The six nations that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are investing billions of dollars in new cultural tourism programs over the coming years, according to research provided by Colliers International,
"Across the GCC, there is a rising demand for authentic and enriching travel, full of experiences and opportunities to learn about the unique history and culture of this region," said Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director of the Arabian Travel Market, which commences this week in Dubai. "For this reason, we can expect many more project announcements of this kind over the coming years."
Leading the pack is Saudi Arabia, which is planning to invest nearly $2 billion in new cultural projects under its Saudi Vision 2030 plan.
Among the proposed developments, Saudi Arabia plans to open nearly 100 new public and private museums. It also plans to up the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites to 10 from four. It also plans to double the visitor-accessible archaeological sites from 75 to 155 and nearly triple archaeological heritage sites (from 10 to 28.) Additionally, the nation intends to boost the number of annual cultural festivals and events from 190 to 400.
Oman, which is also hoping to cash in on increased global interest in cultural tourism, committed some $2.5 billion in 2015 for its Omagine Project. Described as a mixed-use development, the beachfront project fronts the Gulf of Oman while integrating cultural, heritage, educational, entertainment and residential elements.
Currently, Oman's top cultural tourism offerings include 18 museums, four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Royal Opera House Muscat and Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
[READMORE]READ MORE: Cruise Travel Continues to Expand in the Middle East[/READMORE]
In the UAE, Saadiyat Island, which is home to a number of renowned hotels, beaches and golf facilities, will soon become a cultural hub for some of the most iconic museums in the world. By 2020, visitors will be able to experience the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Zaha Hadid-designed, Zayed National Museum, which will all be located on Saadiyat Island.
Broadway and classical music performing arts found a new home in Dubai last year when it opened the $300 million Dubai Opera. Two of Broadway's all-time top musicals, Les Miserables and Cats have already opened at the theater.
Dubai is also reporting a 127 percent increase in attendance at its most popular museums and galleries. In total, the Emirate's five museums welcome 1.75 million people in 2015. New museums scheduled to open in Dubai include the Museum of The Future (2017) and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (2018.)
[READMORE]READ MORE: Qatar Airways CEO: Electronics ban 'Not Necessary'[/READMORE]
Dubai will also soon welcome the region's first permanent show. The Al Habtoor City area, where such luxury properties as St. Regis Dubai, W and Westin Dubai have already set up camp, will soon see the debut of La Perle.
The show plans to produce 450 performances a year in a grand theater built specifically for La Perle. The theater will seat 1,300 and include water features that utilize nearly 715,000 gallons of water.
"The arrival of La Perle at Al Habtoor City marks a new chapter for live performance in the Middle East," said Craig Hartenstine, La Perle's executive producer. "This will be the first time in the region a show will become a permanent destination-defining attraction to be enjoyed by visitors all year round."
A number of new projects are also underway in Qatar, where tourism officials say visitor demand is being driven, at least in part, by live and cultural events. The Qatar Museum Authority is spearheading many of the recently opened facilities, including Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Islamic Art and the Orientalist Museum. This year, Qatar will also welcome the highly anticipated National Museum of Qatar, designed by Jean Nouvel.
In tandem with the region's intense focus on cultural tourism, the Arabian Travel Market has themed this year's conference around experiential travel.
"Cultural tourism sits perfectly alongside this year's theme of experiential travel as travelers look to explore destinations and enjoy a more holistic holiday experience," said Press. "What we see today in Saudi Arabia, and other GCC countries is an open commitment to strengthen this sector and capitalize on the current global trend."
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
