What are the future plans for Abu Dhabi?
As well as the real estate sector there are major plans to grow tourism with a planned $10 billion investment in tourism over the next decade. This includes a new $5.7 billion international airport to take 20 million passengers a year; up to 40 new hotels by 2011 and hotel room expansion from the current 7,500 to some 20,000 rooms over 10 years. There is also industrial expansion through HCSEZ – Abu Dhabi’s Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones, which creates new industrial free zones such as the Industrial Cities of Abu Dhabi – or ICAD. The $10 billion ICAD is already home to 160 global manufacturers. Inward and outward investment is also critical to the economies growth and recent acquisitions of interest in companies such as Ferrari, Leaseplan and Piaggio Aero create international opportunities.
