Al Ain is 160km from Abu Dhabi city, but the facility has lent an upbeat ambience to the emirate’s second city. Known as the Garden City for its tree-lined streets and abundance of green foliage, Al Ain is a harmonic blend of the UAE’s ancient Bedouin traditions and contemporary aspirations.
An oasis in the midst of the Arabian Desert, the city’s canvas consists of a mixture of landscapes that include the Jebel Hafeet, as well as a series of nurturing oases and the majestic desert that together have sustained over 5,000 years of uninterrupted settlement.
The heart of the emirate
Al Ain is recognised as the spiritual home and cultural capital of Abu Dhabi. It has gained the status of a national treasure with its low-rise buildings and picturesque layout. At the heart of the city lies the award-winning Al Ain Convention Centre. Built in architectural harmony with the city’s traditional buildings, the centre provides exceptional venue facilities for exhibitions, conferences and other special events.
The story of the convention centre began in 2008, when the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) acquired the facility and rolled out a series of renovation activities. The phased approach to redevelopment – from a modest event venue to a world-class conference and exhibition centre – took just over two years, with investment in phase one alone costing AED3.5 billion. However, the investment is paying returns to a city previously known only for its natural beauty. During the course of 2012, the Al Ain Conference Centre hosted nearly 150 events.
During the redevelopment, His Highness Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern Region, acknowledged the success of ADNEC’s efforts and highlighted the significant impact that the facility would have in promoting the city of Al Ain as well as the wider Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi.
Built to complement
The 20,000sqm Al Ain Convention Centre features a beautiful canopied roof in a unique architectural style that is in harmony with the city’s traditional Arabic culture. The innovative roof allows the venue to offer a combined indoor and outdoor event space that is convenient for the hosting of large events. The conference centre itself provides 11,900sqm across two large sub-divisible column-free halls.
The Al Ain Convention Centre is situated in the heart of the community, serving as an upscale wedding destination, cultural centre and conference venue that offer an air-conditioned environment, multi-function halls and an auditorium fit for any kind of event.
ADNEC is noted as an environmental champion in the UAE. As part of efforts to protect the earth, the company employs a plethora of initiatives, strategies and practices. This diligence is also evident in their approach to the Al Ain Convention Centre, which not only offers a top quality events venue, but also sits in harmony with the environment. The sustainable design of the development extends the natural ecosystem, with open spaces connected by walkways and beautifully landscaped pedestrian areas. Over 1,000 parking spaces are available for the convention centre’s visitors, within metres of the hall entrance, making access to your event extremely convenient.
Bearing fruit
“We identified an opportunity to transform the existing property into something that compliments the city even while delivering handsome returns on investment,” said Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Chief Commercial Officer at ADNEC. “Abu Dhabi is not just a city. The emirate of Abu Dhabi has so much to offer business tourists both in terms of our natural and built-up environments. Al Ain’s intimate feel and warm hospitality contrasts perfectly with Abu Dhabi’s bustling and cosmopolitan vibe. While the two are no more than a couple of hours apart by car, they complement, rather than compete against, one another.”
The centre has hosted a number of major events, including the Agriculture Exhibition and the Fourth Al Ain Reads Books Show. The success of these prestigious events contributed heavily to the centre bagging the title of Best Meetings and Conference Centre, Middle East, 2013 at the Business Destinations Travel Awards.
Supporting the city
With its well-developed infrastructure and proximity to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Al Ain has tremendous economic potential. A modern international airport, shopping malls, and specialised education and healthcare establishments make Al Ain an ideal destination for business.
In particular, Al Ain provides great possibilities to real estate developers with an abundance of untapped economic potential. Key developments like the Al Ain Industrial City are at the forefront in promoting Al Ain as a magnet for economic development, and the convention centre sits at the heart of the city’s economic rise.
