Dubai, 26 Dec. 05 (WAM) - General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, UAE Defence Minister and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council today ordered construction of an opera house, general and arts museums in Dubai.

Sheikh Mohammed, who presided over a meeting of Dubai Cultural Council here today, said that the three cultural landmarks will be "quite a treat to those endowed with a taste for arts, culture and beauty. They will reflect our passion for peace and cultural interaction." The council members reviewed one of the proposed designs of the opera house, presented by Zuha Hadid, a world renowoned architect.

Hadid gave a presentation on the design which entails musical and cultural libraries, a music school, indoor and outdoor theatres, arts galleries, a reception, ballet halls, a private jetty, a hotel and service and entertainment facilities.

The 3 million square feet opera house will be built on a man-made island in the middle of the Dubai creek. It will have a capacity to accommodate 2,500 people.

During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed stressed the need to activate cultural front and to focus on highlighting rich heritage and culture of the UAEand to reflect its Arabic and Islamic values.

He noted that creative and enlightened people of the UAE should come up with cultural initiatives that match the successful business and investment initiatives in the country.

"Our country is confidently striding towards glory in social, cultural, economic,educational and technical fields," added Sheikh Mohammed.

He urged the council members to intensify interaction with media, which he sees as "a vital tool for delivering the message to the masses and for instilling cultural awareness among individuals of the community."