Abu Dhabi
SPEARHEADING A BOLD AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
2030 www.sections.latimes.com
Abu Dhabi e-Government program A new arts and cultural destination emerges Expanding and diversifying the face of business and finance
Abu Dhabi vs. Manhattan
a 19.20.21. showdown Pg. 3 WORLD BUSINESS TIMES
C U S TO M P U B L I S H I N G
abu dhabi 2030
19.20.21. The future of super cities At the ESRI International User Conference in San Diego, GIS analysts will compile data that will compare Abu Dhabi against New York City.
Abu Dhabi vs. New York City
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etropolises around the world are growing at super speed. The percentage of people who live in cities has grown from a mere 3% in the 1800s to more than 50% in the 21st century. And by 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in an urban settlement. Rather than a patchwork of individual countries, the world now is viewed as “a globe of cities,” according to information architect Richard Saul Wurman. Hailed as a pioneer of making complex information understandable, Wurman will be the keynote speaker at the 2010 ESRI International User Conference in San Diego. On July 12, Wurman will be speaking about his latest project, 19.20.21. (www.192021.org). The five-year initiative’s goal is to gather and organize data from 19 cities worldwide—from crime statistics to water sources—in order to find out how population affects urban and business planning. Using a standardized methodology to compile and decipher the comparative data, 19.20.21. is an attempt to understand the urban supercenters in 19 worldwide cities that will have 20
million people in the 21st century. Among the cities chosen as case studies are Los Angeles, New York City and Shanghai. With a population of under 1 million, Abu Dhabi city falls short of the population target of the original program. However, in a partnership led by Wurman, Radical Media of New York and ESRI, the emirate became involved in the 19.20.21. program.
Dhabi to have a large presence at the [ESRI] conference to share Abu Dhabi’s experience with other attendees.” The emirate and the program partners agree that much can be learned by examining different sizes and types of cities. “Abu Dhabi is seen as a unique showcase for a rapidly growing smaller-sized but cosmopolitan city,” said Rashed Al Mansoori, director general of ADSIC. The GIS analysts from several government organizations are working together to develop maps and statistics that will compare Abu Dhabi against other cities, such as New York. The initial results will be presented at the ESRI conference. “Abu Dhabi is embracing the use of advanced GIS tools and methods as a common ‘language’ for better planning and coordination across all government organizations,” said Al Mansoori. More than three years ago, the emirate’s leaders envisioned a comprehensive geo-
Abu Dhabi is seen as a unique showcase for a rapidly growing, smaller-sized cosmopolitan city. Late last year, Jack Dangermond, the founder and president of ESRI, visited Abu Dhabi. “[Dangermond] met with top leaders of the government and has been very impressed at the rate of progress on our GIS implementation,” said Abdul Karim Al Raeisi, executive manager, geographic information system, Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC). “He requested Abu
graphic information network that will allow government and business organizations to share information and monitor changes in cities and their environment, with the aim of supporting better and more informed decision making and planning. The vision and plans for Abu Dhabi through the year 2030 have drawn upon a wide range of international planners and experts in many fields. In turn, government planners in Abu Dhabi are engaging with the international community to share ideas and take advantage of new concepts and technologies. “Today that vision is coming true and an initial network has been implemented,” said Al Mansoori. “It is already showing that an interdisciplinary and integrated GeoDesign perspective can help Abu Dhabi to chart an effective road map toward a prosperous and sustainable future.”
C U STOM PU BLI SHI NG
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abu dhabi 2030
A new capital city
With a revolutionary urban plan rolling out over the next 20 years, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself to be a worldwide hub of business and all things modern
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bu Dhabi. Though steeped in ancient traditions, this emirate in the Middle Eastern is reinventing itself into a multicultural center for the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, healthcare, sustainable living and technology while retaining its Islamic traditions. How is this grand plan being
achieved? Very carefully, through a plan called Vision 2030. “Abu Dhabi is among the fastest economically growing cities in the world,” said Mohamed Al Hameli, director general of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We have a very high momentum that requires us to keep up with the latest
trends and best practices to ensure that Abu Dhabi is a competitive ground which attracts economically viable industries.” The government-developed Economic Vision 2030 plan was created in 2006 by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE, to enhance the emirate’s future—economically, politically
and socially — by positioning the location as a hub for business and by extension as a residential haven providing the most forward-thinking services and infrastructure possible. And all this is to be accomplished with the goal of creating a zero-carbon-footprint society. This tall order is being fulfilled in part by the Urban Planning Council, under the directives of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The council, responsible for city planning, is working on an integral part of Vision 2030: establishing the Capital City District, which will be designed to serve as a second downtown area. Once complete, the area will be filled with mixed-use communities served by public transportation and lower-density emirati neighborhoods. The district will be a fusion of government, businesses, culture, city life and schools, as well as sports and entertainment opportunities. “The Capital City District represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a truly authentic and modern Arab capital,” said Falah Al Ahbabi, general manager of the council. “Having the mandate to plan ahead at the behest of our wise leadership, we will deliver on our promise of creating more livable and sustainable communities for Abu Dhabi’s future generations.” Already in the works is the establishment of Sowwah Island (located at the junction of Abu Dhabi) and Mina Zayed, Reem Island and Saadiyat Island, as the Central Business District. Sowwah Island’s location makes it ideal for a mixed-use community, which will eventually house 30,000 residents and have a daily working population of 75,000. A light-rail system and 13 bridges will connect it to the other islands. Sowwah Square, four premium office towers set for 2011 completion, will house the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, while two luxury waterfront hotels, the Four Seasons Abu Dhabi and Rosewood Abu Dhabi, will welcome travelers. It is also here that the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi will open a 360-bed multispecialty hospital. The U.S. is taking notice of the massive progressive effort. Joining the Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi are other prominent U.S. establishments, including the Guggenheim Museum, Johns Hopkins Hospital, General Electric Co. and an Abu Dhabi campus of
abu dhabi 2030
His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
New York University, to name a few. With a gross domestic product set to expand 8%, plus 2% employment growth in 2010 according to Emirates Business, the area is attractive to investors looking to expand their operations. To continue attracting foreign business, the Vision 2030 plan includes mandates to focus on several areas of ongoing economic policy. They include building an open, efficient, globally integrated business environment; adopting disciplined fiscal policies; establishing a resilient financial market with manageable levels of inflation; significant improvements in the efficiency of the labor market; and the development of a highly skilled, productive workforce with a sufficient and resilient infrastructure to support it. The education and healthcare systems are being revamped, because both are needed to attract a diverse global workforce. Education for employees and their children is critical for a thriving economy. Workers and future workers need strong engineering, math and science training, plus English language skills, to thrive in the competitive global market. The Abu Dhabi Education Council is
recruiting top-notch faculty and scientists as teachers and working steadily to improve K-12 education, as well as increasing the number and quality of graduate study programs and getting additional funding for research projects, according to Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al-Khaili, director general of the Abu Dhabi Education Council. The new K-12 curriculum will promote critical-thinking skills and project-based learning, along with music and cultural studies. The education council also aims to improve school access for physically and mentally challenged students, as well as fund scholarships and possibly lower student costs to attend universities. Healthcare system improvements are also critical to fulfill higher demand and recruit and retain qualified employees, said Zaid Siksek, CEO of the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi. Over the next 10 years, the health authority wants to recruit more nurses and doctors. Nurses are currently underrepresented in the national workforce. The health authority is also working to make the healthcare system more transparent to address investor concerns and secure capital. All the projects in the Vision 2030 plan will be sustainable. A project called Masdar already in progress aims to be the world’s greenest city — carbon neutral and zerowaste. The Environmental Agency Abu Dhabi uses green IT practices: reducing the number of printers and scanners; using multi-function devices; using 100% post-consumer recycled paper; launching e-waste and hazardous waste management programs; and implementing an environmentally friendly preferred purchasing program. Abu Dhabi’s green movement also includes a program called Estidama, which provides community and building design guidelines along with a ratings system to ensure future developments offer a better quality of life while having a smaller environmental footprint. All these measures, along with the implementation of an e-Government program to simplify government transactions and the use of global information systems technology to enhance everything from assessing traffic patterns to running electricity grids, illustrate how the Vision 2030 plan is putting Abu Dhabi at the forefront of futuristic living.
Up close with H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi is the secretary general and member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the main entity responsible for managing and monitoring Abu Dhabi government affairs.
»What makes Abu Dhabi so attractive to foreign talent? Abu Dhabi is rich with culture and diverse living standards accommodating for an ever-growing expat community from all over the world. By preserving our cultural values and facilitating respectful living standards for our multinational expat community, we have succeeded in achieving a balanced and heterogeneous and unprejudiced society. We view our promotion of national culture and identity as a source of pride and inspiration to our people. We also view our expat residents as a core segment of society and as such have an obligation to provide the required living standards that they respectfully deserve. Businesses have been establishing operations in Abu Dhabi for decades now and continue to do so. Their successes have undoubtedly been attributed to the hard work of their employees who have had good living standards and plenty of social venues to enjoy. »Why is it important for Abu Dhabi to attract business people and companies to invest in the emirate? As an emirate with a constant drive for excellence across all economic sectors, we must keep attracting different industries to Abu Dhabi and establish the right conditions for local, national and regional markets to flourish. Our drive to reduce dependency on oil and to foster national development can only be realized with the creation of mature, viable and diverse industries. »What types of partnerships does Abu Dhabi want to foster with foreign businesses and countries? This basically depends on the nature of the venture at hand. All models of partnership can be explored, with the government taking a lead-byexample role. Pure outsourcing arrangements, buildoperate-and-transfer, build-operate-and-own or other sourcing options are possible considerations. Our pursuit of excellence, particularly in our e-Government program being led by ADSIC [Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre], has made us scout the globe for best information technology service providers for niche applications. Once found, these providers have been supported to open business operations in the emirate for local, national and ultimately regional markets. Many successful businesses have been established in Abu Dhabi through such a process and we are certain more will follow. »What do you think is a common misperception of Abu Dhabi? What is the ‘real’ Abu Dhabi? Some might view Abu Dhabi as a place of living for a limited class of society, given its high GDP per capita. But contrary to this misunderstanding, we are proud to say that we have a diverse society of different social and economic standings coexisting in our great emirate. In my humble view, Abu Dhabi is
truly a land of opportunity for many and not only for a limited few. Our socio-economic development plans for the next two decades will further expand the opportunities that Abu Dhabi has to offer, supported by the required infrastructure for a growing and diverse expatriate community.
»What else do you think is drawing investors? Improved business and legislative environments are truly making a difference in attracting investors to Abu Dhabi. Our ongoing concerted effort to set up one-stop-shop business centers across the emirate to support business establishments and provide support services to them while in an operations stage will further attract additional investors and businesses. Such centers, which will total 16 across the emirate, will positively impact our “index of doing business rating.” On a global scale we aim to be in the ranks of top business-attracting states or countries. Removing red tape, providing services through a common set of channels and introducing technology-driven transformations into the business life cycle will have profound results in attracting investors. »What projects are you most excited to see expand? We have major transportation projects underway and will be expanding them for better interconnections with other emirates and neighboring countries. On the technology front, we have delivered a state-of-the-art fiber to the home network through our national carrier Etisalat and also are piloting nextgeneration Internet connectivity with the U.S. through the Khalifa University broadband network. Closely connected with the technology infrastructure is our spatial data infrastructure program, which we have succeeded in fostering collaboration and data sharing between all concerned stakeholders, be they custodians of spatial data or end users. Our spatial data infrastructure clearinghouse portal is truly unique, and we will be working on rolling out a number of location-based aware government online and mobile services. »How can Abu Dhabi expand its economic competencies and influence in the world economy? As part of our vision to diversify the Abu Dhabi economy and reduce dependency on the oil sector, we have developed five-year strategic plans for other sectors with clear target outcomes. From education to health to transport to tourism to the common enabling ICT [information and communication technology] sector, the strategic plans set a prioritized course of action to expand associated economic competencies. Innovations realized from these plans can be shared with other emirates, regional and international countries. »Can you describe Abu Dhabi’s growing relations with the U.S. private sectors? The UAE is America’s largest trading partner in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi has had and will continue to have good relations with U.S. companies, whether they are part of our global investment portfolios, are exporters of products and services to us or have set up or plan to set up operations in the emirate. Our respective government entities have a very broad network of relationships and continue to facilitate effective trade between the U.S. and Abu Dhabi. Our development plans will also bring forward potential domestic and international new business opportunities with current and new U.S. companies.
abu dhabi 2030
Abu Dhabi e-Government program State-of-the-art portal and government-wide network give citizens and businesses a way to glean information, use services and foster economic development
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o be effective, government must be responsive — providing information and services efficiently to all who live, work and play within its borders. Abu Dhabi takes this philosophy to new heights with its e-Government Web portal. Experts call the portal a “service transformation program” because it transcends all government departments, authorities and administrations, said Rashed Al Mansoori, director general of the Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC), which coordinates the services provided through the portal. Land permits, job listings, hotel information, leader biographies, hospital addresses, passport services, weather forecasts — almost any service or bit of information a government can provide online is available through a single portal that’s putting Abu Dhabi on track for its goal of becoming “one of the top five governments worldwide.” “This program has a strong push for technology in order to make the Abu Dhabi government more effective and efficient in delivering modern services to its diverse customer base along a multitude of delivery channels,” Al Mansoori said. The systems and information center has run the e-Government program since it launched in 2005 with the goal of providing a user-friendly delivery of information and services between the emirate and its citizens. The e-Government program and ADSIC were established in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. In February 2007, ADSIC launched its flagship product, www.abudhabi.ae, a comprehensive e-Government portal, which is a key element of Abu Dhabi’s master plan for e-Government deployment. In September 2008, the portal was
The Abu Dhabi e-Government portal attracted more than 3 million visitors in 2009.
relaunched as a transactional platform to further improve its usefulness to citizens, businesses and Abu Dhabi government entities. In 2009, the portal’s popularity exploded, attracting more than 3 million visitors, resulting in a 56% spike in visits to the portal over 2008. Accolades for the e-Government portal are stacking up. It has been praised for being a simple, efficient gateway for governmentwide information to be disseminated between the emirate and its customers. The portal won the 2009 Regional World Summit Award in the e-Government category. And on March 22, the Middle East Conference and Exhibition on Geospatial Technology and Applications (Map Middle East 2010) presented the World Leadership Geospatial Award to ADSIC for having “the best geospatial practices in the region.” The e-Government portal has two gateways: citizen and business. Through them, the portal gives access to more than 600 services and 200 general information pages, many of which have let users conduct online transactions that previously had to be done in person.
“We are moving various kinds of transactions from a manual and paper-driven world to an online realm,” said Al Mansoori. “EGovernment serves to transform basic government services to online transactions to make it easier for residents and citizens.” Throughout the robust portal, users can find images, advice on hotels, tourist attractions, weather and travel options from the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, along with important Abu Dhabi facts, figures and background information so thorough they amount to a complete overview of Abu Dhabi’s culture and religious affairs. Visitors can also take a close look at the government structure and the rulers of Abu Dhabi and find links to government publications and initiatives. Perhaps the most dynamic portion of the site is the Service Topics section, where users get direct access to government information and services organized into user-centric topics. Citizens can access personal documents, such as identification documents and passports. The Lands, Home and Environment section includes land certificates, permits and environment-related licenses. Users can also
find information on health facilities, health licensing and personal health services. Job seekers can look for employment, find information about employee rights and laws, and view guidelines for foreign employees. An entire section of the portal is devoted to business topics, such as startup and operations, labor and employment, international trade, licenses and permits, and doing business with the Abu Dhabi government. The business portal of www.abudhabi.ae features the Commercial License Information Center (CLIC), a step-by-step information guide to the issuance of commercial licensing in Abu Dhabi Emirate. CLIC provides the Abu Dhabi entrepreneur with clarity of information on the business licensing procedure in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and assists in determining the licensing activities that correspond to his intended business. As a result, this decreases the front desk service time at each of the licensing authorities, which is usually spent in identifying applicable business activities. The Abu Dhabi government has outlined a comprehensive plan for its long-term socioeconomic progress. Embodied in the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, the government’s development road map details its strategies and programs designed to ensure the emirate’s steady economic growth. One of the key priorities to support Abu Dhabi’s 2030 vision is the optimization of government operations and develop its information and communications technology capabilities in order to move its economy up the value chain. With the key ingredients in place for a successful e-Government, Abu Dhabi continues to optimize services across government entities. ADSIC aims to ensure that the e-Government strategy reflects best-in-class practices and the latest global trends with the continued advancement of e-enabled services, transactional online services and e-educational opportunities. Together, they’re putting Abu Dhabi on the path to become a leading e-society.
abu dhabi 2030
Geospatial framework
Abdul Karim Al Raeisi, executive manager, GIS, ADSIC
Abu Dhabi’s spatial data infrastructure strives to enhance efficiency of government
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ust like in real estate, when it comes to geographic information systems, it’s all about “location, location, location.” According to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 74% of American government data is based on location. And in Abu Dhabi, more than 80% of the government databases are based on location. “As part of the AD-SDI [Abu Dhabi Spatial Data Infrastructure], we cataloged over 1,200 specific government functions and services that require geographic data,” said Abdul Karim Al Raeisi, executive manager, GIS, at the Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC). Abu Dhabi is currently experiencing unprecedented growth — a 4% rise in GDP in 2010 — and such fast-paced expansion requires an extraordinary level of coordination among all its government entities, from urban planning to the health authority. Anticipating a need for a cohesive and centralized GIS, the AD-SDI program was formed in 2006. The AD-SDI builds on important geographic information programs
already complete or underway. “Without central facilitation and support, it is very difficult to create an effective environment for maximizing information sharing across government,” said Al Raeisi. In 2005, the Abu Dhabi Executive Council formed a management committee to study the feasibility of a Spatial Data Coordination Centre. That same year, mandated by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ADSIC was commissioned to provide the framework needed to consolidate geospatial information in the emirate. By 2006, ADSIC launched the AD-SDI program. “ADSIC has helped build the necessary technical and institutional frameworks that are needed to use this technology and leverage our geospatial data investments in the best way possible,” said Al Raeisi. In the original AD-SDI master plan, three phases were conceived. Launched in 2007, Phase 1 sought to raise awareness among the government entities about the relevance and goals of SDI. Everyone from senior manage-
A conversation with Rashed Al Mansoori Rashed Al Mansoori is the director general of the Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC). His responsibilities include providing overall operational and strategic leadership to ADSIC and overseeing the development of the e-Government program. What’s the latest on the SDI initiative? The Abu Dhabi Spatial Data Infrastructure (AD-SDI) is a key pillar of the broader Abu Dhabi government Services Modernisation program. Today, the Abu Dhabi government has succeeded in establishing the framework of policies, partnerships, standards, data,
procedures, technologies and the appropriate institutional capabilities necessary to support geographic information sharing and to optimize benefits across the emirate. It is upon the solid foundation of the AD-SDI that spatial or geographic information will optimally serve concerned decision makers in both the public and private sectors. The master plan for the initiative has been updated and reflects an expected transition during the next year from finalizing the foundation of data standards and access to more cross-sector, interdisciplinary coordination and collaboration. All the participating members will be following their own road maps for the development of mature, enter-
ment to technical staff were educated on how GIS can be effectively used and its development status in several agencies. The second phase involves the expansion of the AD-SDI community to all relevant stakeholder entities, which has now grown to more than 40 government, business, health organizations, education and academic institutions. The GIS capabilities are varied across the AD-SDI community, and the goal is to provide all the entities with a clear roadmap and most advanced applications. Under the current phase, the AD-SDI framework is institutionalized to become a common infrastructure across the government and other sectors. The next step in the spatial data program will see the addition of methods and tools for cross-government geographic business intelligence and business support. Continuous improvement and change in management process will be initiated as the infrastructure
prise GIS capabilities within their respective organizations, thus strengthening the technical foundation of the infrastructure. Where are the opportunities and challenges in the marketplace? Given that the e-Government concept in the Middle East started in the late ’90s, where other leading countries started their e-Government programs in the ’70s and ’80s, this presents an opportunity for new entrants to tap into a relatively nascent market with great prospects. However, the challenge shall remain the adaptation to local demand. What’s the future for the e-Government? Countries across the region have been looking to create greater efficiency and provide better public services. Abu Dhabi is no different in this regard, and has been placing information and communications technology at the
evolves to take advantage of new innovations in methods and technologies. The ultimate goal of the AD-SDI program is the creation of a seamless network of geospatial networks, which would provide access of all geospatial information to the entire AD-SDI community. A data clearinghouse will provide a facility for publishing information on behalf of organizations that don’t have the appropriate capabilities. And at the center of a successful implementation of AD-SDI is the creation and maintenance of a metadata catalog. “It provides a searchable index of all the available geospatial information, much in the way you might use a library catalog to find what books are in a collection,” said Al Raeisi. Al Raeisi added that central coordination will be needed to ensure that the catalog is standardized, up to date, accurate and accessible to the entire stakeholder community. A robust SDI is now recognized internationally as a critical foundation element for more effective physical, economic, and social development and environmental resource management. This program will contribute in saving approximately 230 million dirhams in government expenditures by avoiding duplication of effort, increasing staff performance and by providing concerned beneficiaries with accurate information that ensures effective and successful decision making,” said Al Raeisi.
heart of its strategy. The authorities have already reached a high level of maturity in their e-Government program as they look to benchmark Rashed Al Mansoori, director themselves general of ADSIC against international best practices. ADSIC will diligently advance the e-Government program delivering e-services in public administration to individuals, business and organizations, as well as support integration within the global information society, reducing the “digital divide” and empowering citizens and stakeholders in public services.
abu dhabi 2030
Planning for tomorrow
Education and health reform in Abu Dhabi
(Left) The Sheikh Khalifa Medical City operates under the management and direction of Health Authority Abu Dhabi. (Top right) Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al-Khaili, director general of the Abu Dhabi Education Council. (Bottom right) Zaid Siksek, CEO of Health Authority Abu Dhabi.
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n recent years, Abu Dhabi’s astounding economic ascent has transformed it into a sophisticated metropolis and an internationally recognized center for industry, politics, culture and commerce. Now Abu Dhabi is about to become a global model for education and healthcare, as well. higher education strategic plan Abu Dhabi Education Council, established in 2005, is spearheading the plan to develop educational institutions, programs and reforms. “Abu Dhabi aspires to be a hub for the pursuit of intellect and discovery,” said Dr. Rafic Makki, the council’s executive director of strategic affairs. The emirate’s education initiatives span from kindergarten to the higher education level. They include extensive reforms along with innovative technology designed to make educators more effective. “Our goals [for students] include development of problem-solving and communication skills; provision of required know-how in the fields of engineering and business, which requires a strong foundation in mathematics; training students in special abilities to cooperate in a competitive global environment, which includes English language proficiency; and laying down of a strong work ethic,” said Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al-Khaili, director general of the education council. These sweeping educational reforms will benefit from cutting-edge geographic informa-
tion systems technology, which manages data and applies it to the geography of an area. The technology will enhance Abu Dhabi’s educational reforms by allowing teachers, principals and other educators to instantaneously share critical school data such as standardized test scores. The GIS system will give educators a powerful tool for accessing education information on the go and help analyze student and school performance. In 2009 the Abu Dhabi Education Council unveiled a 10-year plan, which, along with a strategic plan for higher education, will help to create the highest-quality, most comprehensive system of education based on world-class standards and expertise. The strategic plan’s aims, according to Al-Khaili, are to “improve the quality of kindergarten to 12th grade graduates, develop a strong regulatory system, recruit stronger faculty and scientists, increase the quality of graduate-level programs and provide sufficient funding for research.” The long-term strategy involves changing schools to a new model, in phases, beginning in kindergarten and covering grade 12 by 2016. The new school model addresses everything from teacher qualifications and curriculum learning outcomes to classroom layout and school facilities. The short-term strategy focuses on grades 10 through 12 and includes extra support and skills-training for students to meet the criteria for college admissions.
Just as it did for primary education, the council looked around the world for models of secondary education. Abu Dhabi has partnered with several U.S. universities and “employs a rigorous selection process based first and foremost on quality,” Al-Khaili noted. So far, Abu Dhabi has partnered with NYU, New York Film Academy, New York Institute of Technology and INSEAD—a worldwide institution for management education. In September, NYU Abu Dhabi will welcome its first class, with 150 students from 39 countries. Starting at a temporary site, the school will be key in the development of Saadiyat Island, which will be the site of the school’s permanent buildings. Healthcare strategic plan Last month, a five-year plan for healthcare was announced by Health Authority Abu Dhabi. The plan includes providing access to affordable healthcare to everyone, maximizing patient safety in all healthcare services and building patient trust in the healthcare system. “The biggest challenge is adapting to marked increases in demand due to population growth,” said Zaid Siksek, CEO of Health Authority Abu Dhabi. One of the emirate’s major goals is to recruit more doctors and nurses over 10 years to deal with the burden of chronic conditions. The agency is also looking at ways to make the emirate’s healthcare system a place where the providers will aspire to work.
the big picture Abu Dhabi’s healthcare overhaul began earlier this decade when the emirate introduced mandatory health insurance for nationals and expatriates, improving access to healthcare. “Since then, operational improvements have been made on insurance, including adding coverage for workers’ accidents, as well as creating tailored plans for specific populations such as orphans and prisoners. Now that services are being paid by insurance, HAAD’s plans focus on ensuring that required clinical services are actually available,” Siksek said. Forming alliances with high-quality institutions is key, he added. For example, Johns Hopkins has agreed to a 10-year partnership for managing the Tawam Hospital, one of the largest and best hospitals in the country. Cleveland Clinic has partnered with Abu Dhabi healthcare institutions and is sharing cutting-edge medical practices. To make healthcare more accessible, Abu Dhabi has instituted an electronic directory of all the physicians in the country, which allows patients to search for a doctor. The “Minhaal program,” another website, allows patients and professionals who are trying to get information on a particular disease to research the disease as well as to link to the website of physicians who specialize in it.
abu dhabi 2030 Yas Island is a 25-squarekilometer development located between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Building blocks
Abu Dhabi’s measured approach to real estate investment is finally paying off
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drive around Abu Dhabi will attest to the fact the city has geared up its real estate. The scaffoldings have been upped a notch or three, and cranes have swung into motion. The city is in the throes of change, largely immune to the fiscal downturn afflicting other hubs in the region, and in fact the world. Abu Dhabi’s oil revenues explain its immunity to market downturns. They don’t however explain why Abu Dhabi is embarking on ambitious projects—some of which are massive in scale—that are poised to reap the benefits in the near future. Abu Dhabi’s financial security gives it patience when it comes to recouping investments. The city is content to build now and position itself as an entry port and commerce gateway later. “The vision for the future of Abu Dhabi has been in place for several years now,” said Mohammed Al Mubarak, CCO of Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s largest real estate developer. “Abu Dhabi is developing in a measured manner with greater government oversight whilst also focusing on community development.” Abu Dhabi knows where it wants to be 20 years from now. The Economic Vision 2030 plan announced by the government is testament to that. It is now developing, at high cost, residential and commercial spaces to help it bridge the gap between present and future. “Abu Dhabi is fully embracing structured urban master planning with a clear vision and well-planned strategy for growth, articulated through the 2030 plan that presents a coherent picture for the future of the city as an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable community,” said Nadia Zaal, CEO of Zaya, a UAE luxury real estate developer. Much of what Abu Dhabi builds is expected to bring in investors, international expertise and human resources, and the rest is to service and entertain them. The only catch here is that investors may want assurances more than the mere availability of real estate and provision of excellent infrastructure. Abu Dhabi’s real estate development is at the same time grandiose and community-ori-
ented, for the 2030 plan envisions a city with global links but local feel. Communities must be carefully planned, and the Urban Planning Commission has been created as an intermediary between developers and the government. “Communities are designed to serve a ‘sense of place’ for the resident and are being developed to create an environment where families can live, play and interact with their neighbors,” said Ammar Al Assam, executive director of Dewan Architects & Engineers. Dewan is one of Abu Dhabi’s leading architectural and engineering consulting firms. Yet community concerns are not distracting Abu Dhabi from its international ambitions; the city is pursuing mega projects with fervor. Yas Island, between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, combines residential and commercial credentials with ambitious entertainment and infrastructure projects including the Yas Marina Circuit. “The Yas Marina Circuit caught the world’s attention when it played host to the inaugural Formula 1 Etihad Airways Grand Prix last November. The Yas Hotel and Yas Marina at the heart of the track provided a spectacular backdrop to the race experience. Yas Links, the region’s first true links golf course, opened to the public earlier this year. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s first Ferrari theme park and largest attraction of its kind, will open on Oct. 28 ahead of this year’s Grand Prix,” said Al Mubarak. Reem Island is another work in progress off the Abu Dhabi mainland. The roughly 6.5 million-square-meter project will offer a mix of residential, commercial and business ventures. “Reem Island is an ambitious waterfront mixeddevelopment project. The island will have all the
The Marina at Yas Island
Ferrari World Theme Park in Yas Island
necessary infrastructure and services to become a self-contained city,” added Zaal. “It is among Abu Dhabi’s largest developments and will expand the capital’s area and create more beachfront, residential and commercial space.” The rise in real estate activity has experts predicting a deluge of finished units in the near future. Up to 10,000 units of residential real estate are expected to hit the Abu Dhabi market by the end of 2010 alone. For many, these cannot come fast enough. At present, approximately 178,000 existing units are operating at practically 100% capacity and rents are skyrocketing.
Many workers live in Dubai and commute 120 kilometers each way to Abu Dhabi and back. By 2013 however, supply and demand are expected to be in parity. As part of its 2030 Vision, Abu Dhabi has already unveiled a scale model of its final iteration—a snapshot of what the emirate will look like once all planned real estate development is finished. Challenges still lie ahead for Abu Dhabi in transparency and regulation. But with its carefully articulated vision and a willingness to invest for the long term, Abu Dhabi is building a solid future.
abu dhabi 2030
Business and finance makeover
Abu Dhabi is creating a stable and selfsufficient economy to prepare for a post-petroleum world
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hile more and more people in the U.S. are focusing on paying down debt and cutting government spending, “transition” economies elsewhere are investing in their national infrastructures in a bid for the future— and stimulating their economies at the same time. China is spending billions on bullet trains, while India has committed to improving infrastructure. And the emirate of Abu Dhabi is identifying prestigious partners and sparing no expense for investments in education, health, utilities, airports and transportation. In 2005, Abu Dhabi spent $2.7 billion on infrastructure and utility development; that number is expected to increase up to $160 billion within the next five years, including a major airport expansion, a large new port and sophisticated real estate projects. Abu Dhabi’s infrastructure investments also include such massive strategic projects as the development of the Emirate’s new Central Business District. At the heart of the district is Sowwah Island and its flagship commercial project, Sowwah Square. Both are under development by Mubadala Real Estate & Hospitality, part of government-owned investment and business development company, Mubadala. Opening next year, the LEED-Core and Sowwah Island
Shell Gold pre-certified Sowwah Square will offer an integrated commercial environment with 180,000 square meters of premium office space spread across four high-rise towers. At its center is the distinctive new headquarters of its anchor tenant, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. Premium hotel brands Four Seasons, Viceroy and Rosewood will operate luxury hotels on the island, all being developed by Mubadala Real Estate and Hospitality, which will open starting in 2012. With midtown Manhattan as a model, Sowwah Island will see a daily working population of 75,000 and be home to an estimated 30,000 residents.The emirate of Abu Dhabi provides stimulus by investing in forward-looking solutions for the day when its tremendously youthful population (two-thirds of Abu Dhabi’s nationals are 24 or younger) reaches adulthood—and providing a place for men and women to conduct business. At the same time it is simultaneously enhancing, reforming and refining its legal, judicial, financial and immigration systems to make itself as attractive as possible to international investors. For the past three decades, Abu Dhabi has used oil and gas revenues to balance its budget and spur development. It has also invested its surpluses from the hydrocarbon industry
Ala’a Eraiqat, CEO of Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
in the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority to be used in times of deficit. But planning for the future has required the emirate to put serious brainpower into diversifying its revenues for a stable economy for future generations. To that end, leaders in the emirate have identified commercial finance and banking as among the key ways to build a diversified and self-sufficient economy. Conventional and Islamic banking are already thriving in Abu Dhabi, servicing one of the world’s wealthiest, and most liquid, populaces. But plans are in place to strengthen the debt market with new support structures—ratings agencies and secondary markets, to name two. In addition, the valuation and other processes in place for initial placement offerings on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange are being fine-tuned, encouraging companies to list on the exchange. While the rate of growth in commercial banking assets in the United Arab Emirates has outshone that of many other transformation economies in the past decade, it has never been seriously overleveraged—and in fact its capital adequacy ratios are well above those required by Basel II, providing a financial foundation that remains stable despite the global crises in finance and credit. And faced with those international crises, the UAE tidied up its capital adequacy ratios even further. “The [United Arab Emirates], and its banking sector in particular, has been through a very challenging 24 months due to both the direct and indirect consequences of the credit crisis, deleveraging in the U.S. and the current situation in European debt markets,” said Abu
Dhabi Commercial Bank CEO Ala’a Eraiqat. “In the aftermath of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, we witnessed a massive retraction of risk appetite and a consequent spike in UAE corporate CDS [credit default swap] rates, which increased the funding costs for the local banking sector. This put a great deal of pressure on a market where aggregate bank loan-to-deposit ratios were in excess of 110%; this has since decreased to 105%.” Eraiqat continued: “In light of the debt issues in Europe it is also worth mentioning that the ratio of the UAE’s external debt to GDP is a very manageable 64%, with only 15% of total external debt obligations attributable to Abu Dhabi. A major driver of economic activity over the coming year will be from infrastructure development, particularly as it relates to Plan 2030, the emirate’s long-term strategic vision.” The plan to which Eraiqat referred, also known as Vision 2030, is a nuanced and far-ranging document that covers Abu Dhabi’s commitment to modernization in every subset of its macrosystem. In its continuing quest for a stable economy even in a possibly post-petroleum world, it has determined best practices in intellectual property and patents, the modernization of its antitrust laws and a review of regulations that bar foreign ownership of more than 49% of an Abu Dhabi company. There are now “free zones,” such as the Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone, akin to an enterprise zone in which regulations are relaxed. Abu Dhabi also offers a hospitable climate for foreign workers, who have relocated to Abu Dhabi and now make up 89% of the emirate’s residents. That hospitable climate includes plentiful well-compensated jobs, one of the world’s highest standards of living, a welcoming of women in the workplace and a near-zero tax rate. “We have succeeded in attracting leading industry experts to Abu Dhabi for many years now and from the very beginning have provided the right social living infrastructure,” said Secretary General H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, a member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council. “Our emirate’s prosperity has and will continue to depend to a certain extent on such industry experts and as such we have and will continue to provide a constantly improving infrastructure to make their stay as rewarding as possible.”
abu dhabi 2030
Powering the future of the Middle East Abu Dhabi is dyversifying to increase growth in non-oil exports
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overing scarcely more territory than South Carolina, the UAE sits on the world’s sixth-largest proven oil reserves. It is also the fifthlargest oil exporter, in a close race with Iran, Iraq and Kuwait. That makes the UAE strategically important for oil-consuming nations, of which the U.S. is the foremost. Among the major crude-oil-exporting countries of the region, the UAE is also unique in having maintained continuously good relations with Western oil companies. “We believe our national interest is best served by partnerships with companies that have appropriate technological and project management experience,” said Ali Al Yabhouni, the general manager of two units of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. Unlike Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait, which nationalized their oil industries in the 1970s, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. established joint ventures with international oil companies to develop its biggest oil fields. The payoff for Abu Dhabi, the emirate with 94% of the country’s oil reserves, was better access to advanced oil-field technologies. That has created opportunities for U.S. oil groups such as ExxonMobil Corp. and, more recently, the Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum Corp., both of which have oil concessions in Abu Dhabi. It also helps ensure the UAE will maintain its oil output for decades to come, even as its oil fields mature and become more challenging to exploit. The Paris-based International Energy Agency, which advises 28 industrialized countries including the U.S. on energy, in June predicted that the UAE would increase its 2.8 million-barrel-per-day crude production capacity by 15% within the next five years to 3.1 million barrels per day—equal to nearly 17% of current U.S. oil consumption. But Abu Dhabi is not content to remain a mere exporter of raw materials. Its government is already preparing for the day when the oil stops flowing. Abu Dhabi is investing state revenues from oil exports into economic diversification—including capital-intensive projects on the cutting edge of technology. Custom-
The oil-rich emirate is leading the pack in solar energy development.
designed plastics, computer-chip factories and aerospace ventures including out-of-thisworld tourism through an investment in the commercial spaceline Virgin Galactic are all on the agenda. Oil-rich Abu Dhabi has even become the regional leader in renewable energy through initiatives orchestrated by the government’s clean energy flagship Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co., better known as Masdar. The biggest is the $22 billion Masdar City project, aimed at building a carbon-neutral desert community to act as an incubator for alternative energy development. It is a large-scale experiment in technology transfer, seeded by venture capital funds that Masdar has established with European banks and billions of dollars in projects with international partners. Earlier this month, Masdar picked the French energy group Total SA and Spain’s Abengoa Solar SA to develop a $600 million concentrating solar plant in Abu Dhabi. It will use reflective mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a boiler to power steam turbines at a desert location with abundant sunlight. This will be the first utility-scale solar-power development in the Arabian peninsula. Part of Abu Dhabi’s considerable renewable energy effort is a matter of national pride:
The government is determined to transcend the World Wide Fund for Nature’s 2008 ranking of the UAE as having the world’s biggest per-capita carbon footprint. The emirate is proceeding with multibillion-dollar initiatives to expand its petrochemicals industry, build aluminum refineries, establish advanced materials and composites fabrication facilities and manufacture computer chips. The government has lined up blue-chip international partners, including the California-based Advanced Micro Devices Inc., for its $10 billion semiconductor enterprise and Boeing Co. of Chicago for its strategic aerospace alliance. It has also forged top-notch research partnerships through alliances with New York University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of London’s Imperial College and La Sorbonne of Paris. The emirate has plans to tap deep sulfurous gas fields in order to overcome limitations created by its natural gas supplies. Though it sits on the world’s eighth-largest proven natural gas reserves, UAE nonetheless lacks the natural gas and electricity needed to power its fast-track industrial expansion. That’s partly because a great deal of gas is used in the extraction of crude oil and also because a lot of gas must remain underground to maintain
Abu Dhabi wants to reduce its per-capita carbon footprint.
reservoir pressures and keep the oil flowing. Tapping the deep sulfurous gas fields will involve, among other things, developing a rail line to transport about 10,000 metric tons per day of brimstone. Abu Dhabi’s government has already embarked on the project as the first phase of a national program to build a railway connecting all seven emirates of the UAE. In the medium term, Abu Dhabi has spearheaded the UAE’s nuclear program, under which a South Korean consortium will build the Arab world’s first civilian nuclear power plants. They will start coming into service in 2017. In the long term, Abu Dhabi has high hopes for its renewable energy program, through which it eventually aims to supply 7% of its electricity needs. It may take time to build a critical mass, but the government views solar power as an economic imperative. As the emirate has already shown with its diversification strategy, where there’s a will, there’s a way.
abu dhabi 2030
The next media center
Announcing the launch of twofour54 Intaj
Abu Dhabi is poised to become the new information hub of the Middle East
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ver the next 10 to 20 years, media in the Middle East will become revolutionized, and a clear winner will emerge in the race to become the information headquarters of the region. From Iran to Morocco, Saudi Arabia to Iraq, media expertise and infrastructure will be in ever-greater demand. Abu Dhabi is poised to take the lead in this race, preparing to meet that demand through long-range planning and projects already underway. Financially it’s in a uniquely advantageous position as well: Its unparalleled petro dollar-based economy and organizational structure give Abu Dhabi the luxury of both time and capital. Indeed, Abu Dhabi believes the race to provide media and information technologies will be an endurance test: Governments without the will or ability to invest for the long term will fall by the wayside. Left standing will be the only player prepared to compete to the finish. Abu Dhabi plans to be last man standing. Its media-investment strategy would be inimical to most economies. But those economies don’t have the freewheeling largesse to needed to make $100 billion investments in media infrastructure with the goal of seeing returns 15 or 20 years in the future. “A key facet of Abu Dhabi’s 2030 plan is its vision to create a vibrant Arabic center of art, media and culture in the emirate,” said twofour54 COO Wayne Borg. “At the heart of any cultural capital is a strong media industry, and that is where we fit in. Twofour54 is delivering the regional center of excellence from which the Arabic media and content industry can develop, with Abu Dhabi becoming home to the region’s creative industries.” Twofour54, the emirate’s media free zone, is an excellent vehicle for this strategy. It was created to free investors of needing a local partner, allowing local Arabic content producers and international concerns alike to set up bases. “The role of twofour54 is extremely
Twofour54’s new campus will be home to Abu Dhabi Media Company headquarters
Speaking at GIS Day-Abu Dhabi, Batoul Husseini, communication and public relations manager, ADSIC
Twofour54 Intaj’s production, post production and broadcast facilities in Abu Dhabi
significant because we are building an exciting new creative industry that does not currently exist in the MENA [Middle East and North Africa] region. The region has an enormous audience, home to more over 340 million people,” said Borg. “It has a very youthful demographic with 60% of that population, more than 200 million people, under the age of the 25—the largest consumers of leisure and entertainment products and Arabic content. The forecasts for growth across all media sectors is incredible.” Twofour54 is working to address the drastic imbalance between English and Arabic content in mainstream media. Its creed: Arabic content creation—turning the region from mere consumer to creator and mediator
in global discourse. Twofour54 has already become a haven for international names such as CNN, Financial Times, Bloomberg News, Thomas Reuters, Viacom and others. “These global media entities generate momentum because as market leaders they act as a catalyst for other local, regional and international companies to set up in Abu Dhabi and they have a direct impact on the development of the Arabic media industry by producing Arabic content specifically for the region,” Borg added. International superbrands benefit Abu Dhabi in two ways. First, they generate business and employment. Second and perhaps more important, their global cachet attracts other businesses. Their logos are excellent marketing
devices, and their lure builds support industries around them. As large producers, they cannot exist without smaller firms servicing their physical and expertise needs—from camera repairmen to voiceover artists. Then there is the National, Abu Dhabi’s flagship newspaper, staffed by journalists who worked in places like Fleet Street and publications like the Wall Street Journal. The National has weathered well the financial problems that have blighted many of its competitors. In driving its e-Government agenda, the Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre is working closely with other government entities and the private sector to coordinate efforts to provide innovative world-class services to government customers. “Accordingly, ADSIC’s vision is to enable the development of world-class digital media and Arabic content and as such, position Abu Dhabi as a regional center of excellence in Arabic content creation across digital media platforms,” said Batoul Husseini, ADSIC communication and public relations manager. Operating on the belief that media and culture are crucial components of a global city, Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 is working to improve skills and expertise, improving transparency while maintaining responsibility to culture and values. It’s a delicate balance, but one Abu Dhabi is prepared to strike. With all its gleaming edifices and media investments, Abu Dhabi must also take into consideration tradition and values reflected in media production and expression. Abu Dhabi is carefully working to strike a balance between ideology and economy. As such, it’s in the best possible position to become the media powerhouse of the region.
abu dhabi 2030
Investing in the environment
Abu Dhabi is setting the standards for a sustainable economy
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efore there was Al Gore or Rachel Carson or even John Muir, the people of Abu Dhabi understood the importance of caring for the environment and conserving its natural resources. Unsurprisingly, the emirate is still at the forefront of sustainability, thanks to its proactive Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the emirate’s revolutionary new Masdar City. For anyone seeking a model of sustainable solutions, Abu Dhabi is the place to look. To preserve the desert’s most precious resource, the emirate has instituted one of the most ambitious water-saving projects in the world, the Watersavers Campaign. It’s a two-pronged effort that includes direct action and outreach. Phase 1 of the campaign has the environmental agency installing water-saving devices in public and private buildings across the emirate. The goal? To place the devices in every home, school, mosque and government and commercial building within the next three to five years. This action alone, said Majid Al Mansouri, secretary-general EAD, will hopefully reduce water consumption in the state by 30%—or by roughly 11 billion liters of water a year. At the same time, the EAD is educating the public, through a mass-advertising campaign and the website www.watersavers.ae. On the energy-conservation front, the EAD is encouraging the use of photovoltaic generators on rooftops. The emirate’s goal is to produce 7% of its yearly energy from renewable sources by 2020. Also with conservation in mind, the Center of Waste Management has launched an underground system Majid Al Mansouri, secretary general of the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency
that uses compaction and non-compaction technologies used later to segregate out trash for reuse and to reduce air emissions from collection vehicles. “The Center of Waste Management – Abu Dhabi has launched the implementation of an underground waste collection system consisting of both compaction and non-compaction technologies to assist in source segregation of waste materials for reuse, to reduce air emissions from collection vehicles and to improve the overall appearance of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi,” said Ghadeer el Kheshen of the Abu Dhabi Center of Waste Management. Additionally, the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 plan requires that new developments be sustainable, and to that end EAD has launched the Estidama sustainability program. It provides building design guidelines and a rating system that, said Al Mansouri, “ensure future developments are more sustainable with a better quality of life while having a smaller environmental footprint.” The EAD’s office is itself a model of sustainability. The agency recently won the Best Middle East Green Initiative Award from the London-based BroadGroup for its “green” data center. This data center is part of a strategic effort to reduce the IT infrastructure’s impact on the environment and on human health. According to a 2007 report by the consultancy firm Gartner, nearly 2% of all global CO² emissions come from information technology. Additionally, “the volume of Internet traffic in 2012 is projected to be 100 times that in of 2002,” noted Al Mansouri. With these facts in mind, the Environment Agency instituted sweeping changes that encompass all aspects of IT—from the production of materials to labor to energy consumption and, finally, disposal. This means all IT equipment procured is Energy Star-compliant; desktop computers have been replaced by more energy-efficient laptops; printers have been consolidated and metered; default printing is double-sided on 100% post-consumer-content recycled unbleached paper; video conferencing has replaced employee and consultant travel; and
Masdar City is the emirate’s attempt to create one of the world’s most sustainable urban developments.
instead of purchasing new printer toners and cartridges, they are re-manufactured. Additionally, the IT department’s 15 racks of servers were reduced to just a half rack. And the data center uses water-cooled racks, modular power and cooling subsystems, which reduce its carbon footprint by 70%. Involvement was also key: The EAD organized a “green” IT workshop early this year, and “all employees pledged to turn off their electronic equipment when not in use; to reduce, reuse and recycle whenever they can; and to think about the environmental impact before buying any new electronic equipment,” said Al Mansouri. Of all the sustainability projects in Abu Dhabi, though, the most impressive by far is Masdar City, the emirate’s attempt to create the world’s greenest city. Set to open its first phase by 2013, Masdar will be a living city and a testing ground for emerging renewableenergy and sustainability technologies. The heart of the city will be the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, a worldclass post-graduate research institute being developed with MIT exclusively for education
and research on advanced energy solutions and sustainability. The institute will provide research and skilled workers for multinational and startup clean-technology companies, which will be based in Masdar. The city’s own sustainability will result from the use of new “green” solutions and forward-thinking urban planning. Shaded walkways, narrow streets, solar shades and blinds will lessen the sun’s glare. Buildings will have the highest-quality insulation, and will be made with low-carbon cement, utilize natural light and employ smart utility grids and appliances. And cars and other transportation will be relegated to an underground level, leaving the streets completely car-free and open to pedestrians. Not only will future “green” technologies be funded, researched and commercialized in the city, but the lessons learned there will provide solutions for the rest of the region— and hopefully the world. Masdar City, according to Al Mansouri, will become “a blueprint for sustainable cities globally.”
abu dhabi 2030
Desert dreams
Abu Dhabi is emerging as a top leisure, arts and cultural destination
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hat once was a blank canvas of vast desert sands is now an emerging masterpiece that is quickly transforming United Arab Emirates’ capital of Abu Dhabi into a leading destination for those seeking world-class leisure, arts and culture. Equipped with a rich palette of ingenuity, determination and creativity, Abu Dhabi leaders are aiming to create one of the most impressive constellations of cultural attractions ever assembled in one place. “From archeological sites to historic buildings, to cultural landscapes and in the very near future, world class museums and attractions, Abu Dhabi is undoubtedly evolving to be recognized as a world-class tourism centre,” said Secretary General H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, a member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council. Located just offshore on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi’s $27-billion Cultural District will house the largest single cluster of the state’s cultural assets, including the largest Guggenheim in the world, its own Louvre art museum, a state-of-the-art aquatics center and a new concert hall. There will also be a maritime museum and a national museum named in honor of the late ruler His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which aims to promote and preserve the rich history and traditions of Abu Dhabi. To accommodate a projected 7.9 million visitors by 2030, Abu Dhabi’s hotel sector is also growing swiftly, with plans to boost the state’s current 17,500-room offerings to nearly 80,000 rooms by 2030, according to the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. This increase includes many new hotels such as the Grand Canal Hotel and Viceroy Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi National Hotels is expecting to complete its 595-room Grand Canal Hotel overlooking the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi before the end of the year. “The people of Abu Dhabi have been quite blessed with a visionary and supportive government that is not afraid to take the initiative and the risks necessary to realize its objectives,” said Ali Al Zaabi, vice chairman of Emirates Hotels and CEO of Millennium Hotels Middle East
and North Africa. The Cultural District is one of seven districts on Saadiyat Island. The 10-1/2-mile square-mile island is located seven minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Travelers can reach the island by two major highway bridges that link it with the mainland. Saadiyat Island’s other distinctive districts include Saadiyat Beach, Saadiyat Marina and Saadiyat Retreat. Expected to open in 2012, Saadiyat Beach is a 5-1/2-mile stretch of pristine beach that will feature the Arabian Gulf ’s first and only 18-hole championship coastal golf course and golf academy, as well as nine 5-star resorts, including the Middle East’s first St. Regis Hotel, owned by Rotana Hotels & Resorts, and the 404-room Grand Millennium Corniche Hotel. Saadiyat Marina will be the island’s commercial hub, featuring elegant restaurants, lively nightlife and upscale hotels. The cosmopolitan district will also be home for an estimated 80,000 residents and offers docking space for more than 1,000 vessels. Nestled on the most secluded point of the island, Saadiyat Retreat will be the island’s pinnacle of exclusivity, offering vacationers intimate boutique hotels, spas and retreat facilities. It is the island’s Cultural District, however, that is Saadiyat’s most anticipated asset and a shining beacon on the international arts and culture horizon. The Cultural District will be home to the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, the Maritime Museum and a performing arts complex. Designed by internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry, the 450,000-square-foot Guggenheim will house not only pieces of Western art, but works by artists from the Middle East, Asia, Africa and South America. The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is expected to open in 2013. With the goal of fostering and increasing interest in the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the city’s Tourism Development and Investment Co. and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York recently exhibited more than 50 paintings on loan from the Guggen-
Saadiyat Beach will be home to the Arabian Gulf’s first 18-hole championship course.
The Cultural District will house the Guggenheim, the Louvre and a performing arts center.
heim in New York, said Rita Aoun, cultural director of the tourism agency. With the support of the French Parliament, construction of the Louvre Abu Dhabi has started and is expected to be completed by 2012. Artwork from around the world will be showcased at the museum, with particular focus placed upon bridging the gap between Eastern and Western art. Aiming to preserve Abu Dhabi’s rich maritime heritage, the state is including a Maritime Museum in its Cultural District. World-renowned architect Tadao Ando will design the Maritime Museum, said Aoun. Another museum designed to help preserve Abu Dhabi’s vibrant heritage and history is the Zayed National Museum, which will feature galleries reflecting the state’s and Sheikh Zayed’s values on the environment, education, heritage and humanitarianism, said Aoun. The preservation of its own rich cultural
traditions and heritage is the driving force behind Abu Dhabi’s recent expansion and development projects, said Al Zaabi. As vice chairman of Emirates Hotels and CEO of Millennium Hotels Middle East and North Africa, Al Zaabi oversees the companies’ many hotel construction and expansion projects. “Our government has done a fantastic job of maintaining the values of our people and our culture while still being the leader in bringing growth, opportunities and innovative ideals that [are] quickly making Abu Dhabi a destination point for the sophisticated traveler,” said Al Zaabi. Various projects being undertaken by Emirates Hotels and Millennium Hotels include the current construction of the lavish Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi. The Millennium Group is also running eight other hotels in the UAE and has contracts to manage and operate 40 other hotels in the Middle East.