TDIC will oversee Saadiyat's mixed-use development and willoperate along strictly commercial lines, selling land to privateinvestors who will then develop their plots in accordance with themaster plan. Major development parcels are being offered to UAE andGCC investors on a freehold basis, with non-GCC investors beingoffered 99-year leases or 50-year renewable leases. The project isexpected to attract some $27 billion worth of privateinvestment.

The island is slated to hold 7,000 rooms, two golf courses,three marinas, 8,000 private villas, 38,000 apartments and eight"string of pearl" architectural landmarks housing museums, aconcert hall, art gallery and major cultural offerings. The plan isto develop the island in three phases, with the first beginning in2006 and the last ending in 2018. It will eventually be home tosome 150,000 residents.

Lying to the northeast of Abu Dhabi city between the airport andthe city center, Saadiyat is a barrier island that faces thePersian Gulf and protects shallow lagoons. Much of the easternportion of the island is characterized by ecologically sensitivemangrove reserves.