In pictures: Classes begin at New York University Abu Dhabi’s new Saadiyat Island campus

From left, Mohammad Mirza, Sangeetha Mahadevan, Hayat Hassan and Rodger Iradukunda at NYU Abu Dhabi’s library on the first day of term. Lee Hoagland / The National

Designed by Rafael Vinoly Architects, the campus is built on 40 acres, or about 8 New York City blocks, includes 21 buildings featuring the latest technology. Student residences sit above the classrooms and the faculty offices. Lee Hoagland / The National

There was a sense of excitement on the campus on Monday as the students congregated after a week of orientation to start their four-year undergraduate degrees.

This theatre in the arts centre at the new campus on Saadiyat island holds 700 people. Lee Hoagland / The National

The building adheres to a principal of openness. In architectural terms this idea of transparency is seen in the heavy usage of glass throughout the building which allows for vistas of both the internal structure, the surrounding outdoor spaces of the campus and at times, externally to the sea. Lee Hoagland / The National

The main library is designed with three oculi which seep natural light throughout the facility and down through an elevated platform of glass floor in the centre of the library which allows the same light to travel to the swimming pool and gym bellow. Lee Hoagland / The National

The arts centre building hosts an auditorium which seats 700 people; a more intimate space designed especially for acoustic music and then a blackbox theatre and a rectangular performance space made to accommodate various staging techniques and unorthodox seating. Lee Hoagland /The National

University staff have been keen to laud the disparate nature of the new students, who hail from 60 different countries and speak more than 100 languages. Lee Hoagland / The National

“Our goals were first to integrate living and learning in all dimensions of the campus, our second goal is to foster interaction between the disciplines and break down those walls,” said Hillary Ballon, deputy vice chancellor of NYUAD. Lee Hoagland / The National

Al Bloom, the vice-chancellor of NYUAD, believes that the environment at the university would prepare students for leadership roles in the future. Lee Hoagland / The National

The first intake of students at New York University Abu Dhabi’s new Saadiyat Island campus have begun their first week of classes.