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Capital city of the United Arab Emirates, the city of Abu Dhabi is located on an island in the Persian Gulf, connected to the mainland by a short bridge. Home to the local and federal government offices, as well as to the President of the UAE, Abu Dhabi was formerly an undeveloped town with only local significance that transformed into a large metropolis, at a record speed of development and urbanization.
Japanese architect Katsuhiko Takahashi created the master plan of the city in 1967, with a target population of 40,000. Encouraged in the Abu Dhabi Plan 2030, tall skyscrapers symbolize nowadays its iconic architecture, as well as new developments of Al Maryah Island, and the Sheikh Zayed mosque initiated and constructed under the administration of the late President Sheikh Zayed, a pivotal figure in the development of the contemporary UAE.
The following list showcases 20 contemporary architecture projects demonstrating what the city of Abu Dhabi offers, with projects from pioneering architecture figures such as Jean Nouvel, Foster + Partners, Zaha Hadid Architects, MZ Architects, and Adjaye Associates.
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Doha Architecture City Guide: 15 Contemporary Projects to Explore Architecture in the Capital City of QatarApple Al Maryah Island / Foster + Partners
![Abu Dhabi Architecture City Guide: 50 Years of City Making - Image 2 of 20](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6439/4e5d/4d5c/4615/e3ac/c70e/newsletter/abu-dhabi-architecture-city-guide_1.jpg?1681477216)
Lycée Français Louis Massignon / Segond-Guyon Architectes
![Abu Dhabi Architecture City Guide: 50 Years of City Making - Image 3 of 20](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6439/4ea3/b71d/ed34/b49f/1866/newsletter/abu-dhabi-architecture-city-guide_2.jpg?1681477289)
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi / Benoy
![Abu Dhabi Architecture City Guide: 50 Years of City Making - Image 4 of 20](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6439/4fd0/4d5c/4615/e3ac/c718/newsletter/abu-dhabi-architecture-city-guide_3.jpg?1681477587)
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Headquarters / HOK
![Abu Dhabi Architecture City Guide: 50 Years of City Making - Image 6 of 20](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6439/5084/4d5c/4615/e3ac/c726/newsletter/abu-dhabi-architecture-city-guide_4.jpg?1681477767)
Louvre Abu Dhabi / Ateliers Jean Nouvel
![Abu Dhabi Architecture City Guide: 50 Years of City Making - Image 5 of 20](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6439/5080/4d5c/4641/dcdb/6d5b/newsletter/abu-dhabi-architecture-city-guide_4.jpg?1681477766)
Sheikh Zayed Mosque / Yusef Abdelki
![Abu Dhabi Architecture City Guide: 50 Years of City Making - Image 7 of 20](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6439/50dd/b71d/ed34/b49f/1888/newsletter/abu-dhabi-architecture-city-guide_6.jpg?1681477858)
Emirates Palace
![Abu Dhabi Architecture City Guide: 50 Years of City Making - Image 8 of 20](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6439/50fc/b71d/ed40/79a1/a1e8/newsletter/abu-dhabi-architecture-city-guide_6.jpg?1681477891)
Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy UAE / Shape Architecture Practice + Research
![Abu Dhabi Architecture City Guide: 50 Years of City Making - Image 11 of 20](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6439/515d/4d5c/4615/e3ac/c737/newsletter/abu-dhabi-architecture-city-guide_8.jpg?1681477984)
Capital Gate / RMJM
![Abu Dhabi Architecture City Guide: 50 Years of City Making - Image 9 of 20](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6439/5174/4d5c/4615/e3ac/c739/medium_jpg/abu-dhabi-architecture-city-guide_8.jpg?1681478007)
Wahat al Karama / bureau^proberts + Urban Art Projects
![Abu Dhabi Architecture City Guide: 50 Years of City Making - Image 10 of 20](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6439/519a/4d5c/4615/e3ac/c73a/newsletter/abu-dhabi-architecture-city-guide_8.jpg?1681478044)
Abu Dhabi Central Market / Foster + Partners
![Abu Dhabi Architecture City Guide: 50 Years of City Making - Image 13 of 20](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6439/51de/4d5c/4615/e3ac/c740/medium_jpg/abu-dhabi-architecture-city-guide_11.jpg?1681478113)
Rosewood Abu Dhabi / Handel Architects
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Al Dar Headquarters / MZ Architects
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Mleiha Archaeological Centre / Dabbagh Architects
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The Abrahamic Family House / Adjaye Associates
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Al Hosn Masterplan and Landscape / CEBRA
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Al Fay Park / SLA
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Sheikh Zayed Bridge / Zaha Hadid Architects
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Bulgari Pavilion / Not a Number Architects
![Abu Dhabi Architecture City Guide: 50 Years of City Making - Image 19 of 20](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/6439/5353/b71d/ed34/b49f/18c3/newsletter/abu-dhabi-architecture-city-guide_18.jpg?1681478491)
You can visit our list of Architecture City Guides.