Latest news with #SaadiyatIsland
UAE Moments
a day ago
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
Louvre & Guggenheim Are Just a Walk Apart in This Art Hub
Until now, visiting both the Louvre and the Guggenheim in a single day meant hopping between countries. But by the end of this year, you'll be able to stroll between them on foot, no borders, no flights, thanks to Abu Dhabi's ambitious cultural district on Saadiyat Island. Join our FREE WhatsApp channel to dive into a world of real-time engagement! This long-awaited hub brings together some of the world's most iconic cultural institutions in one place. Alongside the Louvre and Guggenheim, the district will also house the stunning Natural History Museum, an interactive teamLab digital art space, and the Zayed National Museum, among others. A Cultural Cluster Like No Other 'Plenty of cities have great museums, and many have been around much longer than ours,' says Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. 'But what makes this special is how close everything is... you can walk between them all.' Spread across 2.43 square kilometres and designed by award-winning architects like Jean Nouvel, Frank Gehry, and Norman Foster, the district is one of the largest cultural investments ever. Visitors can explore its museums via shaded, nature-inspired 'cool paths,' designed to make walking enjoyable even in Abu Dhabi's warm climate. Top Sights in Saadiyat Cultural District Here's a guide to what you can experience: Louvre Abu Dhabi Opened in 2017, the Louvre Abu Dhabi brings together art from all over the world, under Jean Nouvel's iconic dome, a masterpiece of light and shadow inspired by Islamic architecture. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Expected to open by late 2025, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will showcase contemporary art from the 1960s to today, with a focus on West Asian, North African, and South Asian artists. The building itself, designed by Frank Gehry, is a work of art. Zayed National Museum Dedicated to the UAE's history and its founding father, Sheikh Zayed, this museum will feature galleries exploring everything from Bedouin traditions to the nation's rise as a global hub. It's set to open in late 2025. Natural History Museum Scheduled to open later this year, this science-focused museum will feature a T. rex fossil, ancient meteorites, and exhibits telling the story of the universe. At 35,000 square metres, it's the largest of its kind in the region. teamLab Phenomena This immersive art experience is already open, offering 25 digital installations that play with water, light, and sound a mesmerising mix of art and technology. More to Explore on Saadiyat Island Beyond its museums, Saadiyat Island is full of experiences worth checking out: Mamsha Al Saadiyat: A vibrant promenade lined with restaurants and cafés, perfect for waterfront dining. Soul Beach & Saadiyat Beach Clubs: Relax on pristine white sand or book a day at one of the island's upscale beach clubs. Bassam Freiha Art Foundation: A private collection of art open to the public for free. Abrahamic Family House: An interfaith site featuring a mosque, church, and synagogue, symbolising harmony and coexistence. Manarat Al Saadiyat: An arts centre hosting exhibitions, events, and workshops. Saadiyat Beach Golf Club: A scenic course where Arabian gazelles sometimes wander across the greens. Berklee Abu Dhabi: A hub for music, dance, and theatre with regular performances and programs. Why Saadiyat Stands Out Despite some challenges including concerns about labour conditions and debates over artistic freedom, the district is shaping up to rival cultural destinations like Berlin's Museum Island and Hong Kong's West Kowloon. With more than 1.7 million square feet of museum space and a world-class lineup of attractions, Saadiyat Cultural District is positioning Abu Dhabi as a global arts and culture hotspot. By the end of this year, you can ditch the flights and simply walk between the Louvre and the Guggenheim... All under the Abu Dhabi sun, in one incredible setting.
Hospitality Net
2 days ago
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Martin Riehl has been appointed Executive Chef at Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas has appointed Martin Peter Otto Riehl as its new executive chef. With more than four decades of global hospitality experience, Riehl joins the Saadiyat Island property following key roles across Asia's top Hyatt destinations. A certified master chef with formal training in German and French cuisine, Riehl most recently served as director of culinary operations at Grand Hyatt Macau, within the City of Dreams complex. Prior to that, he led the kitchens of Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and Grand Hyatt Guangzhou — both known for their high-volume, high-end F&B operations. During his decade-long tenure at Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, Riehl played a critical role in shaping the property's culinary identity while supporting Hyatt's growth in China as an F&B specialist for the Asia Pacific region. His résumé includes collaborations with renowned chefs and a reputation for nurturing culinary talent and rolling out refined, globally inspired menus. In his new role, Riehl will oversee all culinary operations at Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, including Mate Abu Dhabi, Beach House, and The Café. With his deep expertise in Chinese and international cuisines, as well as his track record in opening acclaimed culinary concepts, Chef Martin is poised to guide Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi's culinary program into an exciting new era, says the hotel.
CNN
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
You can walk between the Louvre and the Guggenheim in this new art district
Right now, if you'd like to visit the Louvre and the Guggenheim in one day, you'd need to cross international borders. But with Abu Dhabi's long-awaited cultural district on Saadiyat Island nearing completion, by the end of the year, you'll be able to walk between them. The new cultural district will feature international outposts of the world-famous Louvre and Guggenheim museums, along with other institutions, including an immersive digital art space from teamLab and a natural history museum. 'Many places around the world have fantastic cultural institutions; many of them are much older than these. But I think the proximity of all of them is what makes this quite special,' says Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi. The project is piloting a network of 'cool paths,' which implement nature-based shading techniques, to allow visitors to navigate between the museums and cultural sites on foot, says Al Mubarak. The multi-billion-dollar, 2.43 square kilometer museum complex is one of the largest cultural investments of its kind in the world, and its design — by 'starchitects' like Jean Nouvel, Frank Gehry, and Norman Foster — is expected to be as much of an attraction as its artworks. Dr Peter Magee, director of the Zayed National Museum, currently under construction, describes the district as 'a constellation of stars' illuminating the region's history, culture, and art. The project broke ground in the mid-2000s and has not been without controversy. Human Rights Watch raised concerns about conditions for migrant workers, which were refuted by Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), which was overseeing the project. Others have questioned whether the Unites Arab Emirates' censorship laws are aligned with the values of the Louvre and Guggenheim. But Abu Dhabi will be hoping the complex, which will have more than 1.7 million square feet of space across its five main institutions, will become a world-renowned tourist destination in the same way as Hong Kong's 98-acre (40-hectare) West Kowloon Cultural District and Berlin's 21-acre (8.6-hectare) 'Museum Island.' As several of the museums prepare to open later this year, take a look at what to do in Saadiyat Cultural District. Abu Dhabi's science-focused museum explores the 13.8-billion-year story of our universe, complete with a research center. When it opens later this year, the 35,000-square-meter (377,000-square-foot) museum will be the largest of its kind in the region. Its star attraction is Stan, the world's most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, which was purchased for $31.8 million in 2020. The 67-million-year-old fossil will be on display alongside the Murchison meteorite, which crash-landed in Australia in the 1960s and contains organic compounds never identified on Earth, as well as 'pre-solar grains' formed before our own sun, and to date, the oldest material discovered on Earth. Named after the UAE's founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, this Foster + Partners-designed museum will showcase Emirati history and culture through six permanent indoor galleries. Opening late 2025, visitors can expect to journey through 300,000 years of local and regional history, including the evolution of the nation's unique desert landscape, the settlement of Bedouin ancestors, and the role of the UAE as a global trading hub. Opened in 2017, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is the first international outpost of the iconic French museum. Its 23 galleries showcase a range of works, from Ancient Egyptian sculptures to Italian Renaissance masterpieces to 20th-century abstract paintings. The collection includes a number of works of regional significance, too, including a 3,000-year-old Middle Eastern gold bracelet, and the oldest known photograph of a woman wearing a veil. The museum — designed by Pritzker Prize-winning French architect Jean Nouvel — has become an Abu Dhabi icon, with a domed roof and geometric patterns inspired by elements common in Islamic architecture. First opened in New York in 1959 in a groundbreaking building by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum now has outposts in Bilbao and Venice, and very soon, Abu Dhabi. The collection of contemporary art will be housed in an experimental building designed by American architect Frank Gehry, and construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Focused on work produced since the 1960s, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will particularly highlight West Asian, North African and South Asian art and commission original works for its expansive galleries. Prev Next Japanese art collective teamLab opened its first immersive digital art experience in the UAE earlier this year with teamLab Phenomena in Saadiyat Cultural District. Designed in collaboration with Abu Dhabi firm MZ Architects, the 17,000-square-meter (183,000-square-foot) cloud-like building is teamLab's largest location to date and features 25 installations that blend science, art, and technology. For example, 'Floating Microcosms,' an exhibit in the 'wet' area of the museum, features unanchored ovoid sculptures in ankle-deep water. As visitors wade through the water, the waves ripple out, toppling the sculptures and changing their sound and color, creating tactile, unique experiences. Prev Next Abrahamic Family House: Designed by Ghanaian British architect David Adjaye, this interfaith center features a mosque, church and synagogue on one site, as a symbol of peaceful coexistence and a celebration of diversity. Bassam Freiha Art Foundation: The only private art foundation in Saadityat Cultural District, this non-profit gallery offers free entry to view the artworks accrued by its founder, art patron Bassam Said Freiha, who has collected for the past 50 years. Dine at Mamsha Al Saadiyat: This beachfront pedestrian promenade is bursting with cafés and restaurants, including the Bib Gourmand awarded Beirut Sur Mer; Niri, a sushi and highball bar listed as one of the Middle East's 50 Best Restaurants; and Emirati coffee specialists Coffee Architecture. Soul Beach: Also known as Mamsha Beach, this stretch of powdery white sand and turquoise water is a favorite with locals and tourists alike. As with most beaches in the UAE, visitors have to pay for a day pass, starting from AED 125 ($34) for adults. Beach clubs: Just along the coast from Soul Beach, Saadiyat Beach is littered with beach clubs. The expansive Saadiyat Beach Club has day passes starting from AED 225 ($61), and the Rixos Hotel offers a luxurious all-inclusive day package (AED 695, $189). Kai Beach Club provides a more affordable option, starting from AED 150 ($41), while the Buddha-Bar Beach at The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort offers beach access in its classic weekend brunch. Manarat Al Saadiyat: A dynamic arts center hosting exhibitions, workshops and events, including film screenings, comedy nights, and the annual Abu Dhabi Art Fair. Berklee Abu Dhabi: In addition to its education programs, the first Middle East location for the Massachusetts-based institute of contemporary music, dance and theater also hosts public performances. The building, designed by Foster + Partners, initially served as the UAE's pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, and was relocated to the cultural district when the event concluded. Saadiyat Beach Golf Club: Designed by champion golfer Gary Player, this scenic beachfront course has views across the Arabian Gulf, incorporating saltwater lakes and beach dunes. Additional reporting by Kayla Smith, CNN.
Arabian Business
6 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
ALAIN launches first Vida-branded residences in Abu Dhabi
ALAIN, a leading Abu Dhabi-based asset management company, has launched the Vida Residences Saadiyat Island – the first Vida- branded residences in the capital. Vida Residences Saadiyat Island will have 121 contemporary and fully furnished one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences, which promise to stand out for its creative design and sophistication. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ALAIN (@ The development will feature creative communal spaces that foster community connection, along with several wellness and lifestyle amenities. Location is key, and the immediate proximity to Saadiyat's cultural landmarks means the residents will be able to enjoy world-class museums, beaches, dining, and leisure destinations. It is also close to Abu Dhabi International Airport. Rabih Elie Karam, Group CEO of ALAIN, commented: 'The launch of Vida Residences on Saadiyat Island is another step in ALAIN's commitment to shaping the future of living in Abu Dhabi. 'In partnership with Vida Hotels and Resorts, we are delivering a development that goes beyond traditional residential offerings, where cultural connection and lifestyle quality come together to create an exceptional living experience and enduring value for our city.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by ALAIN (@ Vida Hotels and Resorts is Emaar Hospitality Group's lifestyle brand and redefines modern hospitality by blending contemporary design, creativity, and meaningful connections. It is known for its design-led spaces that exude simplicity, sophistication, and functionality. Vida Residences offers upscale living experiences, combining the comforts of home with the amenities of a premium hotel. Nicolas Bellaton, Head of Emaar Hospitality Group, added: 'We are pleased to partner with ALAIN to bring Vida's vibrant hospitality lifestyle to Saadiyat Island. 'This launch is an exciting milestone for Vida as we expand our footprint in Abu Dhabi, offering residents a living experience that blends design, energy, and culture in a way only Vida can.'
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
First Vida-branded residences to come up in Abu Dhabi
In a landmark move set to reshape lifestyle-led real estate in the capital, Alain, a leading Abu Dhabi-based asset management company, has joined hands with Vida Hotels & Resorts, a vibrant lifestyle brand by Emaar Hospitality Group, to launch the first Vida-branded residences in Abu Dhabi. The new project, Vida Residences Saadiyat Island, introduces a contemporary, fully furnished living concept with 121 one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences, where creative design meets effortless sophistication, it stated. Saadiyat Island, home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Guggenheim and Zayed National Museum, is the cultural soul of the UAE, where soft sandy shores meet world-renowned museums and galleries. Just minutes from the city centre yet surrounded by calm, it offers residents an unmatched blend of cultural vibrancy, architectural excellence, and beachside tranquillity, making it a new lifestyle address in Abu Dhabi's cultural capital. In this exceptional location, Vida Residences Saadiyat Island brings a fresh, vibrant energy to the capital, said the Emirati asset manager in a statement. Vida's signature approach to community living ensures that each residence is not just a home but part of a curated lifestyle designed for thinkers, dreamers, and modern explorers seeking a dynamic connection with Abu Dhabi's thriving cultural and social scene, it added. Alain Group CEO Rabih Elie Karam said the launch of Vida Residences on Saadiyat Island is another step in its commitment to shaping the future of living in Abu Dhabi. "In partnership with Vida Hotels & Resorts, we are delivering a development that goes beyond traditional residential offerings, where cultural connection, and lifestyle quality come together to create an exceptional living experience and enduring value for our city," he noted. Nicolas Bellaton, Head of Emaar Hospitality Group, said: "We are pleased to partner with Alain to bring Vida's vibrant hospitality lifestyle to Saadiyat Island. This launch is an exciting milestone for Vida as we expand our footprint in Abu Dhabi, offering residents a living experience that blends design, energy, and culture in a way only Vida can. We look forward to seeing this development become a sought-after landmark in Abu Dhabi." Karam said this launch underscores Alain's commitment to shaping a portfolio that seamlessly blends lifestyle aspirations with long-term investment value, reflecting its vision for the future of urban living in the UAE. It is a testament to our dedication to creating thoughtfully designed developments that go beyond providing homes, by fostering vibrant, connected communities that inspire and enrich daily life. "Through projects like Vida Residences Saadiyat Island, we aim to contribute to the cultural and economic fabric of Abu Dhabi, delivering spaces that elevate the way people live while generating enduring value for our residents, partners, and the wider community," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
