ABU DHABI // The 27-square kilometre Saadiyat island will eventually be home to luxury, leisure and arts.
And among the most-anticipated projects is the Cultural District, which will house world-class museums, such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum.
It aims to place Abu Dhabi on the map as a centre for culture, drawing in visitors from the region and beyond to view exhibitions, permanent collections, productions and performances.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi will be the first museum to open, in 2015.
Born out of an agreement between the governments of Abu Dhabi and France, the Louvre Abu Dhabi will display art, manuscripts and objects of historical, cultural and sociological significance.
The items on display will originate from societies and cultures all over the world.
The Zayed National Museum, which is due to open in 2016, will tell the history of the nation through the life of its founding father, Sheikh Zayed.
The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be a platform for global contemporary art and culture. It is set to be completed in 2017.
There are also plans for a performing art centre on Saadiyat, which will house concert halls, theatre and performance spaces with a combined seating capacity of 6,300.
It will also accommodate an academy of performing arts.
“It has been a memorable journey so far. I am so amazed to see how much the young Emiratis are loving each moment of this journey,” said Ayesha Al Bakoush, the team supervisor.
She said she hoped their journey would allow the youngsters to connect with the nation’s past, to help them build a brighter future.
At the start of the journey, the students were somewhat shy as they did not know each other, said Ms Al Bakoush. “But within four days, they have gelled like best pals. It is so heartening to see this,” she said.
akhaishgi@thenational.ae