Saturday, May 08, 2010

Gulf News

Exclusive beach hangout to grace Saadiyat

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi residents can look forward to a chic venue to hang out by the sea as Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) gets the Saadiyat Beach Club ready for use this year.

"The private beach will serve the residents moving to Saadiyat Island, but also Abu Dhabi residents. They can become members or pop in to spend the day," said Noaf Tahlak, marketing manager of TDIC, the firm behind the island development. "We'll know details once we have chosen the operator for the beach club."

The beach club, modern in style, light in its design, will feature several pools and dedicated areas for children, a spa and fitness facilities, including a tennis court. Lounges and restaurants will entertain in the evenings.

The first actual residents will be able to take possession of their Saadiyat Beach villas by the third quarter of next year. The Saadiyat Beach Marina Village will feature a 150-berth marina, retail and food and beverage outlets. The first phase of the Arabian- and Mediterranean-style apartments will be ready at more or less the same time as the villas.

Hotels

The first of nine hotels on the island, the Park Hyatt Resort and Spa, will be ready early next year. The St Regis Resort and the Shangri-La, also under construction, will follow later in 2011. Rotana as well as the first Mandarin Oriental in this region will open in 2013.

"All projects on Saadiyat are coming up together and most will complete by end-2012, so people can immediately breathe and feel the experience," Tahlak said.

The cultural offering, including the Guggenheim, Louvre and Shaikh Zayed museums, will take a little longer, till 2013. But the curious can take a peek at what the Saadiyat experience will entail when complete by visiting the multi-media centre on the island.

Already in operation is the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, designed by Gary Player, and the adjunct academy. The clubhouse and boutique hotel will follow in 2012.

By Nicole Walter

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