Vision Magazine Online Issue 1

Waking up the
Corniche
upgrade of 1.6 kilometres of public beach completed
in October 2009, the waterfront now buzzes with
cyclists, joggers, skateboarders and people playing
beach volleyball and beach football.
Those of a more leisurely nature can be found strolling
along the new boardwalk that stretches the entire
length of the public beach, picnicking on the newly
laid grass areas, eating in one of the many new cafes,
or sunbathing on the sandy beaches using the rental
beach beds, umbrellas and cabanas.
In a short space of time, the Corniche has become
one of Abu Dhabi’s leading destinations for local
people and tourists. This transformation is thanks to
the Corniche Revitalisation Programme, which is being
led by the Urban Planning Council (UPC) in conjunction
with the Abu Dhabi Municipality and Executive Affairs
Authority.
The aim is to provide Abu Dhabi with the “ultimate
beach experience” by creating an attractive, vibrant,
liveable and publicly accessible waterfront to rival some
of the best beachfronts in the world from La Croisette
in Cannes and the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, to
Beirut’s Corniche and Los Angeles’ Venice Beach.
Abu Dhabi now has a Corniche to rival the best waterfronts in
the world due to the Corniche Revitalisation Programme
Excitement was delivered to the max in March with
Wakestock Abu Dhabi. The international wakeboard
and music festival brought together the world’s best
wakeboarders as well as a number of leading local and
international music acts.
Before anyone had chance to catch a breath, another
exhilarating event was held at the same venue; the
Red Bull Air Race.
Both Wakestock and the Red Bull Air Race followed
other successful events on the Corniche. These include
Yasalam in late October, which celebrated the inaugural
Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a
series of free music concerts, movie nights and public
art events. The WOMAD international music festival
will come to the Corniche again this spring.
It is a facility that has
become a day out for the
whole family
Stretching 8 kilometres from the
Heritage Village Marina to
Mina Zayed, the Corniche’s
potential was identified in
the UPC’s Capital 2030
as an area that needed
to be activated and
enhanced while
maintaining Abu
Dhabi's green
forecourt. To fulfil
the Corniche’s
potential, a
substantial
investment has
gone into developing
new facilities and
amenities and
improving beach
areas.
New sports, leisure and
entertainment activities
have been created, while
new facilities, such as
changing rooms, toilets and
a Mosque for offering prayers
have been added.
But the real star of all these events is not a headline
act; it is Abu Dhabi’s revamped Corniche.
The Corniche has transformed into a world-class
waterfront destination. The wakeboarders, flying
daredevils and music acts may have gone, but the
Corniche remains a hive of activity which will continue
to improve over the coming years. Following an
Yasser Al Nuaimi,
Associate Manager,
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council
A security post has been built to
ensure the waterfront is secure
for beachgoers and families, who
are also catered for with a separate
Family Beach. Meanwhile, trained
lifeguards patrol the beach to
watch over the safety of swimmers
from seven surveillance towers.
16 VISION MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE