Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Abu Dhabi - Growth of a capital city

Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates is made up of more than 200 islands and with such an influx of industry in recent years, the city is reviewing its transport and infrastructure to compete with some of the world’s biggest cities.

Starting with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, this young airline is growing quickly, with many routes and awards to match, it’s easy to see why so many people rate it well in the Etihad reviews that you find online. The Abu Dhabi International Airport is increasing size too, particularly with the addition of a new Midfield Terminal Complex due to open mid 2017 at a cost of over £1.8 billion.

The 700,000sqm building will initially handle 27-30 million passengers a year and the central space will be 52 metres tall and be able to fit three full-sized football pitches. Set around an 8,400sqm indoor park, will be a host of retail and food outlets, about the same size as the Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi.


Designed to minimise its impact on the environment, the new terminal complex will include water conservation, efficient air conditioning and an angled glass exterior to stop heat from entering the terminal. Working closely together with Masdar, the zero-carbon city set to be completed in 2025, the Abu Dhabi Airports Company is keen to reduce its carbon emissions too.

As part of the city’s 2030 vision, areas of the city, including Al Raha Beach, Capital District and Masdar, will have excellent transportation connections, community areas and affordable housing for residents of Abu Dhabi, allowing for growth in the capital. Other transport structures planned for the city include a tram and train network that will connect to Dubai and other areas of the UAE.

As a city made up of islands, a number of areas will also have access to watertaxis allowing both residents and tourists relaxed and quick routes to their destinations. Reviews of the various areas of Abu Dhabi to visit, as well as Etihad reviews can be found online together with more information about the on-going projects in Abu Dhabi.