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A beautiful city
I constantly find it amazing that things move as fast as they do in the Middle Eastern business world, in fact everyday gets faster and faster, and this week is no different with a succession of speedy turning points altering the Gulf's modern day business landscape forever.
In the space of eight days, between Wednesday January 31 and February 7, Abu Dhabi unveiled some colossal and equally impressive projects and major events.
The Saadiyat Island ‘cultural district' project, including five major museums due to be completed by 2018 was the first in a long line to be announced.
Some sparkling designs and luscious landscapes will populate the gigantic island that is half the size of Bermuda and that will also draw in millions of visitors.
Three days later on a glorious Saturday morning, 15,000 people descended onto the streets of the capital to celebrate its inaugural Formula One Festival, the largest event of its kind outside of a Grand Prix.
Little did the public know that only three hours later, government representatives and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone were to announce a seven-year deal for the emirate to stage its first ever GP in 2009, boosting its chances of reaching its tourism target of over three million by 2015.
Not only that, Ecclestone even suggested that this would be "the best" race ever with the best circuit in the world containing several overtaking spots, exciting corners, while spectators will be able to watch 80% of the race from their luxury yachts.
Then a day later the government of Abu Dhabi launched its first ever eGovernment site, eAbu Dhabi, the most comprehensive of its kind in the Arab world offering over 500 online services with a dedicated business section from business start-up and support to international trade and rules and regulations promoting and facilitating entrepreneurship.
It's hard to believe that this string of life-changing announcements have been made in just short of 200 hours, but more importantly Abu Dhabi has now firmly set its stall out as a true global destination.
As HH Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, told me, the capital is heading towards a strategy of "balanced development".
"In Abu Dhabi we are going into the path of balanced development and trying to create high-class events like F1. Balanced development is going to be through environment and culture and the feedback from experts in the cultural arena when we announced the cultural district of Saadiyat Island was that this would be the biggest cultural undertaking ever, and we hope to continue on that path."
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Posted by MOHAMED M. REYAL, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES on 13 February 2007 at 11:32 UAE time
ADTA should not concentrate only on developing tourism in the emirate of Abu Dhabi alone, but also must make a genuine attempt to spread its wings to other emirates as well, because its the end satisfaction that gives a share of the fruit of true development to all and sundry in the country.
There are poorer emirates with no funds to develop tourism, but the potential for "Upmarket tourism" is abundantly available in all parts of the UAE.
Goals should be set to develop tourism in these emirates as well by the targeted year of 2009.
Posted by Tony, Kuwait, Kuwait on 11 February 2007 at 19:38 UAE time
Other Gulf states should learn from this.
Posted by Viren Naroola, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on 11 February 2007 at 19:14 UAE time
I congratulate Abu Dhabi for being methodical in their future planning and recent announcements prove that without doubt.
HH Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority remarks that the approach being taken is "Balanced development" truely will make Abu Dhabi a great city of the world in not too distant a future.
I am looking forward to something being done about parking although roads I think are able to take traffic without too much of delay.
Posted by Gloria Burler, Sharjah, UAE on 11 February 2007 at 19:06 UAE time
It is so wonderful to see the preservation of the cultural heritage in the form of the museums scheduled for this project. It would be even more pleasing if the architecture of the rapid construction could in some way reflect the arabic culture instead of resembling any western capital of the world. To be unique is much better than to be the same as everyone else. The basjeel and the minarets are a part of the Islamic culture and should be reflected in the architecture of the region