![Regeneration work is set to begin almost immediately to transform the area into a bustling shopping and entertainment district](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NEPEDLAP2WYXNOKK45Z6EYPV6M.jpg?smart=true&auth=9fcbc006b49bf93d1d7d977be3745e850d53582cb819486f8306b0b800950ebc&width=400&height=225)
![Four unfinished towers in Mina Zayed Plaza pictured just before the detonation at 8am on Friday. All photos by Victor Besa / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GDXKJCBOKEJD2Q3TDMB2MQXYTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=2934b055bfc0e52764f65e9c901f5e7a5ec6423548f5b8dbf294ed61c6015eea&width=400&height=225)
![Hundreds of explosive charges are detonated inside the structures](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7TLXPC2KXTZT5LF33PYOJYAXTU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a9668e0adc74f4eecf44b6485fa296630d231d6b613cb8fb723cd9d1afeaeb3c&width=400&height=225)
![The buildings collapse in a controlled operation sending debris into a cordoned off port area](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3HEUNORY3FADWAR2F63MDQJWAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f4ed032d87f644162aee095e596241ab54274b82c56e712a1401168b41e0336d&width=400&height=225)
![Work on the towers began in 2007 but stalled in the 2009 financial crisis and have stood empty for the past decade](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CF7EAWVR2NYORHKVR44LCGWFO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0dd1b02d1a9e7c371e532aa224ef835f4ad2903d02212f7011ebac67911c4fa6&width=400&height=225)
![The three smaller towers topple followed by the taller fourth](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3GK2SCZJWLLSCW7UYRLRNM7FE4.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e2b64105e7b85056218efcdebe35579d22f94c4a34c8849914c40c103444060&width=400&height=225)
![In total 144 floors between the four towers were brought down](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZPXULPPXE7RSUAMFKO7QQWKVRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=128a0e126d734ac47789111b4fd4c9a202e7a87a6772cf8ea04ecbedc0ee5da0&width=400&height=225)
![Dust and debris cascades into the surrounding streets, which were cleared by police on Thursday](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PTWLS7YY53ZWES5UMKLPHAKQAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=39c140ec66d9d75d326fc12412f80e9fae32af7f3436b1e6783abe3cb7b243cd&width=400&height=225)
![Regeneration work is set to begin almost immediately to transform the area into a bustling shopping and entertainment district](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3SPCAJEEDV6ERSIAV7J5W45YWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b1e994af59e5436073eb8d62f0be72adb0f87ee5e6303ed1e93ed914bf328cd5&width=400&height=225)
![Regeneration work is set to begin almost immediately to transform the area into a bustling shopping and entertainment district](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NEPEDLAP2WYXNOKK45Z6EYPV6M.jpg?smart=true&auth=9fcbc006b49bf93d1d7d977be3745e850d53582cb819486f8306b0b800950ebc&width=400&height=225)
![Four unfinished towers in Mina Zayed Plaza pictured just before the detonation at 8am on Friday. All photos by Victor Besa / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GDXKJCBOKEJD2Q3TDMB2MQXYTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=2934b055bfc0e52764f65e9c901f5e7a5ec6423548f5b8dbf294ed61c6015eea&width=400&height=225)
![Hundreds of explosive charges are detonated inside the structures](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7TLXPC2KXTZT5LF33PYOJYAXTU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a9668e0adc74f4eecf44b6485fa296630d231d6b613cb8fb723cd9d1afeaeb3c&width=400&height=225)
![The buildings collapse in a controlled operation sending debris into a cordoned off port area](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3HEUNORY3FADWAR2F63MDQJWAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f4ed032d87f644162aee095e596241ab54274b82c56e712a1401168b41e0336d&width=400&height=225)
![Work on the towers began in 2007 but stalled in the 2009 financial crisis and have stood empty for the past decade](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CF7EAWVR2NYORHKVR44LCGWFO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0dd1b02d1a9e7c371e532aa224ef835f4ad2903d02212f7011ebac67911c4fa6&width=400&height=225)
![The three smaller towers topple followed by the taller fourth](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3GK2SCZJWLLSCW7UYRLRNM7FE4.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e2b64105e7b85056218efcdebe35579d22f94c4a34c8849914c40c103444060&width=400&height=225)
![In total 144 floors between the four towers were brought down](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZPXULPPXE7RSUAMFKO7QQWKVRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=128a0e126d734ac47789111b4fd4c9a202e7a87a6772cf8ea04ecbedc0ee5da0&width=400&height=225)
![Dust and debris cascades into the surrounding streets, which were cleared by police on Thursday](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PTWLS7YY53ZWES5UMKLPHAKQAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=39c140ec66d9d75d326fc12412f80e9fae32af7f3436b1e6783abe3cb7b243cd&width=400&height=225)
![Regeneration work is set to begin almost immediately to transform the area into a bustling shopping and entertainment district](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3SPCAJEEDV6ERSIAV7J5W45YWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b1e994af59e5436073eb8d62f0be72adb0f87ee5e6303ed1e93ed914bf328cd5&width=400&height=225)
![Regeneration work is set to begin almost immediately to transform the area into a bustling shopping and entertainment district](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NEPEDLAP2WYXNOKK45Z6EYPV6M.jpg?smart=true&auth=9fcbc006b49bf93d1d7d977be3745e850d53582cb819486f8306b0b800950ebc&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi knocks down hundreds of ageing buildings in regeneration drive
Abandoned buildings and run-down structures were removed as part of efforts to enhance the look of the capital
![Haneen Dajani](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F2c3a1ee0-7878-4332-8eb7-508eaf968db0.png?smart=true&auth=502c5440a5c40d357cfb18a53fda792824aea1226c0aa454ca42e9cb84274c9d&width=70&height=70)
Haneen Dajani
December 07, 2020
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