On 14 October the ”Sheikh Khalifa Bridge“ was officially opened. Crown Prince General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan personally inaugurated the 1.4 kilometre bridge in a festive ceremony.

Named after Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates, the 10-lane bridge connects the new arts and cultural centre of Saadiyat Island with Abu Dhabi City and is one of the United Emirates most complex building projects. The construction involved a total of 15,000 tons of asphalt, 15,500 tons of steel and 7.5 million man hours. An additional highlight of the opening ceremony was the inauguration of a new 10-lane expressway, which stretches from Port Zayed on the Abu Dhabi mainland to the Shahama District, passing through both Saadiyat and Yas Islands.

According to Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, the chairman of the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the official opening of the Sheikh Khalifa Bridge marks a further milestone in the ongoing development of Saadiyat Island, one of the world’s major tourist destinations.