Most of us don’t have a 20-year plan, but, if we did, one of the most important factors on our wish list would definitely be to be living somewhere fantastic. That, plus a respectable income and a reasonably functional home life, of course. But if you’re planning on being in Abu Dhabi in around 20 years’ time, the government has the living bit all worked out for you. It’s all part of Plan Abu Dhabi 2030, a series of measures that have been designed to take the emirate from an up-and-coming region to one of international standing. These measures include doubling the population, dramatically increasing the GDP and improving all the practical aspects of city life that support and fuel this kind of growth: infrastructure, tourism, transport and real estate, all to be developed with an eye on sustainability. Just a few weeks ago, the Urban Planning Council released their Public Realm Design Manual, a planning tool documenting all the anticipated developments to take place over the next 20 years.
All great cities have memorable public spaces. When you think about New York, you think Central Park. A trip to London wouldn’t be complete without a walk along South Bank or a visit to Trafalgar Square. Naturally, Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council is keen to develop those spaces where people meet, spend time together and show off to their out-of-town visitors. So one of the most significant projects is the Corniche Beach Development, an extension of the current beachfront to a full 8km. The construction will include more sports facilities, including beach volleyball, football, and watersports, as well as a greater range of restaurants and cafés. New outdoor decks where people can lounge, dine and take in views of the waterfront will also be built, with a boardwalk stretching the entire length of the public beach. Additional parking facilities and a convenient park and ride service will mean the Corniche area will be easier and more convenient to visit.
Capital District will be a hub for business, government, culture and community, and will be designed with a focus on the natural environment, economic development, cultural heritage and social cohesion. Plans include the development of a Central Business District, while new transport options such as trains and trams will be brought to the city, making a commute to the heart of Abu Dhabi a much more viable option for many workers. According to the UPC, the Capital District will also become an educational hub as the home of international think tanks and leading universities and schools.
Currently somewhat isolated, Shahama and Bahia are set to become portals to the capital, since they are positioned along the highways that carry traffic between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. A wetland National Park and areas of desert preservation have been proposed on the outskirts of the region, as well as two desert buffer parks – which will be created in an attempt to improve the region’s sustainability.
Khalifa City B is at present a community with little by way of facilities or amenities to recommend it. The Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 will change all of this with a series of projects designed to improve the quality of life for the residents. First of all, the focus will be on making the district a user-friendly place for pedestrians and cyclists. Far from the dusty streets and construction sites that overwhelm anyone on foot who visits today, Khalifa City B will be transformed into a neighbourhood that is walkable, with improved streetscapes that are both safe and enjoyable.
Those who’ve zoomed along the Sheikh Khalifa Bridge will have already seen the signposts pointing out the city’s ‘cultural district’. Well, don’t bother trying to visit it just yet – you’ll only have a run-in with an angry man wearing a hard hat. But, by 2013, Saadiyat Island will be home to a number of world-class galleries, museums and other crowd-pulling arts centres.
Jutting out into the ocean off the island’s north-west corner, the city’s own outpost of the Guggenheim Museum will be the likely centrepiece – providing the rumoured artist boycotts are averted by TDIC, the government group masterminding the Saadiyat project. The museum has been designed by architect Frank Gehry, the man behind some of the most iconic structures of the modern era, and, with around 12,000m2 of exhibition space, it stands to be the largest Guggenheim in the world.
Just down the road, the Abu Dhabi Louvre will house around Dhs908 million worth of classical and contemporary artworks, loaned from its Parisian namesake. Like the Guggenheim, the design of the museum itself is set to be as big a draw as the works within, thanks to architect Jean Nouvel’s perforated, dome-shaped roof.
Saadiyat’s third future star attraction is Zayed National Museum. Unveiled just last December, the striking structure, modelled on the wing tips of a falcon, is set to be part monument to the UAE’s late, great founder, and part historical showcase, with galleries dedicated to local heritage and Islamic history, as well as environmental conservation and more.
Supporting the big hitters, a performing arts centre designed by acclaimed Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid is also in the works, as is a marina district complete with a fully fledged maritime museum and berthing space for more than 1,000 boats and yachts. Intrigued? There are currently two separate exhibitions showing off the project’s grand plans, complete with scale models and interactive displays. The Saadiyat Story is housed within Manarat Al Saadiyat gallery, while a smaller showcase of plans can be seen on the ground floor of Emirates Palace.
Of course, all those tourists need somewhere to kick back, relax and moan about the heat. Come 2020, they’ll be spoilt for choice, with nine five-star hotels from the biggest names in hospitality scheduled to open before the end of the decade. The Park Hyatt, located next to the already complete Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, is currently winning the race to be the island’s first super-luxury resort – you should be able to enjoy fizzy drink by one of the hotel’s four outdoor pools before the end of the year.
