DOCUMENTARY: Abu Dhabi - Between Tradition and 21st Century

"How the capital of the United Arab Emirates has merged its ancient customs with the modern world, preserving traditional activities including camel racing. The people of Abu Dhabi are rightly proud of their history and heritage, key aspects of the emirate's attraction to visitors. Given the pace of development and change in recent years, it is considered a priority to safeguard the unique crafts, artefacts and architecture that define the emirate's culture. The Future While looking back with pride, the Government and people of Abu Dhabi are also looking forward to a still brighter future. Blessed with substantial untapped oil wealth to safeguard the emirate's growth and development, Abu Dhabi is nevertheless seeking to diversify its economy and enhance its environment still further. In this quest, tourism has been earmarked for a specially important role. As a clean, green industry that promotes international friendship and goodwill, tourism is seen as an ideal means of applying Abu Dhabi's strong tradition of hospitality to good effect." - Youtube's video synopsis

The engineering challenges of Capital Gate's project, Abu Dhabi

The TV show "Megastructures" recorded an episode in Abu Dhabi, focusing in the Capital Gate's project. With its 18 degree inclination to the west, the building is certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the "world’s furthest leaning man-made tower".

DIMSCALE explores United Arab Emirates' market PART II

Following last Friday's post we publish today a more extended set of photos taken by our team both in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.


Abu Dhabi

 Dubai

DIMSCALE explores United Arab Emirates' market

Abu Dhabi (photo by DIMSCALE)

DIMSCALE team is now in the United Arab Emirates establishing several business contacts in order to create a set of relationships with construction professionals. Our goal is to open a branch office in the UAE to contribute with our know-how to the urban development of this country and to be part of reference Architecture projects. More news soon and more photos on Monday.

Etihad Tower, Abu Dhabi (photo by DIMSCALE)

Abu Dhabi (photo by DIMSCALE)

Sun and Sky Towers, Abu Dhabi (photo by DIMSCALE)

Aldar Headquarters, Abu Dhabi (photo by DIMSCALE)

Infinity Tower, Dubai (photo by DIMSCALE)

Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi (photo by DIMSCALE)

Abu Dhabi's Central Market project - "Build It Bigger"

The American TV channel Science Channel recorded one of the episodes of the show "Build it Bigger" in Abu Dhabi. This episode is focused on the iconic project of the new Central Market of the city, composed by a program of rehabilitation of the existing market and by the construction of two skyscrapers and one supertall building. While the two skyscrapers will be Marriots' hotel units, the supertall building will be the tallest residential building in the world, with the curiosity of being the home of the highest swimming pool in the world. Promoted by Aldar Properties, the project is signed by the British architect Norman Foster.

The video addresses to the architectural concept of the project and its engineering and logistic challenges. It also brings up the development vision of the United Arab Emirates and the approach to the construction made by Abu Dhabi, that intends to build new facilities leveraging the existing ones, looking into the future inspired by the past and their traditional roots.