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90-636: The museum is part of a larger complex of arts and cultural institutions on Saadiyat Island intended to appeal to international tourists. The museum's collection is expected to focus on modern and contemporary art from West Asia, North Africa and South Asia. On July 8, 2006, the city of Abu Dhabi , capital of the United Arab Emirates , announced it had signed an agreement with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in New York City to build

180-519: A mosque and a church , the full construction of which was announced to be completed by 2022. On 22 September 2019, the Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi held a ceremony to grant licenses to 17 churches and the first-ever traditional Hindu temple . The listed churches were Catholic , Orthodox and Protestant churches, including St Joseph's Cathedral . The initiative

270-704: A trillion US dollars worth of assets under management in a combination of various sovereign wealth funds headquartered there. Abu Dhabi houses local and federal government offices and is the home of the United Arab Emirates Government and the Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs . The city is home to the UAE's President , a member of the Al Nahyan family . Abu Dhabi's rapid development and urbanisation , coupled with

360-457: A 30,000-square-metre (320,000 sq ft) Guggenheim Museum on Saadiyat Island . The Guggenheim stated in 2008 that "Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development & Investment Company ... will own the museum", while "[t]he Guggenheim Foundation will establish and manage" its program. William Mack, Chair of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation , said: "It is with a keen sense of historical precedent and with an abiding commitment to cultural exchange as

450-422: A boycott of the new Guggenheim museum (as well as Louvre Abu Dhabi ), citing reports, since 2009, of abuses of foreign construction workers on Saadiyat Island, including the arbitrary withholding of wages, unsafe working conditions, and failure of companies to pay or reimburse the steep recruitment fees being charged to laborers. According to Architectural Record , Abu Dhabi has comprehensive labor laws to protect

540-611: A bridge to international understanding that the foundation enters into this agreement to establish a Guggenheim museum in Abu Dhabi." Abu Dhabi's then crown prince , later president of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan , indicated that the "signing represents the determination of the Abu Dhabi Government to create a world-class cultural destination for its residents and visitors. The museum

630-554: A center of learning and discovery through its education and visitor programs. In July 2019, the Grand Mosque was listed among the top global attractions by TripAdvisor . As a part of its Travelers Choice Awards, the travel website placed the architectural masterpiece on number three out of the 750 landmarks considered from 68 countries. In May 2021, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center attended

720-463: A conservation laboratory, a center for contemporary Arab, Islamic and Middle Eastern culture, and a center for "art and technology". Inspired by traditional middle-eastern covered courtyards and wind towers, used to cool structures exposed to the desert sun, the museum's clusters of horizontal and vertical galleries of various sizes are connected by catwalks and planned around a central, covered courtyard, incorporating natural features intended to maximize

810-581: A decree by Sheikh Khalifa in March 2017, is Al Ain City, and that of the western region, officially "Al Dhafra Region" as per the same decree, is Madinat Zayed . The Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi officially leads both the city and greater emirate with agencies operating out of Abu Dhabi with branches in other cities, the Abu Dhabi Government has various agencies and organisations operating across

900-545: A drive to promote tourism and real estate with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and the Tourism and Development Investment Company undertaking several large-scale development projects. These will be served by improved transport infrastructure, with a new port, an expanded airport and a proposed rail link between Abu Dhabi and Dubai all in the development stages. Abu Dhabi's Emirate is the wealthiest of

990-466: A key fixture of the city's architectural patrimony. Its construction was initiated under the administration of the late President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a key figure in the foundation of the modern United Arab Emirates. The mosque was constructed with materials from countries around the world, including Italy , Germany , Morocco , Pakistan , India , Turkey , Iran , China ,

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1080-435: A leather nose clip and leather coverings on their fingers and big toes to protect them while they searched for oysters. The divers were not paid for a day's work but received a portion of the season's earnings. There are three main journey of pear divers happen between the 5th and 9th month each year. Summer was the busiest time. Pearl divers made very deep dives, about 50 dives were made a day, each about 3 minutes long. In

1170-470: A majlis session during which important matters can be brought to the attention of a Sheikh. After the Great Hall, it is the largest space in the UAE's Presidential Palace which holds up to 300 guests. In September 2019, the construction of UAE's first official synagogue was announced to begin in 2020, as a part of the multi-faith "Abrahamic Family House" complex in Abu Dhabi. It will also give space to

1260-612: A model for doing things right." Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates . The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District , the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi , and the UAE's second-most populous city , after Dubai . The city is situated on a T-shaped island, extending into the Gulf from the central-western coast of the UAE. Abu Dhabi

1350-469: A modern city with tall offices, apartment buildings, broad boulevards, and busy shops is present. Principal thoroughfares are the Corniche, Airport Road, Sheikh Zayed Street, Hamdan Street, and Khalifa Street. Abu Dhabi is known in the region for its greenery; the former desert strip today includes numerous parks and gardens. The design of the inner city roads and main roads are quite organised. Starting from

1440-466: A notable history that achieved several centuries. Over the 19th and early 20th centuries Al Nahyan family became the ruling family of Abu Dhabi and played a central role in the governance and development of the emirate. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has played a vital role in transforming the emirate of Abu Dhabi into a hub for culture and creative pursuits in the Arab world. The pearl diving business

1530-532: A performing arts centre designed by Zaha Hadid ; a New York University campus , a maritime museum with concept design by Tadao Ando and a number of arts pavilions. The Guggenheim museum's design is by architect Frank Gehry . The lighting was designed by L'Observatoire International . Flanked on three sides by the Persian Gulf , the site also acts as a manmade breakwater that protects the island’s northern beaches. Gehry noted, "The site itself, virtually on

1620-575: A popular destination. The Etihad Towers and Emirates Palace Hotel were some of the city's landmarks used as filming locations for the movie Furious 7 , in which cars rush through the building and smashed through the windows of the towers. In 2018, Abu Dhabi launched Ghadan 21, a string of initiatives to diversify the economy. The total injection is AED 50 billion. There are four main areas these initiatives must fall under business and investment, society, knowledge and innovation and lifestyle. The first phase includes over 50 initiatives that reflect

1710-510: A population of 40,000. The density of Abu Dhabi varies, with high employment density in the central area, high residential densities in central downtown and lower densities in the suburban districts. In the dense areas, most of the concentration is achieved with medium- and high-rise buildings. Abu Dhabi's skyscrapers such as the notable Burj Mohammed bin Rashid (World Trade Center Abu Dhabi) , Etihad Towers , Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Tower ,

1800-557: Is "a moral responsibility." He encouraged the TDIC to build additional worker housing and proposed that the contractor cover the cost of the recruitment fees. In 2012, TDIC engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers as an independent monitor required to issue reports every quarter. Labor lawyer Scott Horton told Architectural Record that he hoped the Guggenheim project will influence the treatment of workers on other Saadiyat sites and will "serve as

1890-551: Is a signatory to an International Framework Agreement on fair labour standards with the Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI), a global union federation , and its European Works Council (EWC). BESIX's commitment to international trade union associations follows regular criticism of construction companies and the working conditions of migrant workers in the Middle East. The agreements signed with BWI are based on

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1980-422: Is also connected to Saadiyat Island by a five-lane motorway bridge. Al-Mafraq bridge connects the city to Reem Island and was completed in early 2011. This is a multi-layer interchange bridge and it has 27 lanes which allow roughly 25,000 automobiles to move per hour. There are three major bridges in the project, the largest has eight lanes, four leaving Abu Dhabi city and four coming in. Most of Abu Dhabi city

2070-453: Is extensive, and both GSM and CDMA (from Etisalat and Du) services are available. Etisalat , the government-owned telecommunications provider, held a virtual monopoly over telecommunication services in Abu Dhabi prior to the establishment of other, smaller telecommunications companies such as Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC – better known as Du ) in 2006. The Internet was introduced into Abu Dhabi in 1995. The current network

2160-587: Is far too dry to be classed as tropical. For its geography, Abu Dhabi has been twinned with: Abu Dhabi City is the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi , and the local government of Abu Dhabi is directly led by the Ruler of Abu Dhabi . Abu Dhabi is the largest and wealthiest of the seven emirates, and it plays a crucial role in the UAE's governance and economy. The Ruler has the executive authority to issue local laws, create or merge government departments, and appoint heads of departments. The Ruler of Abu Dhabi appoints

2250-525: Is from November to March, which ranges between moderately hot to mild. This period also sees dense fog on some days and a few days of rain. On average, January is the coolest month of the year, while August is the hottest. Since the Tropic of Cancer passes through the emirate, the southern part falls within the Tropics . However, despite the coolest month having an 18.8 °C (65.8 °F) average, its climate

2340-460: Is large enough to safely contain a maximum of approximately 41,000 people. The overall structure is 22,412 square metres (241,240 square feet ). The internal prayer halls were initially opened in December 2007. As one of the most visited buildings in the UAE, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center was established to manage the day-to-day operations, as a place of worship and Friday gathering and as

2430-536: Is located on an island in the Persian Gulf , off the Central West Coast. Most of the city and the Emirate reside on the mainland connected to the rest of the country. As of 2023 , Abu Dhabi's urban area had an estimated population of 2.5 million, out of 3.8 million in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is headquartered in the city, and was the world's 3rd largest sovereign wealth fund in 2022. Abu Dhabi itself has over

2520-408: Is located on the island itself, but it has many suburban districts on the mainland, for example, Khalifa City A, B, and C; Khalifa City Al Raha Beach; Al Bahia City A, B, and C; Al Shahama; Al Rahba; Between Two Bridges; Baniyas; Shamkha; Al Wathba and Mussafah Residential. Gulf waters of Abu Dhabi holds the world's largest population of Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins . To the east of the island

2610-478: Is looking to expand its maximum production capacity from approximately 4 million BPD to 5 million BPD by 2030. In recent years, the focus has turned to gas as increasing domestic consumption for power, desalination and reinjection of gas into oil fields increases demand. Gas extraction is not without its difficulties, however, as demonstrated by the sour gas project at Shah where the gas is rich in hydrogen sulfide content and expensive to develop and process. In 2009,

2700-718: Is looking to expand revenue from oil and gas production to tourism and other things that would attract different types of people. This goal is seen in the amount of attention Abu Dhabi is giving its International Airport. The airport experienced a 30%+ growth in passenger usage in 2009. This idea of diversifying the economy is also seen in the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 planned by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council. In this plan, Abu Dhabi's economy will be sustainable and not dependent on any single source of revenue. More specifically

2790-538: Is one of the world's most important emerging regions in terms of contemporary culture." The facilities at the island include the Louvre Abu Dhabi art museum designed by Jean Nouvel , which opened in 2017. Additional planned facilities include the Zayed National Museum , designed by United Kingdom -based construction company Foster and Partners under the direction of Lord Norman Foster ;

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi - Misplaced Pages Continue

2880-555: Is planned to be located on Saadiyat Island , just offshore of the city of Abu Dhabi . The island's cultural district is planned to house the largest cluster of world-class cultural assets in Abu Dhabi. The Guggenheim building is part of a massive project to "create an exhibition space intended to turn this once-sleepy desert city along the Persian Gulf into an international arts capital and tourist destination." Former Guggenheim director Thomas Krens indicated that "The Middle East

2970-408: Is supported by a bandwidth of 6 GB , with 50,000 dialup and 150,000 broadband ports . Etisalat announced implementing a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in Abu Dhabi during the third quarter of 2009 to make the emirate the world's first city to have such a network. Abu Dhabi in the 1960s and 70s was planned for a predicted topmost population of 600,000. Following the urban planning ideals of

3060-496: Is the Mangrove National Park , located on Al Qurm Corniche. Al-Qurm ( ٱلْقُرْم ) is Arabic for "The Mangrove ". Abu Dhabi has a hot desert climate ( Köppen climate classification BWh ). Sunny blue skies can be expected throughout the year. The months of June through September are generally extremely hot and humid with maximum temperatures averaging above 40 °C (104 °F), mainly occurring during

3150-624: The Abu Dhabi Executive Council to lead the day-to-day management of government affairs. The Department of Municipal Affairs is responsible for municipal affairs for the entire emirate. Abu Dhabi is part of the Central Capital District , which is separate from the eastern and western municipal regions of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The main settlement of the eastern region, officially "Al Ain Region" since

3240-467: The Abu Dhabi Plan 2030 , which will lead to the construction of many new skyscrapers over the next decade, particularly in the expansion of Abu Dhabi's central business district such as the new developments on Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island . Abu Dhabi already has a number of supertall skyscrapers under construction throughout the city. Some of the tallest buildings on the skyline include

3330-726: The National Bank of Abu Dhabi headquarters, the Baynunah ( Hilton Hotel ) Tower. and the Etisalat headquarters are usually found in the financial districts of Abu Dhabi. Other notable modern buildings include the Aldar Headquarters , the first circular skyscraper in the middle east and the Emirates Palace with its design inspired by Arab heritage. The development of tall buildings has been encouraged in

3420-513: The Umm Al Nar Culture , which dates back to the third millennium BC. Other settlements were also found farther outside the modern city of Abu Dhabi, including the eastern and western regions of the Emirate. On December 2, 1971, Abu Dhabi, along with six other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) . This union was marked by the establishment of a federal government and the appointment of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as

3510-496: The United Kingdom , New Zealand , Greece , and the United Arab Emirates . More than 3,000 workers and 38 contracting companies took part in the construction of the mosque . Consideration of durability motivated the choice of many materials specified in the design of the structure. These materials include marble, stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals, and ceramics. Construction began on 5 November 1996. The building

3600-460: The 19th century, as a result of treaties (known as "truces" which gave the coast its name) entered into between Great Britain and the sheikhs of the Arab States of the Persian Gulf , Britain became the predominant influence in the area. The main purpose of British interest was to protect the trade route to India from pirates, hence, the earlier name for the area, the " Pirate Coast ". After

3690-562: The 2018 BIM Awards. In the 2017 BIM Awards, BESIX took awards in five out of six categories, also winning the BIM Award of the Year. In 2018, BESIX and Proximus , the leader in Belgium's ICT and Telecommunications sectors, set up a partnership to jointly develop a new generation of Smart Buildings , with priority to solutions promoting energy efficiency , comfort and safety. In 2019,

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi - Misplaced Pages Continue

3780-573: The 382 m (1,253.28 ft) Central Market Residential Tower , the 324 m (1,062.99 ft) The Landmark and the 74-story, 310 m (1,017.06 ft) Sky Tower , all of them completed. Also, many other skyscrapers over 150 m (492.13 ft) (500 ft) are either proposed or approved and could transform the city's skyline. As of July 2008 , there were 62 high-rise buildings 23 to 150 m (75.46 to 492.13  ft ) under construction, approved for construction, or proposed for construction. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque represents

3870-542: The Abu Dhabi Municipality. The daily domestic wastewater production is 330 MiGD and industrial waste water is 40 MiGD. A large portion of the sewerage flows as waste into streams, and separation plants. The city's per capita electricity consumption is about 41,000 kWh and the total supplied is 8,367 MW as of 2007 . The distribution of electricity is carried out by companies run by SCIPCO Power and APC Energy. As part of UAE's Energy Strategy 2050 to reduce

3960-675: The Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and taking 29% of all the GCC future plannings. The UAE has a fast-growing economy: in 2006 the per capita income grew by 9%, providing a GDP per capita of $ 49,700 and ranking third in the world at purchasing power parity . Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund , the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), currently estimated at $ 875 billion, is the world's wealthiest sovereign fund in terms of total asset value. Etihad Airways maintains its headquarters in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi's government

4050-590: The Arabian Travel Market 2021 exhibition. This was part of the center's core strategy to be active in the religious and cultural aspects of society. The Founder's Memorial , a monument and visitor center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a memorial to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan , the first President of the United Arab Emirates , who died in 2004. The memorial consists of an open Heritage Garden and Sanctuary Garden at

4140-445: The Corniche, all horizontal streets are oddly numbered, while all vertical streets are evenly numbered. Thus, the Corniche is Street No. 1, Khalifa Street is Street No. 3, Hamdan Street is Street No. 5, Electra Street is Street No. 7 and so on. Conversely, Salam Street is St No. 8. Mail is generally delivered to post-office boxes only; however, there is door-to-door delivery for commercial organisations. There are many parks throughout

4230-531: The UAE in terms of Gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita income . More than $ 1 trillion is invested worldwide in the city. In 2010, the GDP per capita reached $ 49,600, which ranks ninth in the world. Taxation in Abu Dhabi , as in the rest of the UAE, is nil for a resident or a non-bank, non-oil company. Abu Dhabi is also planning many future projects sharing with the Cooperation Council for

4320-499: The Umm Al Nar storage is the largest water source for Abu Dhabi, followed by the rivers Shuweihat and Taweelah. With falling groundwater level and rising population density, Abu Dhabi faces a severely acute water shortage. On average each Abu Dhabi resident uses 550 litres (120 imp gal; 150 US gal) of water per day. Abu Dhabi daily produces 1,532 tonnes of solid wastes which are dumped at three landfill sites by

4410-568: The be.circular award in 2018 and 2019, an award which promotes circular economy in the Belgian construction sector, and has participated to the construction of the first neighborhood in the world to be officially certified BREEAM Outstanding. In Cameroon, BESIX participates to the construction of the Nachtigal Hydropower Project, which will produce up to one-third of the country's electricity. BESIX participated in

4500-405: The carbon emission of power generation by 70%, Noor Abu Dhabi solar park project which is the largest solar project in the world was completed on 2 July 2019. The Abu Dhabi Fire Service runs 13 fire stations that attend about 2,000 fire and rescue calls per year. State-owned Etisalat and private du communication companies provide telephone and cell phone service to the city. Cellular coverage

4590-499: The center of which is a cubic pavilion housing The Constellation, an artwork dedicated to Zayed's memory. The UAE Presidential Palace , Qaṣr Al-Waṭan ("Palace of the Nation"), opened to the public in March 2019. It was built on the grounds of Ladies beach and construction was finished in 2018.Al Barza is a perfect complement to the fascinate cultural experience which expects visitors at Qasr Al Watan. Historically, ‘barza’ refers to

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4680-491: The city. Entrance is usually free for children, however, there is often an entrance fee for adults. The Corniche, the city's seaside promenade, is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) in length, with gardens, playgrounds, and a BMX/skateboard ring. In 2007 the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) was established, which is the agency responsible for the future of Abu Dhabi's urban environments and

4770-604: The companies inaugurated their very first smart building in Dordrecht, in the Netherlands. BESIX has developed initiatives in the field of Open Innovation . These comprise the Clean Air project, developed by BESIX employees, that has made it possible to create plant walls for tunnels and roads for treating CO 2 . In Dubai, other BESIX employees have developed 3D concrete printing solutions: in 2020, they have printed

4860-844: The construction of the first high-rise building in the world to obtain both LEED Platinum certification ( Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ) and High Environmental Quality ( HQE ) certification, for the Carpe Diem tower in the Parisian district of La Défense ). In Africa, BESIX has begun building one of Africa's tallest towers, the Mohammed VI Tower, which will also be one of the first high-rise buildings in Africa to achieve dual LEED Gold and HQE certification. BESIX has an internal engineering department which undertakes

4950-613: The design work and technical studies for its construction sites, especially for skyscrapers , marine infrastructures and civil engineering works. In 2020, BESIX Engineering was awarded the first worldwide Building Information Modeling (BIM) standard (ISO 19650-2). In 2017, BESIX was the first Belgian construction company and the first general contractor in Europe to achieve maximum certification level in BIM In 2018, BESIX and its subsidiary Vanhout took awards in each category presented at

5040-699: The emirate such as the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council and the Regulation and Supervision Bureau , which are responsible for infrastructure projects in the city. Because Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE, it also serves as the headquarters of the Federal government of the United Arab Emirates , the office of the President of the United Arab Emirates , and seat of the Federal Supreme Council . The Abu Dhabi Government Media Office (ADGMO)

5130-402: The energy efficiency of the building. The largest galleries will offer a grand scale for the display of large contemporary art installations. Parts of the building will be four stories tall with galleries stacked atop each other. The museum is intended to be a centerpiece in the island's plan for contemporary art and culture". In 2011, the museum began site and structural work on a peninsula at

5220-556: The expert authority behind the visionary Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan that was published in September 2007. The UPC is also working on similar plans for the regions of Al-Ain and Al-Gharbia. Because of the rapid development of Abu Dhabi, a number of challenges to the city's urban organisation have developed, among them: Besix BESIX Group is a Belgian construction group based in Brussels , one of

5310-533: The exploration arm of BP , obtained an offshore concession which was then transferred to a company created to operate the concession: Abu Dhabi Marine Areas (ADMA) was a joint venture between BP and Compagnie Française des Pétroles (later Total ). In 1958, using a marine drilling platform, the ADMA Enterprise, oil was discovered in the Umm Shaif field at a depth of about 2,669 metres (8,755 ft). This

5400-752: The field of aesthetic discourse ... the Middle East is one of the world's most important emerging regions in terms of contemporary culture." Guggenheim curators began collecting an international representation of art in 2009. The museum showed a preview of these works as "Seeing Through Light: Selections from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Collection" at the island's visitor's center at Saadiyat from November 2014 through January 2015. It presented another exhibition in Abu Dhabi in 2017 and has continued to build its collection, focusing on modern and contemporary art from West Asia, North Africa and South Asia. In 2011, over 130 international artists urged

5490-567: The first President of the UAE. "Abu" is Arabic for father, and "Dhabi" is the Arabic word for gazelle . Abu Dhabi means "Father of Gazelle." It is thought that this name came about because of the abundance of gazelles in the area and a folk tale involving Shakhbut bin Dhiyab al Nahyan . The Bani Yas was originally centered on the Liwa Oasis in the Emirate's western region. This tribe

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5580-407: The government diversified its economic plans. Served by high oil prices, the country's non-oil and gas GDP outstripped that attributable to the energy sector. Non-oil and gas GDP now constitutes 64% of the UAE's total GDP. This trend is reflected in Abu Dhabi with substantial new investment in industry, real estate , tourism and retail. As Abu Dhabi is the largest oil producer of the UAE, it has reaped

5670-412: The highest GDP per capita in the world and Abu Dhabi owns the majority of these resources—95% of the oil and 92% of gas . Abu Dhabi thus holds 9% of the world's proven oil reserves (98.2bn barrels) and almost 5% of the world's natural gas (5.8  billion cubic metres or 200 billion cubic feet ). As of April 2022 oil production in the UAE was about 3.0 million barrels per day (BPD). The UAE

5760-517: The labor laws; maintaining an independent site monitor; and ending the system that has been generally used in the Persian Gulf region of requiring workers to reimburse recruitment fees. In 2013, The Observer reported that conditions for the workers at the Louvre and New York University construction sites on Saadiyat amounted to "modern-day slavery". In 2014, the Guggenheim's Director, Richard Armstrong , said that he believed that living conditions for

5850-666: The largest drinkable water treatment plant in West Africa, in La Mé ( Ivory Coast ). In Dubai, the group is notably building the world's largest thermal waste recycling plants. In the Benelux region, BESIX has built energy-neutral infrastructure. These include sewage treatment plants as well as infrastructures. In Belgium, BESIX's subsidiary Jacques Delens has notably built the first passive office building in Brussels, has won

5940-435: The massive oil and gas reserves and production and relatively high average income, have transformed it into a large, developed metropolis. It is the country's centre of politics and industry , and a major culture and commerce center. Abu Dhabi accounts for about two-thirds of the roughly $ 503 billion UAE economy. The area surrounding Abu Dhabi abounds in archaeological evidence from historical civilisations, such as

6030-403: The most benefits from this trend. It has taken on an active diversification and liberalization program to reduce the UAE's reliance on the hydrocarbon sector. This is evident in the emphasis on industrial diversification with the completion of free zones, Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, twofour54 Abu Dhabi media free zone and the construction of another, ICAD II, in the pipeline. There has also been

6120-477: The museum is expected to open in 2025. The Guggenheim Foundation has said that the artworks to be displayed at the museum will "respect Abu Dhabi's culture and national and Islamic heritage. Our objective is not to be confrontational, but to be engaged in a cultural exchange," to reconcile the boldness of contemporary art with conservative Muslim values. The Foundation also stated that it "regards all contemporary cultures and their traditions as potential partners in

6210-413: The museum to be completed around 2023 and that the museum would include a center for art and technology, a children's education facility, archives, library and research center and a conservation laboratory. In October 2021, the construction of the museum was awarded to BESIX Group subsidiary Six Construct and Trojan Contracting. Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism announced at that time that

6300-440: The non-oil portion of income is planned to be increased from about 40% to about 70%. As of July 2019, Abu Dhabi allocated $ 163 million to finance global entertainment partners as part of its plan to diversify the economy and wean it off oil. Many Hollywood and other national film production teams have used parts of the UAE as filming locations. Neighboring Dubai gets a lot of attention, but in recent years Abu Dhabi has become

6390-538: The northwestern tip of Saadiyat Island adjacent to Abu Dhabi, but construction was suspended the same year. The completion date was first pushed back from 2011 to 2013 then to 2015, after the emirate cancelled contracts with concrete suppliers, and again to 2017. Continued progress awaited the approval of construction applications and contracts by the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC). In 2019, The Guggenheim Foundation expected construction of

6480-410: The peak summer months of July and August. During this time, sandstorms occur intermittently, in some cases reducing visibility to a few meters. Due to high humidity, especially in coastal areas, the heat index (or “feels-like” temperature) can be significantly higher than the actual air temperature. Dust storms are common during the hot, dry months, affecting air quality and visibility. The cooler season

6570-578: The priorities of citizens, residents and investors. The desalinated water supply and power production are managed by the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA). As of 2006 , it supplied 560.2 MiGD (million imperial gallons per day) of water, while the water demand for 2005–06 was estimated to be 511 MiGD. The Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD) states that groundwater is the most significant source of water, as well as desalinated potable water, and treated sewage effluent. At 40.6 MiGD,

6660-578: The region. On 5 January 1936, Petroleum Development Trucial Coast Ltd (PDTC) , an associate company of the Iraq Petroleum Company , entered into a concession agreement with the ruler, Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan , to explore for oil. This was followed by a seventy-five-year concession signed in January 1939. However, owing to the desert terrain, inland exploration was fraught with difficulties. In 1953, D'Arcy Exploration Company,

6750-597: The respect of international standards and the conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Going beyond the ILO rules, BESIX has implemented various initiatives for the benefit of migrant workers, for example in terms of health coverage or quality of housing. BESIX also organizes training courses for them in IT. On a number of occasions since 2013, Six Construct, BESIX's subsidiary in

6840-549: The revenue from oil played a crucial role in the early development of the emirate. The city of Abu Dhabi is on the south eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula , adjoining the Persian Gulf . It is on an island less than 250 metres (820 ft) from the mainland and is joined to the mainland by the Maqta and Mussafah Bridges. A third, Sheikh Zayed Bridge , designed by Zaha Hadid , opened in late 2010. Abu Dhabi Island

6930-466: The suppression of piracy, other considerations came into play, such as a strategic need of the British to exclude other powers from the region. Following their withdrawal from India in the year 1947, the British maintained their influence in Abu Dhabi as interest in the oil potential of the Persian Gulf grew. In the mid to late 1930s, as the pearl trade declined, interest grew in the oil possibilities of

7020-437: The time period, the city has high-density tower blocks and wide grid-pattern roads. The population density is at its apex on the most northerly part of the island. At this point, the main streets have a large amount of 20- to 30-story towers. These towers are in a rectangular pattern, and inside is an ordinary grid pattern of roads with low rise buildings such as 2-story villas or 6-story low-rise buildings. Due to this planning,

7110-498: The visitors will notice the art Talli a traditional form of decorative embroidery done by women and the making of Al Sadu patterns which represent symbols of daily life. A three-screen mini-theatre is available which describes the traditional form of weaving practised by Bedouin women. Abu Dhabi has several parks and gardens and more than 400 kilometres (249 miles) of coastline, of which 10 kilometres (6 miles) are public beaches . The UAE's large hydrocarbon wealth gives it one of

7200-520: The water or close to the water on all sides, in a desert landscape with the beautiful sea and the light quality of the place suggested some of the direction." The museum is planned, at 320,000 square feet (30,000 m), to be the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation's largest facility. It is designed to accommodate approximately 130,000 square feet (12,000 m) of exhibition space. Gehry's design features exhibition galleries, education and research space,

7290-411: The workers at the Louvre project were now good and that "many fewer" of them were having their passports confiscated. He stated that the main issue then remaining was the recruitment fees charged to workers by agents who recruit them. Later in 2014, the Guggenheim's architect, Gehry, commented that working with the Abu Dhabi officials to implement the law to improve the labor conditions at the museum's site

7380-503: The workers, but they are not conscientiously implemented or enforced. In 2010, the Guggenheim Foundation placed on its website a joint statement with TDIC recognizing the following workers' rights issues, among others: health and safety of the workers; their access to their passports and other documents that the employers have been retaining to guaranty that they stay on the job; using a general contractor that agrees to obey

7470-870: The world's largest 3DCP façade. In the sports area, BESIX has since 2017 been an official sponsor of the Belgium National football team , the Red Devils. BESIX also supports the Belgium women's national football team , the Red Flames, and the national youth teams. The BESIX Foundation operates in the sectors of the environment ( renewable energies , waste treatment), education ( literacy , vocational training) and construction (access to housing, sustainable construction). Created in 2009, it supports existing non-profit organizations , either through project financing or through skills provision. BESIX Group

7560-768: The world's leading international contractors according to the ENR ranking. Active since 1909, BESIX operates in Europe , the Middle East , Oceania , Africa , North America and Asia . Its achievements include Dubai ’s Burj Khalifa , the world's tallest tower , buildings of the European Parliament in Brussels, and the Grand Egyptian Museum on the Giza pyramids plateau. In 2021 and 2022, it

7650-487: Was a key industry prior to the discovery of oil reserves. According to a source about pearling, the Persian Gulf was the best location for pearls. The pearl industry boomed from the late 19th century through to the second decade of the 20th century, however it is believed to date back around 7,000 years. Pearl divers dive for one to three minutes and would have dived as many as thirty times per day. Air tanks and any other sort of mechanical device were forbidden. The divers had

7740-917: Was announced that BESIX had been chosen to build the Guggenheim Museum in Abu Dhabi , the Triangle Tower , Paris' third highest tower, and the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge in Brisbane, one of the world's longest span cable stay pedestrian bridges. In 2020, BESIX had a turnover of 3.8 billion dollars and 12,000 employees worldwide. BESIX participates in the construction, management and maintenance of waste-to-energy and waste recycling projects, as well as wastewater treatment plants, water reuse facilities and drinking water treatment plant. These include one of

7830-514: Was followed in 1959 by PDTC's onshore discovery well at Murban No.3. ADMA discovered the Bu Hasa oil field in 1962 and the Lower Zakum oil field in 1963. Today, in addition to the oil fields mentioned, the main producing fields onshore are Asab, Sahil and Shah, and offshore are al-Bunduq, and Abu al-Bukhoosh. In 1966 Dubai made its first oil discovery with the offshore Fateh oil field and

7920-444: Was formed in 2019 and is responsible for representing the government in the media, organizing press conferences for the emirate and monitoring local and international media. It is a state-sponsored organization that communicates the latest developments in the capital, and the emirate's vision, values and traditions. The city was planned under the guidance of Sheikh Zayed by Japanese architect Katsuhiko Takahashi in 1967 initially for

8010-490: Was taken under the slogan "A Call for Harmony", to allow people from all religions and cultures to practice their faith in the country. Qasr Al Hosn is the oldest building in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, built by the Bani Yas tribe in 1761. It was once the seat of the government and the palace of the ruling Al Nahyan family. Today, it is a museum open to all visitors portraying the history of Abu Dhabi and early lifestyles. Where

8100-468: Was the most significant in the area, having over 20 subsections. In 1793, the ruling Al Bu Falah subsection migrated to the island of Abu Dhabi on the coast of the Persian Gulf due to the discovery of fresh water there. The genealogically senior family within this section was the Nahyan family , which is now the ruling family of Abu Dhabi. Who plays a significant role in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has

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