THE NAME OF SAADIAS IS TRANSFERRED FROM THE ARAB AS AN “ISLAND OF HAPPINESS” ... MORELY LAST FISHERS KNEW LASTLY ABOUT ITS EXISTENCE, AND LOVERS TO EXPLORE WILDLAND CORNERS. TODAY THIS AMAZING ISLAND, LITERALLY ON THE EYES, TURNS INTO THE NEW CITY DISTRICT OF THE EMIRATES CAPITAL, WHICH ARE FACING A BRILLIANT FUTURE.
It is well known that the city of Abu Dhabi stands on the island of the same name. I will remind those who still don’t know (may the reader forgive me for the digression). There is a legend that once in the vicinity of the current capital of the UAE, a hunter chased a wild gazelle, of which there are a great many. Having reached a fairly wide water barrier, the gazelle stopped for a second, and then overcame this stretch of the road by fording water. The hunter followed her and soon found himself on a picturesque island, which he really liked. Later, his fellow tribesmen came to the island and named the place Abu Dhabi, which means “father of a gazelle” in Arabic.
By current standards, the land area is not particularly large and, given the trends in the rapid development and growth of the UAE over the past decade, the country's population growth is almost threefold, it is not surprising that Abu Dhabi, endowed with the status of the country's capital, but limited by the size of its island, is seeking other, non-standard opportunities for building up your territory. That is why today Abu Dhabi not only reaches up, but also goes further and further into the sea. Or rather, in the Persian Gulf.
The first to many uninhabited or almost uninhabited natural islands surrounding the capital of the Emirates, architects turned their attention to. One of the islands, called Saadiyat, is located very close to the center of the capital and has the shape of a triangle. On one side, the "triangle" of the island land enters Abu Dhabi, the other into the Persian Gulf; its third side is indented by a network of shallow lagoons. Preserved mangroves grow in these bays, serving as a haven for many representatives of the local flora and fauna. But the most remarkable thing on the island of Saadiyat is as many as nineteen (!) Kilometers of clean sandy beaches with a surprisingly weightless platinum shade of fine sand ... It was here that it was decided to begin the construction of, in fact, a new urban area designed to become a center of luxury relaxation, culture and arts in capital of the UAE.
Create to save
The Saadiyat Island development project is being implemented by the Tourism and Investment Development Company (TDIC), an independent joint venture whose main shareholder is the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. TDIC’s strategy is to enable private investors to participate in this grand multi-year project, who will refine their sites in accordance with the general plan and the urban planning standards set forth in it. The most favorable conditions implying full ownership of elite real estate - villas and apartments with sea views - on the island of Saadiyat were granted to citizens of the UAE and the GCC countries, all other foreign investors will be offered long-term lease opportunities (leasehold) for a period of 50 to 99 years.
Saadiyat Island is destined to become not only a new urban area with an area of 27 square meters. km (which is half the island of Bermuda), but also a center of international tourism. More than 150 thousand people will live here permanently, which is comparable with the population of Oxford or Hollywood. Saadiyat Island, whose development budget was initially estimated at US $ 27 billion, is today the main tourism project in Abu Dhabi. By 2030, thanks to the capabilities of the island of Saadiyat, the emirate plans to receive up to 8 million tourists annually. According to the plans of designers and developers, the development of the island's territory is carried out in three stages, during the implementation of which luxury five-star hotels, elite beach clubs, infrastructure for recreation and entertainment, prestigious villas and apartments with sea views, champion golf clubs will appear on Saadiyat and marinas. Also, landmark buildings are being erected here, where museums, concert halls, art galleries and cultural centers will be located in the near future. Already today, some of the objects have been built and put into operation, and they will be discussed a little later. However, the island still has a dozen years of development ahead. Full completion is scheduled only for 2020.
Great attention during the development of the island of Saadiyat is given to environmental protection and the preservation of marine and terrestrial flora and fauna. For example, the construction of many hotels is carried away from the natural harbors inland, and the design and construction of marinas for yachts and boats took into account the peculiarities of the seabed in order to preserve corals living on the coast of the island, as well as nesting sites for unique sea turtles and other species of sea animals and plants.
The development plan of the island of Saadiyat was created in such a way as to provide freedom of movement for both motorists and pedestrians. There are special tracks for cycling and golf carts. Particular attention is paid to "water taxis" as an environmentally friendly mode of transport.
Seven districts of Saadiyat
The island is divided into seven thematic areas, interconnected by a freeway. In the west is the Saadiyat Cultural District, where unique villas will appear, international-class hotels will open and great leisure opportunities will be created. Unique museum complexes are being erected here, the exhibition center Manarat Al Saadiyat (manarat = "enlightenment") operates. Visitors to the island can also see the UAE pavilion, which was built for the international exhibition Expo 2010 in Shanghai, dismantled and delivered to the place of permanent residence in Abu Dhabi.
Of the museums under construction, the Louvre Abu Dhabi will be the first to open in 2015. A year later, the National Museum named after Sheikh Zayed (Zayed National Museum) will open its doors to visitors.
The cultural ensemble of the island will be completed by the Guggenheim Museum of Abstract Art (Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum), which is scheduled to open in 2017. All three sites will be built as part of the strategic program of the Abu Dhabi government to increase the tourist attractiveness of the region and attract travelers from around the world. Famous world architects are involved in the development of projects. The Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum was designed by the famous French architect Jean Nouvel. To work on the concept of the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, no less famous designer Lord Norman Foster was involved. One of the largest architects of our time, Frank Owen Gary, created the project of the Guggenheim Museum of Abstract Art. Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnun Al Nahyan, TDIC Director, said: “New museums will enhance the cultural level and education of residents, as well as create new jobs. Culture and art will become part of the daily life of our society, which will help us to continue to take good care of our heritage and preserve its value. " In addition, the Performing Arts Center will appear in the Saadiyat Cultural District.
Saadiyat Beach is renowned for its luxurious resorts, Olympic-class golf courses and a sailing center. Five kilometers of five-star hotels will frame nine kilometers of white sandy beaches. Already today, the Monte Carlo Beach Club, Saadiyat, and luxury villas are being built here. The Saadiyat Beach Villas project is the first elite residential project on the island of Saadiyat. Within the framework of this project, it is planned to equip landscape parks, children's playgrounds, pools with terraces, gyms, basketball fields and squash courts. In addition, future property owners in the project will be able to use a private beach. The commissioning of the first phase of the project should take place in the near future. In April 2011, TDIC announced the opening of the Jawaher Al Saadiyat complex, which consists of ten luxury villas, which are exact copies of the villas in the Saadiyat Beach Villas project. This show project is open to the public and serves as a model for familiarizing a wide range of potential buyers with the Saadiyat Beach Villas project and the elite lifestyle that awaits property owners in this project.
With three harbors and a central park, the Saadiyat Marina area will become a commercial center. Almost half of the inhabitants of the island will settle here. Huge shopping centers, an international art gallery, a royal yacht club with marinas for a thousand ships, a theater and an oceanarium will be created for residents. The Maritime Museum, designed by the architect Tadao Andu, will also be opened here, which will house an exposition of the maritime heritage of the inhabitants of Arabia. By the end of 2014, the campus of New York University will be opened in this area, where more than 2.5 thousand students from around the world will be able to live and study.
An example of creating the Saadiyat Promenade district overlooking Abu Dhabi is the Daytona Beach in Florida. Along the coastline there will be 3 * and 4 * class hotels. Pedestrian Boulevard is decorated with numerous restaurants and open-air cafes. As for the Saadiyat Lagoons, which stretches around the central lagoon of the island, it will be designed for lovers of family vacations who prefer privacy in the lap of nature. Residents of luxury apartments will be able to visit the equestrian center and the amphitheater, where concerts and outdoor performances will be held. And finally, the Saadiyt Retreat and Saadiyat Reserve areas will be the place where modern villas surround the unique golf club. Here, most likely, ecotourism lovers, novice bird watchers and avid golfers will settle down. Pristine natural bogs will not only preserve the island’s unique wildlife, but will also provide a center for studying marine fauna and migratory birds.
For one day, the inhabitants of the island will have the opportunity to dive in the warm waters of the Persian Gulf, sail along the sandy beach or go fishing on a yacht, then to return to the hectic life of beach resorts or the virgin silence of secluded walking alleys and quiet sunsets.
With the center of Abu Dhabi, the “new city” of Saadiyat is already connected by the Sheikh Khalifa Bridge (named after Sheikh Khalifa, President of the UAE) with a length of 1.4 kilometers, designed for 10 lanes, which has been passing through the Al-Min port area since November 2009. Another 6.5-km Sheikh Khalifa Highway (also named after the UAE President) runs 6.5 km through the neighboring Yas Island and connects Saadiyat with Abu Dhabi International Airport. Thanks to this 10-lane highway, you can get from Saadiyat Island to the airport in just 15 minutes.
Resorts & Clubs
In November 2011, on the beach of Saadiyat Island, with a total length of 9 kilometers, two large complexes opened their doors: St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, the first Starwood Hotels & Resorts hotel chain in Abu Dhabi, and Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas. St.Regis Resort offers 377 rooms and suites, as well as 33 branded St. Regis, 259 apartments, a shopping and entertainment center, a business center for 1,500 guests, a spa, a gym, as well as several restaurants, each of which focuses on the culinary traditions of certain countries. Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas Resort has 306 spacious rooms, suites and villas with private pools for comfortable accommodation.
The exclusive beach club Monte Carlo Beach began its work on the island in the second quarter of 2011. According to Monte Carlo Beach Club’s general manager Patrick Neyroll, it’s “an unprecedented fashion holiday center in the region that will quickly become popular with the Abu Dhabi elite.” Under the Monte Carlo club, the basis of the concept of which is the club of the same name on the Cote d'Azur in France, about 40 thousand square meters are allocated. meters of territory. The Monte Carlo Beach Club on Saadiyat Island is managed by the French company Societe des Bains de Mer, which has been managing the Monte Carlo Beach Club in Monaco for over 90 years. There are four cafe bars at the Monte Carlo Club on Saadiyat Island, one of which, the Library Lounge, is intended only for club members. In addition, the range of services of Monte Carlo Beach Club includes a kids club, spa, gym and many other leisure opportunities.
The 18-hole Saadiyat Beach Golf Club was designed by legendary golfer Gary Player. The playing field covers a total area of over 317 acres. And on the territory of the club there is a professional Golf Academy, a shop with equipment, a branded restaurant and a bar, conditions for meetings and recreation are created.
Until 2020, it is planned to open seven more hotels only in the beach area of Saadiyat Island. Representatives of the newly opened St Regis Hotel claim that their main goal is to attract new tourists to Abu Dhabi, and not to lure them out of the many existing hotels in the capital of the UAE. John Pelling, general manager of the St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort hotel, however, believes that the tourist destination of Saadiyat should be considered more likely in the long term, counting on the gradual development of demand for island hotels.
Recall that in addition to the development of infrastructure projects, specialized units have been created on the island of Saadiyat, the main purpose of which is to preserve and increase the natural wealth of this unique place. Here, the laying of eggs of sea turtles is already protected, they monitor migrations of migratory birds, and zoned plant varieties are included in the landscape design of resorts and golf clubs ...
“Preserving its natural charm,” says Sultan bin Tahnun, head of TDIC, “Saadiyat Island will become another Abu Dhabi crown jewel. Its residents will not only enjoy all the opportunities for life, work and cultural relaxation, but also feel tourists alone in the wild. To do this, they only need to cross the island from one coast to the other. "
I believe that says it all. And if not everything, then we will certainly continue our detailed acquaintance with this amazing island to tell you about it. Follow our publications.
