About Saadiyat Island

Saadiyat Island (meaning “Island of Happiness”) is a large, low lying island 500 meters off the coast of Abu Dhabi island to be developed.

A Dhs.100 billion (US$ 27 billion) mixed commercial, residential, and leisure project is currently under construction on the island, expected to be completed in 2018. According to government officials, Saadiyat Island is expected to become Abu Dhabi’s cultural center.

Saadiyat Island is being developed by the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), an independent public joint stock company of which Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority is the sole shareholder.
The Saadiyat Island development has been described as an intention to create an “up-scale cultural district to enrich Abu Dhabi”.

Many cultural projects have already been announced including the development of a Guggenheim Museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art. The Frank Gehry-designed building is due for completion in 2014 and will be the largest Guggenheim Museum at 30,000 square metres (320,000 ft²), [1]with an estimated cost of $400 million. A Louvre museum will also be completed in 2012.

Saadiyat Island will eventually house around 150,000 residents and will be connected to Abu Dhabi via two ten-lane causeways.

Plans to build a world-class performing arts center and a concert hall designed by Zaha Hadid are underway.
New York University is opening a campus on the island, expected to open by 2010. A Gary Player designed 18 hole championship golf course and golf academy along the beach