Abu Dhabi Forges Ahead With Plans to Create a Cultural World Capital

Abu Dhabi today reaffirmed its commitment to completing the long-delayed project to build a $27 billion cultural and tourism project known as Saadiyat Island.

1 minute read

January 25, 2012, 2:00 PM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


As Anthony Shadid reports in The New York Times, a veil of secrecy had hung over the future of the ambitious project in light of protests prompted by workers' conditions, fears of a financial bubble like the one that hit neighboring Dubai, and qualms over the overall vision for the project.

The project will include an architectural petting zoo of sorts featuring a branch of the Guggenheim museum designed by Frank Gehry, a branch of the Louvre designed by Jean Nouvel, and a national museum by Lord Norman Foster, which are now scheduled to be completed by 2017.

"These days, with something of a chip on its shoulder, Abu Dhabi appears determined to eclipse Dubai, its sister city, still reeling from the crash that began in 2008. The 10-square mile Saadiyat Island is one of the centerpieces of that Pharaonic vision, the museums joining a performing arts center designed by Zaha Hadid and a maritime museum planned by Tadao Ando."

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 in The New York Times

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

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