Construction of Saadiyat-Island bridge in 2008. The bridge connects Abu Dhabi and the artifical island of Saadiyat with a 10-lane highway.
Alternative energy Abu Dhabi doesn’t just see itself as a hydrocarbons producer and exporter, it sees itself as being in the energy business. At present, the emirate is using its market access and financial resources to expand into new sources of energy and technology. The establishment of Masdar City, the clean energy community being built on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, is a major example, but a recent review of the project following the impact of the GFC has modified the concept. Masdar will retain its goals of being carbon neutral and producing zero waste to landfills, but there will be fewer buildings, they will be taller and sensibly built over a longer period of time. In addition, Abu Dhabi is exploring the potential use of
nuclear power and other alternative energy technologies such as solar in order to preserve fossil fuel reserves. Its alternative energy vision has been recognised by the new International Renewable Energy Agency, which has based its headquarters in Abu Dhabi.
Tourism world class For years Abu Dhabi was primarily a business destination, but now the emirate aims to be a world class, upmarket tourism destination. The target is 2.7 million leisure tourists per year by 2012, compared to 1.47 million in 2007. The estimated value of new tourism projects over this period is US$33 billion. The national airline, Etihad, is rapidly expanding and now
has 28 flights a week to Australia, with approval to expand to 42. Abu Dhabi’s international airport is also undergoing a $6.8 billion expansion to increase its capacity of 20 million passengers a year.
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority’s development arm, the
Tourism Development & Investment Company, is one of the main master developers. Its projects include: l $23 billion development of Saadiyat Island (Guggenheim, Louvre and Maritime museums and a Performing Arts Centre – all designed by world leading architects – 29 hotels, three marinas and housing for 150,000 people);
l Desert Islands resorts (US$ 3 billion); l other major projects such as Aldar Properties’ $40 billion development of Yas Island, which includes the completed F1 Grand Prix track and the first Ferrari theme park, and Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company’s $8 billion redevelopment of the area around the current exhibition centre.
Social and human resources development Conscious of the need to upgrade the education system, the Abu Dhabi Education Council formed Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to introduce new curriculum and teaching standards into public schools. Subjects such as maths and science are being taught in English to better equip students for the workforce. The New South Wales Education Department won the tender to establish the curriculum standards for the PPP schools. NSW Education is also running the Institute of Applied Education (vocational training). Attention has also turned to the tertiary sector through
the development of local institutions and encouraging campuses to be set up by international universities such as Paris-Sorbonne University. ➤
AUSTRALIA AND THE ARAB COUNTRIES | 2010 13
Photo by: Nepenthes
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