Gulf Construction Online - Abu Dhabi destination to be ready by year-end

Real Estate

Al Qana ... featuring the region’s largest aquarium.

Abu Dhabi destination to be ready by year-end

01 July 2020

Abu Dhabi’s newest waterfront destination, Al Qana, is on track for completion of construction by the year-end, with work on its aquarium – set to be the Middle East’s largest – now 90 per cent complete.

Being developed by Al Barakah International Investment, the UAE’s prestigious social dining, entertainment and wellness space has revealed steady progress on its assets.

Apart from The National Aquarium, the destination reports that 80 per cent of the work on the cinema is completed. All four pedestrian bridges, connecting both sides of the canal – involving a total 2,200 tonnes of steel – have been installed.

Al Qana states that all basement parking facilities are now completed and all major entertainment attractions have been leased to world-class operators and are being fitting out. The key operations management team of international experts have been hired and are onboard, it adds.

Al Qana has so far cost over Dh1 billion ($272 million) to construct, under the careful management by Al Barakah International Investment, and will be the next destination in the UAE to offer exciting entertainment and waterfront dining, all in a landscaped open-air environment.

Al Qana is a unique collection of attractions that will include several state-of-the-art facilities:

The region’s largest aquarium (The National Aquarium);
The first-of-its-kind lifestyle and wellness hub (The Bridge);
The largest standalone cinema in Abu Dhabi (Al Qana Cinema);
The first-in-the-UAE high-tech multiple-level virtual reality (VR) zone;
An advanced E-Sports arena;
A unique 4,000-sq-m kids’ entertainment and activity centre;
A waterside eateries and a marina with more than 90 berths; and
Lush landscaped community spaces along an exceptional waterfront destination

Fouad Mashal, CEO of Al Barakah International Investment, says: “Al Qana will support the transformation of Abu Dhabi’s landscape. It’s a destination for the whole family where the great diversity of the capital will be celebrated.

“The project has a clear plan and timeline in place despite the pandemic. By following guidelines from the relevant authorities, we have also successfully maintained very high health and safety measures for our office and construction site workers.”