Saadiyat Island (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)

Abu Dhabi has become one of THE destinations of the 21st century and among its key facets is Saadiyat Island, a 27 square mile estate that will be home to almost 150,000 people. Located just 500 meters from the coast and connected to the mainland by three bridges, the island boasts twelve kilometers of highways, a light rail network, pristine beaches, and unparalleled architecture.

Saadiyat is a place to work, rest and play in a cultural environment that stands out from any other. It can be a business hub, a vacation spot, or just a nature lover’s paradise with all kinds of birds, fish, and animals. It is only a five-minute drive from downtown Abu Dhabi and about twenty minutes from the international airport, making it a very accessible resort.

Culturally, this island is a melting pot of local cuisine and culture mixed with many international flavors and can offer a wide variety of attractions to suit almost every need. It has art venues galore with local museums reminiscent of the Guggenheim and the Louvre, but designed with a local flair to blend naturally into the landscape. For sports enthusiasts there are golf courses designed and built by Gary Player, sailing and diving in the ocean and swimming with dolphins.

Home to no fewer than half a dozen world-class resort hotels and enough restaurants to sate even the heartiest of appetites. Add to that the prospect of an international performing arts center where music, theater and dance from around the world can be sampled and the visitor will be spoiled for choice.

The Abu Dhabi Tourism Development and Investment Company, TDIC for short, has plans to develop Saadiyat Island into seven discrete but supportive zones, each offering a facet of life in this vibrant and bustling resort;

• The Saadiyat Cultural District is home to museums, art galleries and the Performing Arts Center, all aiming to showcase the best of modern and traditional art and culture.

• Saadiyat Beach with nine kilometers of totally natural sandy beach, a championship golf course, nine five-star hotels and a variety of private and public beach clubs.

• The Marina with its own beachfront hotel and restaurant area, a business district and residential apartments plus a superbly equipped marina for those who prefer to arrive afloat.

• An outstanding nature preserve that includes a championship-class tidal golf course and residential space.

• The seafront is developed around family-style hotels, resort cafes and restaurants.

• Lagoons offering an ‘opportunity to live in low-rise luxury apartments in the midst of a tidal lagoon system offering a back-to-nature setting.

• Finally; the Saadiyat Retreat which offers the visitor a “get away” solution to relax in exclusive accommodation and a variety of boutique hotels.

Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Island can offer the discerning traveler much more than a resort: it represents a jewel with many facets, a place to remember and stay.