Abu Dhabi

There’s more to the Gulf than Dubai!

Abu Dhabi Snapshot

9 Capital city of the United Arab Emirates

9 Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate, 67,000

square km, 87%of the total UAE landmass

9 Population 1.6 million, about 80% ex-pats

9 Over 200 islands, 700km coastline

9 Member of the Gulf Cooperative Council

9 Other towns include Al Ain, Liwa, Ruwais

9 Wealthiest city in the world

Economy

9 GDP per capita - $46,147

9 Oil – 9.2 % of world’s reserves – will last 150

years

9 Gas – 4 % world’s natural gas reserves

9 Moves to diversify – aluminium smelters,

steel mills, manufacturing base, education,

health, sports and leisure, tourism, large

scale trade and logistics parks

Vision for Abu Dhabi
Vision 2030 –
1. a contemporary expression of an Arab city, which has people
living, doing, and thriving in healthy supportive proximity to each
other.
2. continue its practice of measured growth reflecting a sustainable
economy.
3. respect, be scaled to, and shaped by the natural environment of
sensitive coastal and desert ecologies.

4. manifest its role and stature as a capital city.

5. urban fabric and community infrastructure will enable the values,

social arrangements, culture and mores of this Arab community.
Abu Dhabi Policy Agenda 2007/08

“To continue to create a confident,

secure society and to build a
sustainable, open and globally
competitive economy.”

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan,

President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi
Heavy Industry

9 Two Steel Plants – Mussafah

9 EMAL - $6 billion greenfield

aluminium smelter

9 ADALCO – JV Rio Tinto/ADBIC

ZonesCorp

9Specialised Industrial Zones – ICAD

9Worker cities
9Not a Freezone
9Free Zones status expected in the near future
Infrastructure

• $100 billion USD over the next 5 years

9Planned link up with Dubai light rail

system
9$ 10 billion for Khalifa Port
development and Industrial Estate
9Second port at Mussafah Industrial
Estate
9$7 billion airport redevelopment
9$245 million 3rd crossing project to
assist traffic flow
9$550 million Saadiyat link road
Aviation

9 Etihad established in 2003

9 Order placed with Boeing and Airbus –

record $9 billion in 2004

9 Network target is 70 destinations by

2010

9 Etihad – flights to Sydney since March

2007

9 Brisbane – Sydney commencing Late

September 2007
Masdar

9Energy City – from oil leadership to energy

leadership
9Multi billion dollar initiative for alternative
energy and sustainability
95+ square kilometre walled city – 50,000+
people and 1500 companies located
adjacent to airport and new port
development.
9Zero carbon, zero waste, 100% energy
from renewable resources
9Special Freezone – to attract R & D
companies
9Masdar Institute of Science and
Technology – linked with MIT
9$250 million Clean Tech Fund
Tourism

9 Anticipated Growth from 1 million tourists per annum in 2004 to 3 million in 2015

9 $10 billion investment planned for hotels in next 10 years

9 In 2005 tourism accounted for 1.2% GDP

9 Additional 17,000 hotel rooms planned for next 8 years

TDIC 9 Saadiyat island
* 27 square kilometres
* Cultural District – 5 museums
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Guggenheim
Maritime Museum
Shk Zayed National Museum
Performing Arts Centre
Biennale Park – 19 sites

* 29 hotels
* 2 golf courses
* Marina
* Residential
* Commercial
TDIC

9Desert islands including

Sir Bani Yas Island
Dalma Island
Discovery Islands
Marsa Jebel Dhanna

9Qasr Al Sarab – luxury desert oasis

with spa and conference facilities

9Abu Dhabi City developments

9Angsana mangrove resort
9Lagoon Club
9Emirates Pearl Hotel
9The Quay
9Golf Hotel Residences and Spa
Aldar

9 Yas island
* 3 golf courses
* Motor Sports - F1 October 2009 ƒRaha Beach - $15
* Ferrari theme park billion
* Second theme park – child centred ƒCentral market –
* Marinas ƒAl Gurm resort and
* Residential residential
* 7 hotels including Signature 7*
* Residential, commercial
Others ….

9Emerald Gateway $2 billion

9Financial Centre
9Danet Abu Dhabi - $9.2 billion
9Reem Island – $14.5 billion
9Lulu Island
9Royal Complex $275 million

City of Abu Dhabi -

plans for projects
worth $270 billion
Meeting etiquette

9Dress formally and conservatively

9Face to face is preferred method of agreeing

business

9Punctuality is desirable; ensure your schedule has

some flexibility

9Value the person above the business – build the

relationship
Tips for success
9Find a local partner
9Read widely about the region
9Learn a few words in Arabic
9Have realistic expectations – rare that
sales are made on a first visit
9Quote prices in US $
9Establish links with the Australian
business community www.ausbg.net
9Be export ready
9Use Austrade!
9Avoid visiting during the summer,
Ramadan, Eid holidays
Opportunities

9Growing interest in rapid form construction

methods and materials
9Developers including Sorouh and Al Qudra to
expand overseas
9Green building design and products
9Contracting and Consulting
9Manufacturing JV to supply building products
to the GCC region
9Building products – introductions to project
managers
Ma’assalamah