Gulf Construction Online - Giant aquarium set for 2020 opening

Real Estate

The National Aquarium ... a key anchor at Al Qana waterfront destination.

Giant aquarium set for 2020 opening

01 August 2019

Abu Dhabi has announced that 70 per cent of the work on The National Aquarium, the biggest in the Middle East, coming up at Al Qana – a waterfront destination in the heart of the emirate – has been completed and is due to open early next year.

The 10-zone, giant aquarium measuring over 7,000 sq m will welcome an estimated one million visitors per year and will form one of the key anchor features at Al Qana.

Home to more than 33,000 marine creatures, responsibly and ethically sourced from around the world, The National Aquarium will be led by a world-class team of 80 qualified marine experts and specialists.

A mega project being developed by Al Barakah International Investment, it is set to fully open by the final quarter of 2020.

“This is the 12th public aquarium that I’ve worked on and probably the most exciting, in terms of the scale, uniqueness and attention to detail. This will bring the excitement and wonder of the oceans to the doorsteps of Abu Dhabi’s community and to visitors from all around the world,” remarks Paul Hamilton, the general manager of The National Aquarium and the man behind many of the world’s most prestigious aquaria including the famous Dubai Aquarium.

The project, expected to open by early next year, has been desigend by the expert team at Okyanus (amongst the world’s most experienced designers of aquarium), which is bringing the world’s best practice to the centre of Abu Dhabi’s newest cultural attraction.

Al Qana’s general manager Stuart Gissing says: “We will bring world and regional firsts in aquarium design and management. For visitors, the experience will be unmatched, from viewing aspects to interactivity, entertainment and the unique journey through the underwater world.”