The most exciting city on the planet today -The Design, Cultural & Style Capital.

Abu Dhabi the capital city of the United Arab Emirates and the regions development plans are capturing the world’s attention as it emerges as the design and style centre for the Middle East.

Abu Dhabi is challenging the world; it is demonstrating massive financial commitment to driving through regional transformation. It leads the way environmentally, with the green development of Masdar City, as well as culturally and architecturally with the development of Saadiyat Island to include the Gehry designed Guggenheim, the evocative architecture of Zaha Hadid for the Performing Arts Centre and the Sculptural Sheikh Zayed Bridge to name but a few. Uniquely at every point of Abu Dhabi's transformation, design, style and fashion are at the forefront and each initiative, innovative at the crossroads of cultures, the past and an open expression for the future.

Abu Dhabi has set out a vast financial plan to develop the city and thus sets the tone to be the design and cultural hub with real influence and standing on the international stage.

"Becoming a world class cultural and style centre fits precisely into the governments overall vision - it has to be a centre that will be highly regarded and well respected on a global scale. We want to be inclusive in appeal rather than exclusive. Saadiyat Island will play an integral role in realizing the ambition of the UAE's capital to be globally recognized as a world class cultural and style destination"

Together with the other planned cultural institutions Saadiyat Island will boast the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi Universal Museum, a performing arts centre, a maritime museum, parks and an arts pavilion. The Cultural District forms the largest single ensemble of world class cultural facilities ever built.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi will be a museum destined to foster cultural dialogue between East and West by exhibiting works of major importance from all the domains of history of art, spanning all historic periods, including the contemporary, and all geographic regions, designed by award winning French architect Jean Nouvel, the designer behind the Musee du Quai Branley, the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris and Opera de Lyon.

Designed as a seemingly floating dome structure, Nouvel's concept has been described as an engineering feat. Its web patterned dome allows the sun to filter through, reminiscent of rays passing through the date palm fronds in an oasis.

In addition to these design first Abu Dhabi will also play host to major sporting events such as Motor racings Formula 1, Sailings Super Yacht Cup and in 2009/2010 The Fifa Club World Cup.