Abu Dhabi will soon build a number of new marinas, ferry terminals and wet and dry berths to boost the capital's maritime sector, officials said on Monday.
The project will include the construction of a mix of marina facilities and ferry terminals at Rabdan, Al Saadiyat Island and Al Aliah Island, with all expected to open at the end of the year.
An additional ferry station at Jebel Dhanna will also be built, with the project's completion expected in autumn 2023.
The new facilities will have both wet and dry berths as well as wide slipways capable of simultaneous vessel launches. The plans also include upgraded docking facilities, plus food and retail space.
The developments will increase the number of berths by an additional 246 and are expected to significantly boost Abu Dhabi's maritime sector.
Another five brand new vessels will be added to the existing ferry fleet, which will improve service to Al Aliah and Dalma islands, increasing passenger capacity by 70 per cent and vehicle capacity by 40 per cent.
The new ferry designs will make trips faster and more fuel efficient, reducing CO2 emissions by 25 per cent.
“In accordance with the Abu Dhabi Plan Maritime, our leadership is implementing an ambitious vision and a unified strategic direction to sustainably grow our emirate’s commercial and recreational offering and position Abu Dhabi as a leading global maritime capital,” said Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi, chairman of AD Ports Group.
“We support the leadership’s vision by investing in emerging technologies and world-class infrastructure to transform trade and redefine the future of maritime trade and logistics to connect Abu Dhabi to the world.”
Abu Dhabi through the 2010s: in pictures
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Louvre Abu Dhabi under construction in July 2014. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Louvre Abu Dhabi opened its doors on November 8, 2017. Reuters -
Construction while Yas Mall was being built in 2012. Sammy Dallal / The National -
Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi opened in November 2014. Photo: Yas Mall -
Construction on the Warner Bros theme park on Yas Island in April 2016. Photo: Miral -
Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, which has 29 rides including two roller coasters, opened in July 2018. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Visitors at the new extension to The Galleria on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi in 2019. Pawan Singh / The National -
Clymb Abu Dhabi features the world's tallest indoor climbing wall. The attraction opened in November 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Jubail Mangrove Park has a two-kilometre boardwalk that crosses the site. The park opened in February 2020. Wam -
The National Aquarium is the first attraction to open in Al Qana, a new waterfront destination in the capital that stretches 2.4 kilometres. It opened in November 2021. Ruel Pableo for The National
