Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the master developer of tourism, cultural, and residential destinations in Abu Dhabi, is celebrating the success of The Saadiyat Story at its Manarat Al Saadiyat development with top awards won at PALME Middle East Awards and Arab Achievement Awards. Since its launch two months ago, the purpose-built visitors’ and exhibition centre in Saadiyat Island’s Cultural District has attracted more than 5,000 people.
The Saadiyat Story exhibition is a key part of Manarat Al Saadiyat, which will contain three museum standard art galleries, a bistro, 250-seat theatre and central events hall. The exhibition documents the historical and cultural milestones of Abu Dhabi, as well as the vision of Saadiyat Island, through an interactive narrative of nine chapters which fuses state-of-the-art technology with fascinating interior designs.
In recognition of the development of this unique exhibition, The Saadiyat Story received ‘Best AV Video Solution Award’ at the PALME Middle East Awards, the region’s only awards programme for the AV and entertainment industry. In addition, The Saadiyat Story won ‘Best Leisure Development Project’ at the Arab Achievement Awards held during the inaugural Arab Investment Summit.
Sheikha Mahra Al Qassimi, Senior Communications Manager at TDIC, commented: “The Saadiyat Story showcases Saadiyat Island’s overall vision while it portrays the island’s intriguing stories. We are really delighted to see this marvellous exhibition centre receive professional recognition and, more importantly, real popularity from locals, residents and visitors. As the development progresses, Saadiyat Island is truly capturing the interests of UAE residents and people around the world.”
The Saadiyat Island Cultural District will include museums such as Zayed National Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, all due for completion in 2013.
“Manarat Al Saadiyat is a key part of TDIC’s dynamic and ongoing cultural programme to foster public understanding of art and culture in the lead-up to the opening of the museums in the Saadiyat Cultural District in 2013. As more galleries and performance spaces launch within and around Manarat Al Saadiyat, we look forward to welcoming more visitors from the region and around the world,” said Al Qassimi.
The Saadiyat Story adopts the latest museum technologies and employs a variety of interactive mediums to engage visitors. These include touch-screen catalogues to encourage independent learning, audios from architects for each of the museums in the Saadiyat Cultural District, films documenting key conservation methods and the vision and progress of Saadiyat Island, and a ‘virtual book’ technology that has never before been deployed in the region. Its final chapter allows visitors to view a real-time video feed from major construction sites on the island.
Designed to offer a rich educational experience for all visitors irrespective of their age, culture or level of appreciation for arts and culture, Manarat Al Saadiyat is free of charge and open to all visitors from 10am to 8pm seven days a week.
