities that are bound to open up through increased international attention and connectivity. His Excellency Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority (EAA), promises that the coveted Grand Prix will be something truly memorable. In the meantime, the world is waiting with baited breath for the flag to drop and for the race to begin in Abu Dhabi.

www.yasmarinacircuit.ae

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