Abu Dhabi's 'People's Park'

The proposed design

A major development in Abu Dhabi is set to provide the emirate with a public park featuring tourist attractions such as museums and zoos.

The project will see the transformation of what is currently the 'women-only' Mushrif Park in Abu Dhabi into a 'people's park' complete with an interactive children's museum, petting zoo, water features, fountains and 3km of walking and jogging trails.

The park, which is being developed by Seba Properties, will be renamed Mushrif Central Park.

Updated park for a new Abu Dhabi

While Abu Dhabi is generally seen as more traditional and conservative than its neighbour Dubai, this move to create a 'people's park' instead of a more excluded 'women-only' park could be park of the emirate's plan to attract more business and tourism to the region.

With plans to invest over US$1 trillion into their infrastructure for their 2030 vision, the updating of the park would make sense especially as it has been wildly felt that its attractions and facilities have needed to be updated for quite some time.

Speaking to Arabian Business, Ahmed D Dagher Al Marar, vice chairman of Al Ain Group, holding company of Seba Properties, said "We are honoured to be given the opportunity of revitalising this park. Mushrif Central Park will become a focal point for all of the community to experience and enjoy. It will be truly a People's Park,"

New features

As well as the tourist attractions like the petting zoo and museum, the park will also boast a botanic garden, a shade house, a performing arts centre and sculpture garden.

As the redevelopment proceeds the current greenery in the park, such as the hundreds of broadleaf and palm trees, will be removed and stored until they can be replanted.

Initial plans have revealed that 10 percent of the park will be re-vegetated with indigenous and naturalised species, however more specific details are expected next week when the plans are fully unveiled by Seba Properties at Cityscape.

Mushrif Park originally opened in 1982. Abu Dhabi has recently made a push to have more green spaces in the emirate.

Relevant articles:

Abu Dhabi's 'sustained growth' plans | Abu Dhabi puts $1tn in infrastructure | Abu Dhabi - top GCC infrastructure spender

Timon Singh

Timon Singh is a graduate of Liverpool University where he received a degree in Social and Economic History. He has previously worked for BBC Magazines on BBC Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, the publication for the popular genealogy show.

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