The Megaprojects Shaping the Future of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is looking to develop itself into a new global arts hub, and an incubator of green technology. This piece takes a tour of two ambitious projects seeking to reform the oil-rich emirate.
"Now, as Dubai struggles to recover from the dramatic collapse of its real-estate market, Abu Dhabi is taking advantage of the downturn to savor a moment in the spotlight. The emirate is actively promoting its 2030 Plan, a wide-ranging blueprint for growth unveiled in 2007. It is also moving forward on a number of big-ticket urban initiatives that it has the luxury of financing to a significant degree from its own coffers."
Masdar City and Saadiyat Island are the two grand projects currently under development in Abu Dhabi. The first is an ambitious zero-carbon city, and the second a Las Vegas-like planned destination for art museums and replicated architecture from around the world. As they develop, challenges and questions aplenty arise.
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Published on Friday, June 26, 2009 in
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