Abandoned Abu Dhabi tower block to be demolished on November 27

It comes as revamp of Mina Zayed area enters second phase

An impression of how Mina Zayed's redeveloped Wharf area will look with new markets and souqs. Wam

Latest: Abu Dhabi tears down towers in seconds ahead of port regeneration

An abandoned development in Abu Dhabi's Mina Zayed will be demolished this month.

Mina Plaza will meet the wreckers on November 27 as the second phase of a regeneration of the port area begins.

Abu Dhabi Media Office on Tuesday said the work will transform Mina Zayed into a tourism, commercial and residential destination spread across three million square metres.

At least half of this will be redeveloped as a prime seafront area.

The work includes overhauling the souqs and building separate facilities for fish, fruit and vegetable markets.

Construction on the three-tower Mina Plaza block began in 2007 but was halted several times.

Plans were being considered, however, for a wider regeneration of the area.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, approved these plans in 2018.

Efforts to realise this vision are now gathering speed. In the first phase of the project, old and dilapidated structures were removed. The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) this year carried out tests to prepare for the demolition of the tower block.

Its engineers assessed the amount of explosives needed for the demolition and the noise and vibrations that will result.

The demolition of the four towers, which comprise 144 floors, is estimated to last 10 seconds.

Abu Dhabi's Aldar along with Modon Properties are developing the area.

"Mina Zayed, which has witnessed the incredible growth of the capital over the past few decades, resonates in the hearts of Abu Dhabi’s residents," said Hamad Al Mutawa, executive director of operations affairs at the DMT.

"We are confident that the redevelopment of Mina Zayed will further drive the social and economic progress of the emirate and will play an important role in achieving our wise leadership’s vision of cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as one of the best cities in the world."

Opened in the 1970s, Mina Zayed has served as the main port in the emirate of Abu Dhabi for more than 40 years.