Abu Dhabi has unveiled plans to transform Al Maryah Island waterfront into an all-year-round visitor attraction, in support of the capital's surging tourism sector.
Al Maryah Waterfront enhancement project will feature a 30-metre-high luminous sphere, enveloped in flowing water and surrounded by 1,000 AI-powered jets of water soaring 75 metres, set to music by composer Ramin Djawadi.
The dazzling display will be the centrepiece of a project being delivered by Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi’s strategic investment arm.
A ground-breaking ceremony has been held to signal the start of work on the development, which is the latest project launched as part of Abu Dhabi's plans to be a magnet for both domestic and global tourism.
The scheme will also include a sea boardwalk extension, offering access to the water’s edge, a shaded outdoor cooling system to make summer visits more comfortable and a new food and beverage zone.
An opening date has not been disclosed.
"The Al Maryah Waterfront enhancement project is a strategic investment in the future of Al Maryah Island,” said Dr Bakheet Al Katheeri, chief executive of UAE Investments at Mubadala.
“This project will deliver iconic elements that elevate the quality of life and offer a diverse experience for visitors, while reinforcing the island’s position as a premier lifestyle destination.”
Latest chapter in island's rise
Mubadala has overseen the rise to prominence of Al Maryah Island since 2007. Previously known as Sowwah Island, it was rebranded in 2012 by the government as part of a drive to cement its status as a leading leisure, retail and entertainment hot spot.
Al Maryah refers to a historical village in Liwa Oasis abundantly inhabited by purebred Arabian oryx.
The sprawling island is already home to two five-star hotels, a major mall, The Abu Dhabi Global Market, Abu Dhabi's financial centre, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and a wide variety of global retail brands and restaurants.
Tourism and property boom
The Al Maryah waterfront project is the latest major development to be announced for Abu Dhabi in recent months.
In May, it was revealed that the first Disney theme park in the Middle East is to open in the UAE capital.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be built on Yas Island by Miral, with Disney leading the creative design and operational oversight.
The park "will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati, an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment that is at the crossroads of the world", Disney chief executive Bob Iger said at the time.
The new park will join other tourist attractions on the island, including Ferrari World, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld.
Sphere, the spectacular Las Vegas entertainment venue, is also coming to Abu Dhabi.
The UAE's version will retain many of the original’s features, including the shape it takes its name from plus its exterior and interior surfaces made of LED screen technology, which will enable striking visual displays.
Abu Dhabi added 37,000 jobs to its tourism sector last year as more visitors flocked to the emirate's hotels, restaurants and attractions amid increased investment in promotional campaigns globally.
Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s biggest listed developer, last month unveiled the master plan for Fahid Island, with a gross development value of more than Dh40 billion ($10.9 billion) amid a boom in the UAE’s property market.
More than 6,000 luxury residences are planned for the 2.7 million square metre island, from apartments and townhouses to ultra-luxury villas.
The project will also feature two hotels, with one of them set to be announced shortly, Jonathan Emery, chief executive of Aldar Development, told The National on the sidelines of the project launch.
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The "miners" use computers to make complex calculations that verify transactions in Bitcoin. This uses a tremendous amount of energy via computers and server farms all over the world, which has given rise to concerns about the amount of fossil fuel-dependent electricity used to power the computers.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
BIG SPENDERS
Premier League clubs spent £230 million (Dh1.15 billion) on January transfers, the second-highest total for the mid-season window, the Sports Business Group at Deloitte said in a report.
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
The specs: 2019 Audi Q8
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 340hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders
Stuart Kells, Counterpoint Press
UAE SQUAD
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Ahmed Raza, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Chirag Suri , Zahoor Khan
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
