The Louvre Abu Dhabi

INTRODUCTION

Dubai is located on the Eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, in the south west corner of the Arabian Gulf. It is extremely well known for its warm hospitality and rich cultural heritage, and the Emirati people are welcoming and generous in their approach to visitors. With year-round sunshine, intriguing deserts, beautiful beaches, luxurious hotels and shopping malls, fascinating heritage attractions and a thriving business community, Dubai receives millions of leisure and business visitors each year from around the world.

The local currency is the dirham, which is pegged at AED 3.67 to 1 US dollar. Dubai is tolerant and cosmopolitan and all visitors are welcome. However, Islam is a way of life in the city, and therefore tourists should adopt a certain level of cultural and religious sensitivity for the duration of their stay.

Dubai Rulers : Since 1833 the reigning Al Maktoum family have ruled Dubai. Under their wise and progressive leadership Dubai has prospered and it is now the business and tourism hub for a region. .

Dubai History: Some 800 members of the BaniYas tribe, led by the Maktoum Family, settled at the mouth of the creek in 1833. The creek was a natural harbor and Dubai soon became a centre for the fishing, pearling and sea trade.

Dubai Economy: The past few decades have witnessed incredible growth throughout all sectors of the Dubai economy. The emirate’s government is constantly working to improve its commercial transparency and introduce dynamic regulations that aid the formation of small and medium enterprises. Dubai’s economy is no longer reliant on oil, but is more diversified, relying heavily on trade, services and finance sectors. With its central geographic location between Asian and European markets, Dubai has worked hard to establish itself as an integral part of the global trade mechanism. Its central location has also allowed Dubai to become a popular and accessible tourist destination.

Attractions: Although Dubai is seen as a relatively young destination, it has a fascinating history and a vibrant heritage that offers visitors an intriguing glimpse into Arabian culture. A good place to start exploring the history and heritage of Dubai is the Dubai Museum: it is located inside Al Fahidi Fort, one of Dubai’s oldest buildings dating back to 1787. There are other museums in Dubai and in surrounding emirates that also offer important insights into the history and growth of the city and of the United Arab Emirates.

ABOUT UAE

The United Arab Emirates consists of seven Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm al-Qaiwain, Fujairah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah. Four-fifths of the UAE is desert but has contrasting landscapes—from the towering red dunes of the Liwa to the rich palm-filled Oasis of Al Ain, from the precipitous Hajar Mountains to the more fertile stretches of its coastal plains.

Though small in size (similar to the size of Scotland), the UAE has become an important player in regional and international affairs. In 1971, the late President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan unified the small, underdeveloped states into a federation—the only one in the Arab world. With his visionary leadership, oil wealth was used to develop the UAE into one of the world’s most open and successful economies.

UAE is one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf, with other cultures and beliefs generally tolerated. Politically it remains authoritarian, however. Relations with neighbouring Iran have been tense because of an ongoing territorial dispute over Gulf islands. The UAE was one of only three countries to recognise Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

Before oil was discovered in the 1950s the UAE's economy was dependent on fishing and a declining pearl industry. But since oil exports began in 1962, the country's society and economy have been transformed.

The UAE has diversified and has become a regional trading and tourism hub. UAE firms have

EXPO 2020

World Expo 2020 will be held in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, between 20 October 2020 and 10 April 2021. The Expo site, which will cover a total of 438 hectares, is located in the Dubai South district, near the Al Maktoum International Airport. BIE Member States elected the UAE as the host of Expo 2020 during the General Assembly of 27 November 2013, and Expo 2020 Dubai was formally registered at the General Assembly of 25 November 2015.Expo 2020 Dubai is being organised under the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, with this being expressed into three subthemes: Mobility, Sustainability, and Opportunity.

What can visitors expect? Al Wasl Plaza will be the heart of Expo 2020. It is said to bring together a physical manifestation of the main theme of the Expo, which is "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future." Significant events such as the opening and closing ceremonies will be held here.

The public were given their first look in April 2017 at how Al Wasl Plaza is expected to shape up. A dome is set to double up as a 360-degree screen at night, projecting images to thousands of visitors both inside and outside.

THE LOUVRE ABU DHABI Wishing to make their country a top cultural destination, internationally recognized for art, education, and culture, the leaders of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi launched the development of this major, universal art museum, which opened its doors on November 11, 2017. By developing tourism, education, and services, they aim to prepare for the post-oil age. Abu Dhabi called on French expertise to help them successfully bring the Arab world’s first universal museum to life.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is the result of an unprecedented initiative that laid the groundwork for a new type of cultural collaboration of unparalleled scope between two countries, centered on the creation of a national institution. Born out of an intergovernmental agreement signed on March 6, 2007, between the United Arab Emirates and France, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is the first universal museum in the Arab world. The museum brings the Louvre name to Abu Dhabi and presents both ancient and contemporary works of historic, cultural, and sociological interest from around the world.

WARNER BROS WORLD

The world’s biggest indoor theme park — Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi — is set to open its doors to the public on Wednesday, with famous characters such as Batman, Bugs Bunny and the Flintstones among many others coming to life under one roof. Located on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, the $1-billion theme park is the first Warner Bros-branded indoor theme park in the world and spans 1.65 million square feet. The park will feature 18 different rides, 17 restaurants and 15 unique retail shops. The theme park will also have daily live entertainment shows and several family-friendly interactive areas ensuring that visitors get an all-around experience once they visit. “It is with great pride that we open Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi on Yas Island today. This is a milestone moment for us as we continue to cement Abu Dhabi’s positioning as one of the world’s leading family and tourism destinations. I am confident that the addition of this theme park to our already rich portfolio will further enhance Yas Island’s offering,” said Mohammad Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Miral, the company behind the development of Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi

Six zones

The theme park is split into six different areas with each having its own unique theme and story. They include Batman’s Gotham City and Metropolis from Superman, giving visitors the chance to experience what it really feels like to step into these fictional cities they have seen on their television screens and the comic books they have read. The other four zones are Cartoon Junction (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tom and Jerry), Bedrock (The Flintstones), Dynamite Gulch (Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner) and the Warner Bros Plaza. Each zone will also contain its own set of rides, dining options and retail shops to visit.

The design was selected as the winner of the 2009 ThyssenKrupp Elevator International Award from 926 proposals. Participants from all over the world were invited to submit an emblem that would promote “the new face for Dubai". It is near the Star Gate of Zabeel Park and stands at 150 m (492 ft) [8] and 105 m wide. the ThyssenKrupp Elevator Architecture Award is an international architecture competition first held in 1988 and sponsored by one of the world's leading elevator companies.

An international panel of judges selected the winning idea from among 926 design proposals to create a Tall Emblem Structure for Dubai. The original jury consisted of 11 international architects — a former and current chairman of the International Union of Architects (UIA) and the regional chairman of ThyssenKrupp Elevator. Dubai Municipality’s director general and H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum were listed as ‘honorary’ jurors.Donis' design was ultimately selected, for which he won an AED 367329.70 ($100,000) prize. According to Donis, when designing the structure he saw Dubai as a city full of emblems and rather than adding another one, they proposed to frame them all: to frame the city. To become the structure that celebrates yet constrains the city

SHARJAH

Sharjah is a United Arab Emirates city on the Arabian Gulf. Traditionally more conservative than its southern neighbor, Dubai, Sharjah is widely considered the nation’s cultural capital. Its Heritage Area is on the creek that the city first developed around, with restored homes and museums devoted to Emirati customs. It's also home to Sharjah Fort, a 19th-century royal residence turned local history museum.

RAS AL KHAIMAH

Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost emirate of the United Arab Emirates. It's known for its Arabian Gulf beaches. In the capital city of the same name, the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah occupies a centuries-old fort. The museum features regional history and archaeological exhibits. Nearby is the large, traditional Mohammed bin Salem Mosque. Northeast, the mountaintop Dhayah Fort dates from the 19th century.

FUJAIRAH

Fujairah is an emirate on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates, lying along the Gulf of Oman. It's known for its beaches and the Hajar Mountains, which run through much of the emirate. In the south, the city of Fujairah is home to the massive Sheikh Zayed Mosque, with its towering white minarets. Overlooking the city is Fujairah Fort, a reconstructed 17th- century fortress featuring round and square towers.

UMM AL QUWAIN

Umm al-Quwain is one of the United Arab Emirates. Umm al-Quwain city lies on the Arabian Gulf. On a peninsula, the old town area features the UAQ National Museum, in a centuries-old fort. Nearby, Al Sinniyah Island sits in a protected lagoon and is a haven for seabirds. Dreamland Aqua Park offers waterslides and pools. Inland, a camel racetrack is just outside the village of Falaj Al Moalla.

AJMAN

The foundation of Ajman under Nuaimi rule took place in 1816, when Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi and fifty of his followers took the coastal settlement of Ajman from members of the Al Bu Shamis tribe in a short conflict.[1] It wasn't until 1816 or 1817, however, that the Ajman fort finally fell to Rashid's followers and his rule was endorsed by the powerful Sheikh of neighbouring Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi

Global Island Travel & Tourism P. O. Box : 46782, Al Musalla Road, Burdubai, Dubai T : 04 352 7837 E : [email protected] www.globalisland.ae

[email protected] Global Island Travel & Tourism www.globalisland.ae