February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

Saadiyat Island (meaning “Island of Happiness” in Arabic) is a 27-square-kilometre natural island located approximately 500 metres off the coast of Abu Dhabi. It has been developed as the UAE capital’s premier cultural, residential, and tourism destination, anchored by a Cultural District designed to house some of the world’s most architecturally significant museum and gallery buildings. The island represents one of the largest cultural infrastructure investments undertaken by any nation in the 21st century.

UAE Context

The Saadiyat Island Cultural District is being developed by the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). Its centrepiece, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, opened in 2017 as the first universal museum in the Arab world. The Zayed National Museum, designed by Foster + Partners, will tell the story of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the UAE’s formation. The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, designed by Frank Gehry, will be one of the largest Guggenheim museums globally and is under active construction. The TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, a digital art museum, and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi are also planned for the district.

Key Data

The Saadiyat Cultural District masterplan encompasses approximately 3.5 million square metres of development. Total investment in the island exceeds AED 90 billion across its cultural, residential, hospitality, and educational components. New York University Abu Dhabi, located on Saadiyat, anchors the island’s educational presence. The Louvre Abu Dhabi received over 3.5 million visitors in its first five years of operation.

Vision 2031 Significance

Saadiyat Island is the UAE’s most visible investment in cultural soft power. By assembling world-class institutions on a single island, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a global cultural capital and diversifying its economy through arts, heritage, and cultural tourism — sectors that generate sustained visitor spending, creative industry employment, and international prestige.

  • Louvre Abu Dhabi — The island’s flagship museum and the first universal museum in the Arab world.
  • DCT Abu Dhabi — The government entity overseeing the island’s cultural development.
  • Cultural Soft Power — The national strategy Saadiyat Island embodies.
  • Tourism Diversification — The economic objective that cultural infrastructure supports.