The UAE has a planned investment outlay of AED190 billion in the cultural arena to spearhead positive cultural development and heritage conservation across the country including archaeological sites, museums, historic buildings, cultural landscapes and collections according to UK's leading event organizer CMPi who has announced the launch of the Middle East Attractions, Amusements, Parks, Leisure and Entertainment International Trade Exhibition (MEAAPLE) that is scheduled on Feb. 2-3 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC). “The government is now taking an active role in mainstreaming culture and heritage with the aim of preserving and conserving human culture, while exposing its values and socio-cultural and educational dimensions for a better understanding and appreciation by the general public and this has opened up immense opportunities for those involved in the development, operation, management and maintenance of such attractions,” said CMPi Group Director Chris Fountain. He noted that a series of projects such as the Museum of Middle East Modern Art, a AED50 billion landmark project will include an amphitheatre, an exhibition hall and smaller museums displaying local and international art, as well as a shipyard for traditional dhow builders. The AED7 billion Khor Dubai Cultural Project (KDCP) comprising a complex of low-rise buildings using traditional designs is another major project. It houses museums, galleries, performing arts centers, art workshops, luxury hotels and bazaars. Together with several similar initiatives in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, heritage and culture will be a key element in transforming the UAE into a regional and global cultural destination. “The launch of the Abu Dhabi Cultural Association and the Abu Dhabi Book Fair as well as the dedication of several buildings as heritage destinations in the oasis city of Al Ain are proof that culture and heritage are now being taken seriously,” Mr. Fountain remarked. Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed National Museum will be a key asset in Saadiyat Island's Cultural District proposition, which also includes the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi modern and contemporary art museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi universal museum, a performing arts centre, maritime museum and a park with pavilions devoted to culture and the arts. “Noticeably, the country's amazing cultural initiatives deliver powerful messages as they create business opportunities and MEAAPLE has been launched to enable international companies to develop contacts and deliver business in this key growth market,” Fountain said. MEAAPLE is a unique international trade event dedicated to the development, operation, management and maintenance of amusements, attractions, theme parks and leisure and entertainment facilities across the Middle East. MEAAPLE offers the opportunity to influence, network, educate and build relationships with major developers, investors, retailers, senior decision makers, operators, manufacturers and suppliers in the Middle East. MEAAPLE will provide a unique platform to further enhance and support the vision for attractions, amusements, theme parks and leisure and entertainment growth in the Middle East. There is demand from a wide spectrum of facilities including culture & arts, heritage villages, theme parks, water parks, amusement parks, zoos & wildlife parks, golf courses, family entertainment centers, museums & science centers, aquariums, sports & spa clubs, health & fitness clubs, equestrian & polo clubs, hotels & resorts, recreational & leisure parks, retail & shopping malls and cinemas & multiplexes.
