A special exhibition devoted to the Desert Islands has opened at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
The exhibition focuses on the significant career opportunities the destination is expected to hold out to Emiratis. It features the destination’s master plan, inspirational images and project models.
The Desert Islands is the multi-experience tourism destination, taking shape off Abu Dhabi’s western coastline.
The Desert Islands will comprise eight islands, including the Sir Bani Yas eco-resort – the former environmental showcase of the late UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and an on-shore gate.
“We anticipate the destination creating around 6,500 employment opportunities by the time it is fully operational in 2017 – a forecast which falls totally in line with our economic diversification mandate from the Abu Dhabi Government and the directions of both His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Mohammed,” said Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), which manages the ADTA’s tourism assets.
“The career opportunities will cover a range of disciplines including marine conservation, renewable energy research, destination management and eco-preservation.”
Mubarak Al Muhairi, director-Ggeneral, ADTA and managing director, TDIC, said:
“We hope young Emiratis will seize the opportunity of investigating the project thoroughly while, at the same time, residents and visitors will get a glimpse of our future standing on the international tourism scene.”
TDIC anticipates the destination will attract around 250,000 visitors when the first phase is complete in 2010, rising to over a million a year.
The Desert Islands will provide a multitude of experiences encompassing a nature reserve, a cultural destination and a showcase for world-class environmental, conservation and ecological tourism, including the Arabian National Park.
In addition to the former Royal nature reserve of Sir Bani Yas Island, it will also comprise Dalma Island and the Discovery Islands – six nearby offshore outcrops - all of which will be linked by a ferry and hydrofoil service, water taxis, private ‘resort’ boat service and regional and sea planes.
The destination’s development will be phased at an estimated total investment from both the government and private sector of more than $3 billion (Dh11.5 billion). When fully operational in 2017, the Desert Islands are expected to annually generate $326 million in tourism revenue.
The Desert Islands exhibition is open to the public from 10am to 10pm daily.
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) is a public joint stock company established under Law No: 12 of 2005 as decreed by the Abu Dhabi Ruler and UAE President, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
TDIC is an independent organisation empowered to manage the tourism investment zones of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which directs and implements strategy for the expansion of the emirate's tourism sector.
TDIC will develop the real estate assets that support ADTA's mission of assisting UAE economic diversification through tourism development.
TDIC, launched with an initial paid-up capital of Dh100 million ($27.5 million) with its shareholding fully owned by ADTA, operates along strictly commercial lines with its projects being self-sustaining and economically feasible.
Its activities include creating development and tourism related concepts for specific sites and locations, disposing of, or repositioning, government-owned tourism related assets, entering into joint ventures with investment partners for assets such as hotels or residential products, as well as serving as the master developer for large scale projects.