THE MIDDLE EAST OFFERS BOUNTIFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL. FROM ACADEMIC TRIPS TO EXCURSIONS AND FAMILY ‘EDUTAINMENT’, THE MIDDLE EAST HAS PLENTY TO OFFER.
As the region’s most prominent tertiary education hub and home to numerous modern research and innovation centres, supported by excellent accommodation and entertainment options, the UAE is the first to spring to mind when it comes to educational travel.
Currently, a number of highly publicised cultural projects are underway, which are poised to further boost the country’s credentials when it comes to this niche market, with these including Dubai’s AED1 billion (USD272.3 million) Mohammed Bin Rashid Library.
Hailed as the biggest in the Arab world, the book-shaped structure will boast more than 1.5 million volumes, one million audio books and two million e-books, and is also planned to include a centre for conservation and restoration of historical manuscripts, as well as a museum section with rare artefacts from the collection of the ruling Al Maktoum family.
Once completed in 2017, the library is expected to host more than 100 cultural and academic events and attract over nine million visitors per year, both from within the country as well as overseas.
The whole area will be transformed, according to Hussain Lootah, director general, Dubai Municipality, who said, “The structure is unique and iconic. It is a challenge.”
Earlier this year, as part of the World Government Summit, the public also had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the emirate’s upcoming Museum of the Future – due to open in 2018 – through an exhibition organised by the Dubai Foundation.
Students, researchers, academics and the general public were able to immerse themselves in the interactive showcase of the future of robots and artificial intelligence and learn about their impact on human life – themes which will be the focus of Dubai’s new educational and edutainment gem.
In the neighbouring Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District, on the other hand, the much-awaited Louvre Abu Dhabi has reached yet another important stage, as the removal of temporary sea protection walls and integration of the sea with the museum project has begun.
“This is a great milestone in the development of Louvre Abu Dhabi,” enthused H.E. Ali Majed Al Mansoori, chairman, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC).
“This delicate process is the result of months of planning and preparation to ensure that the inflow of sea water takes place in a controlled manner around and within strategic places in the museum.
We are confident that once it is concluded, future visitors to Saadiyat Island will be able to see the beauty of Louvre Abu Dhabi and experience first-hand how the vision for this project has been turned into reality.”
Apart from education-focussed attractions, the country also lures in students and academics with its many cultural and educational events, such as the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, which took place between April 27 – May 03.
According to Abdullah Majid Al Ali, director of library management, Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA) Abu Dhabi, this year’s edition of the event was remarkable and distinctive at all levels, having gathered 1,261 publishers from 63 countries.
