Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island showcases major tourism developments at ITB Berlin

Source:  www.ameinfo.com

Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the master developer of major cultural, residential and tourism destinations in Abu Dhabi, has this week showcased its flagship development, Saadiyat Island, to the global travel industry at ITB in Berlin, Europe’s leading international travel trade show, as the island marks the significant achievements of the past year and reveals its forthcoming tourism milestones.

“Saadiyat Island is set to be the ultimate in global tourism destinations, bringing together a world-class combination of arts and culture, luxury beach-front resorts, signature sports facilities, an 83-berth marina and a true taste of life in the UAE. ITB Berlin annually attracts over 180,000 visitors and the opportunity to talk about our achievements and our future plans for Saadiyat Island on an international stage, such as ITB, is a key part of driving forward Abu Dhabi’s vision to become a global capital city,”

said Lee Tabler, TDIC’s Chief Executive Officer.

The island will offer visitors a variety of five-star luxury brand resorts, including St. Regis Hotel & Residences, Mandarin Oriental, Rotana Resort, Park Hyatt Resort and Shangri-La Hotel.

Louvre museum

TDIC also announced plans to build Saadiyat Beach Club, an exclusive beach club for hotel guests and residents on the island. Aimed at attracting tourists and visitors to a place where guests from all walks of life can enjoy themselves, Saadiyat Beach Club will offer its members access to top facilities and the region’s most exclusive brand communities.

Central to Saadiyat Island’s sporting facilities is the recently launched Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, which opened in January 2010 to coincide with the inaugural Saadiyat Beach Classic Charity tournament, hosted by golfing legend and designer of the course Gary Player. The centerpiece of the club will be an 18,000sqm clubhouse, designed by world renowned architect Frank Gehry, which will boast unique design statements to create an instantly recognisable international landmark.

For those visitors looking to experience the world’s largest concentration of premier cultural institutions, TDIC also showcased the state-of-the-art Manarat Al Saadiyat visitor’s centre, housed in the Cultural District of Saadiyat Island, which will welcome visitors from the end of March 2010. Manarat Al Saadiyat will be home to The Saadiyat Story, an interactive narrative on the historical and cultural vision behind the island, as well as the contemporary and universal art galleries showcasing exhibitions relating to the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Louvre Abu Dhabi in anticipation of these famed museums, to be launched in 2013.