ABU DHABI (AFP) ― The oil-rich emirate of Abu Dhabi announced on Tuesday that it had given the green light for the completion of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums after construction delays.
The executive council of Abu Dhabi, which functions like a government for the emirate, said it had “approved the budgets and deadlines for the inauguration of projects on the island of Saadiyat, particularly the Louvre, Guggenheim, and Sheikh Zayed” museums.
The statement gave no specific timeline for completion.
In October, the Tourism Development and Investment Co, the government agency in charge of developing the Saadiyat Cultural District, said the plan to open the museums between 2013-2014 was delayed.
Local media reported at the time that projects valued at $30 billion were frozen in a bid to scale back spending.
U.S. architect Frank Gehry designed the Abu Dhabi Guggenheim museum, which aims to be larger than the existing Guggenheims in New York, Berlin, Bilbao, Spain; Las Vegas, Nevada and Venice, Italy.
French architect Jean Nouvel designed the desert Louvre.
Oil-rich Abu Dhabi is engaged in an ambitious development plan, “Abu Dhabi 2030,” aimed at modernising the emirate and diversifying its economy.
Despite the global financial crisis and its severe impact on neighbouring Dubai, construction has been going ahead in Abu Dhabi, although at a pace slower than planned.
