It is almost impossible to believe that this state-of the-art Exhibition & Conference Centre, widely acknowledged to be the most modern in the world, could have been constructed in a mere eight months. However, with the ongoing range and speed of development, it seems that nothing is impossible in Abu Dhabi.
Phase 1 of the centre was scheduled to be finished in February 2007, in time for the opening of IDEX 2007 - one of the Middle East's most significant exhibitions. At the time ADNEC management did not realise that they would have to break world records to get the venue open in time.
With contractors working to a concentrated construction timeline, the deadline was met, and everything was ready for the inauguration of ADNEC and IDEX 2007 by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
Even seasoned visitors and exhibitors, who sometimes take for granted the high level industry standards throughout the world, have been stunned by the facilities of this fabulous complex.
With business travel and the MICE sector a pivotal aspect of Abu Dhabi's plans for in-bound travel and economic growth, there was a need for a modern, spacious exhibition centre, and what a centre it has turned out to be. It is hardly surprising that more than 50 major exhibitions and conferences have already been booked for 2008.
Phase 1 of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre boasts 28,000 square metres of fully interconnecting exhibition floor space spread over seven halls, this will increase to more than 55,000 square metres in 2008 when ADNEC opens Phase 2 of the venue; at this point the venue will become the largest exhibition centre in the entire Middle East.
Indeed, the Centre has made such an impact, that five of the world's leading exhibition organising companies have opened offices on the premises. However, the story doesn't end there.
ADNEC is also developing a 1,488,000 square metre business and leisure district called 'Capital Centre'. In addition to the new Exhibition Centre, Capital Centre will comprise a new 'micro city' of 23 towers including six branded hotels, four commercial buildings, eight residential and serviced apartment complexes as well as five mixed use developments. It will also feature a 2.3 km waterfront Marina, a monorail and a shopping mall with multiplex cinema, restaurants and retail outlets. The most stunning aspect of the development is a 35-storey Feature Tower which has already won plaudits for its architectural ingenuity.
With superlative facilities such as these and the full support of the Abu Dhabi Government, ADNEC is ensuring that Abu Dhabi becomes one of the world's leading destinations for MICE. The benefits that this will bring to the emirate, the UAE and the wider gulf are immense.