Saadiyat: The Island of Happiness

Saadiyat is a small island just off the coast at Abu Dhabi that until recently was mostly barren and uninhabited. Like the city opposite it Saadiyat is subject to ongoing development at an alarming pace. The UAE’s ecconomy shows no sign of slowing down and Abu Dhabi’s skyline is testament to the scale of its growth.

Next month a new bridge will be completeted which links Saadiyat with downtown Abu Dhabi. The bridge and the roads connecting it will be opened in time for the Formula One Grand Prix on the 1st November. The designer of the bridge, Frederic Turlier says that everything is right on schedule which suggests that no British builders were involved.

Abu Dhabi is aiming to become an international city of cultural importance, the Telegraph reports that:

By 2013, the capital of the United Arab Emirates will boast an offshoot of the Louvre, a new Guggenheim museum, a National Museum inspired by the British Museum, a performing arts centre designed by the British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, several art schools, and various pavilions and other cultural franchises that will be able to host temporary exhibitions from around the world.

The island of Saadiyat will be be home to many of the UAE’s cultural gems and those planning the development are keen to create a tourism friendly area. Flights to Abu Dhabi take around 7 hours from London and cost from around £230 upwards.