The Desert Islands Project In Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is catching up with Dubai in terms of ambitious projects. The latest is their own island project. The Desert Islands will be a tourism destination off the coast of Abu Dhabi's western coastline. It will be eight separate islands including the Sir Bani Yas eco-resort and an onshore gate. The islands will include a nature preserve, a cultural destination and a showcase for world-class environmental, conservation and ecological tourism. The Desert Islands comprise the former Royal nature reserve of Sir Bani Yas Island, Dalma Island and the Discovery Islands – six nearby offshore outcrops, all of which will be linked by a ferry and hydrofoil service, water taxis and sea planes.The 'Marsa Jabel Dhanna' gate, which will include a 150-room beachfront hotel in Jabel Dhanna and will be the destination's arrivals, departure and logistics hub. Sir Bani Yas Island will be at the heart of the destination and the Arabian National Park, which will be home to free roaming animals, will take up more than three quarters of the entire island with resorts, eco-lodges and campsites, and at its center, the Falcon Lodge Peak, where visitors can take lessons in falconry. Dalma Island, will provide a heritage experience with archaeological finds and a place where traditional fishing, farming and aquaculture livelihoods continue. Two of the Discovery Islands will be protected areas reserved for existing breeding grounds for birds and turtles, two will be devoted to exclusive resort and the remaining two islands will provide a 'wild camp' experience delivering the experience of staying on a deserted island.The first place will be completed in 2010 and the hope is that the resort will attract over a million tourists by the time the resort becomes fully operational in 2017. An exhibition devoted to the Desert Islands has opened at the Emirates Palace Hotel in the UAE capital city.