Abu Dhabi to demolish buildings as part of cruise port redevelopment

Four Mina Plaza towers and several buildings along the wharf front in Port Zayed are to be demolished as part of the redevelopment of Abu Dhabi‘s cruise port.

The buildings will be demolished this month as part of plans to transform the commercial port into a blended housing, tourism and entertainment destination, which will enhance its standing as a key cruise destination in the Arabian Gulf.

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The demolishing of the buildings will take part on November 27th, according to the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), which announced the commencement of phase two of the port’s redevelopment.

The redevelopment will provide cruise tourists and residents of the city with enhanced shopping experiences, such as a brand-new fish market, seasonal market and a redeveloped plant souq.

The final plans call for the renovation of a sprawling three million square metre space, making the 40-year-old commercial port and revitalized tourist and leisure destination, much like the planned redevelopment of Dubai’s own Port Rashid, the principle cruise port in the Arabian Gulf.

Port Zayed in Abu Dhabi is named after Sheik Zayed, the late Ruler of Abu Dhabi and founding president of the United Arab Emirates.

The port-side community of which Port Rashid was the centre piece was instrumental in Abu Dhabi’s meteoric growth as a trading hub, but by the 2010s the city’s commercial shipping requirements had outgrown the port and all merchant traffic was relocated to Port Khalifa outside the city.

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Port Zayed was designated as a cruise port only, although some commercial shipping, such as trading dhows and automotive cargoes, are still conducted at the port.

The opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi directly opposite the city’s cruise terminal in 2017 was a sign of the intended future for the port. The 24,000 square metre museum contains 8,000 square metres of galleries, making it the largest art museum in the Arabian Gulf.

“Mina Zayed, which has witnessed the incredible growth of the capital over the past few decades, resonates in the hearts of Abu Dhabi’s residents,” said Hamad Al-Mutawa, Executive Director of Operations Affairs at the Department of Municipalities and Transport.

“We are confident that the redevelopment of Mina Zayed will further drive the social and economic progress of the emirate and will play an important role in achieving our wise leadership’s vision of cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as one of the best cities in the world,” he added.