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.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Canada
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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.
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5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs: 2018 Maserati Ghibli
Price, base / as tested: Dh269,000 / Dh369,000
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