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Time seemingly stood still for much of the world at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
But in the UAE, the landscape continued to evolve with new developments coming to fruition.
Under-construction skyscrapers have grown taller, plots of land have been cleared, and fresh projects have been announced by the government.
This year is very much shaping up to be another filled with mega-project progress – and not just in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but the Northern Emirates as well.
See our list below and slideshow above of what's in the pipeline, and note that original completion dates may have been subject to change:
Reem Mall
Abu Dhabi’s ever-evolving Reem Island has one particular project that has been developed on a large scale – and that is Reem Mall.
The island already boasts Boutik Mall, but this will be on another level and will mean residents won’t necessarily need to island-hop over to Al Maryah, which is home to the well-stocked Galleria Mall.
Reem Mall will have more than 450 stores, a hypermarket, two food courts and a multiplex cinema, plus Snow Abu Dhabi which is set to be about four times the size of Ski Dubai.
Royal Atlantis Resort
Why have one Atlantis on Palm Jumeirah when you can have two? This one doesn’t have the iconic arch of the long-time hotel at the tip of the island, but is does, according to its website, have “a playful contrast between fire and water”. The architecture is typically eye-catching.
The right wing of the Royal Atlantis will house 231 residences, while the left will be made up of 795 guest suites. The two are linked by an infinity swimming pool that is 90 metres above the ground.
Ain Dubai
Dubai doesn’t do things on a small scale – just look at Ain Dubai, the world’s tallest observation wheel. It was set to open in time for Expo 2020 in October but on the last update in August was already said to be “shaping up well” having had its first capsule on the wheel installed.
The attraction on Bluewaters Island will stand at a height of 250m and have 48 capsules.
Midfield Terminal
It may not be welcoming passengers yet, but the hulking Midfield Terminal is very much part of the Abu Dhabi landscape as you reach the outskirts of the city.
It will be able to process 8,500 travellers per hour once open and spans and spans 742,000 square metres. No opening date has been confirmed yet.
Museum of the Future
The eye-catching structure on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road has already provided some fantastic Instagram snaps as it nears completion.
The building's exterior is made up of 1,024 pieces that were manufactured by automated robotic arms and installed over the course of 18 months.
The Dh500 million museum's outer shell extends over more than 17,000 square metres and is covered in Arabic calligraphy illuminated by solar-powered LED bulbs at night.
It combines elements of exhibition, immersive theatre and themed attraction.
The Sustainability Pavilion at Expo 2020 site. Dany Eid / Expo 2020
Expo 2020 site
The show will go on. Dubai’s Expo may have been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but it’s full steam ahead for 2021.
Years in the making, almost 230,000 workers have worked tirelessly on the site which is set to welcome millions of people from 190 nations in October.
There are 192 country pavilions on the 438-hectare site, with some of them requiring up to 200 staff each.
One of the main attractions will be Al Wasl Plaza – a dome filled with fountains, waterfalls, parks and palm-lined courtyards.
Meydan One Mall
Malls are not just about shops and restaurants these days, they are more a living, breathing experience. This one, located between the existing Meydan racecourse site and Al Khail Road, is certainly slated to have a little bit extra – including a 1km-long indoor ski slope and winter village, plus a 400-metre Central Canyon and football and cricket facilities.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held in March 2017.
Al Qana
Abu Dhabi's new waterfront entertainment complex is slated to open after Ramadan. The 2.6km canal-side development features an aquarium, e-sports academy and adventure activities.
The centrepiece aquarium will be home to more than 300 species and 46,000 creatures.
The Fairmont Marina Residences construction site seen from the observation tower at Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National
Fairmont Marina Abu Dhabi
Architecturally very similar to Dubai’s Atlantis The Palm, this Accor hotel now dominates Abu Dhabi’s Corniche skyline.
Initially anticipated to open in March 2020, the 39-storey building will offer a private beach, five swimming pools and watersports facilities. There will be 563 guest rooms, with King, Twin, Deluxe, Gold and Signature categories.
Jubail Island
A haven of tranquillity, Jubail sits between Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island and Yas Island and is set to become an upmarket residential community.
The 45 million-square-metre island already contains a large mangrove park and the developer is planning to add restaurants, a beach club, a business centre, sports facilities, schools, clinics, nurseries and a community centre.
Homes for more than 5,000 residents are set to be built. A contract to build the first 300 villas was awarded to Arabian Construction Company in April 2021 and 60 per cent of the site's infrastructure was said to be already complete. The first villas will be ready by the fourth quarter of 2023.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
Construction on the tourist attraction has been gathering pace on Yas Island. It was said to be 40 per cent complete in October 2020, with work set to be finished by the end of 2022.
The 183,000-square-metre venue will boast purpose-built habitats and ecosystems housing a variety of species. It will be home to the UAE's first dedicated marine research, rescue, rehabilitation and return centre.
One Zaabeel
This pair of towers is located next to Dubai’s Trade Centre and connected by a 7,700-tonne bridge.
Once completed, the buildings will feature luxury residences, a hotel, offices and retail spaces.
Tower A is 304 metres high and topped out in April 2021, while the 241m Tower B was topped out earlier.
Yas Bay master plan. Courtesy Miral
Yas Bay
Parts of this project on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, such as the Etihad Arena and Hilton hotel, are already open to the public.
But there’s plenty more to come.
There will be 15,000 residences and the new headquarters of TwoFour54, the media free zone that operates from Khalifa Park, which is expected to be ready this year.
Ciel Dubai
The city already has the world’s tallest hotel – the 356m Gevora Hotel. However, there’s set to be a new record holder, and once again it’s going to be in Dubai.
Construction of Ciel tower in Dubai Marina is under way and it will eventually reach 360m according to developer The First Group
It will have 1,209 luxury hotel suites and serviced residences spread over 82 levels, plus a glass observation deck with 360-degree views.
Dubai CommerCity
The first phase of the Dh3.2 billion e-commerce free zone has just been launched.
It is being built at the project in the Umm Ramool area of the city, close to Dubai International Airport.
The first phase will have a 'business cluster' with more than 95,000 sqm of offices and 50,000 sqm of logistics units and "multi-client warehouses".
Screen grab of BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi from March, 2021.
Abu Dhabi Hindu temple
Construction is well under way at the Abu Mureikha site, with the foundations expected to be completed in April 2021 and the outer structure to start taking shape in the following months.
The UAE’s first Hindu temple, it will be the largest centre in the country for people of all faiths to learn about Indian culture and the Hindu religion when it opens in 2023.
It will feature an amphitheatre, prayer halls, library, community centre, play area for children, parks, visitor centre and food court.
Abrahamic Family House
Designed by the renowned British architect Sir David Adjaye, it will be a place for religious tolerance and education, bringing faiths together with a mosque, a church and a synagogue on the same site on Saadiyat Island.
The vision for the Abarahamic Family House originated after the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam Ahmed Al Tayeb in February 2019.
The project’s anticipated completion date is in 2022.
Kalba regeneration
Sharjah’s east coast exclave is the focus of a major revamp, which will see the restoration of one of the emirate’s most historic houses, construction of a clock tower roundabout and the opening of a revamped Corniche.
Then there’s the Kalba Heritage Museum project – a sail-shaped museum will be built on the seashore.
The projects are expected to provide a big boost to tourism in the area.
The Dibba Fujairah Sports Club Stadium project in Al Ras, Dibba Fujairah.
Dibba Fujairah Sports Club Stadium
There’s a new sports stadium taking shape in the UAE.
The stadium in Dibba, Fujairah will be able to host up to 10,000 fans and cost an estimated Dh100 million.
It meets the requirements of the UAE Pro League and the Asian Football Confederation to host regional championships.
Etihad Rail
The development of the railway service has been under way in the UAE for some time with the goal of connecting the country with the rest of the GCC.
Stage one is complete and operating along a 264km route from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais, transporting sulphur.
In January, it was announced that tracks were being laid for the 139-kilometre stretch connecting Ruwais with Ghuweifat on the UAE border with Saudi Arabia.
It will eventually stretch for about 1,000km from Ghuweifat to Fujairah on the UAE’s east coast.
Freight is the focus but its mandate included a potential passenger element.
Source: The National News Back to industry updates