Saadiyat Island to be the home to NYU Abu Dhabi

In keeping with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, to provide accessible world class education in the UAE, the Abu Dhabi Government today announced details of its partnership with New York University (NYU) to create NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), the first comprehensive liberal arts campus established abroad by a major US research university.

A visiting delegation of NYU trustees, including President of the University Dr. John Sexton, were greeted by an Abu Dhabi government delegation led by General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
At a press conference held at Emirates Palace to mark the visit, a number of new developments relating to the initiative were announced: - NYUAD will be built on Saadiyat Island, the 27 square kilometre natural island lying 500 metres offshore the UAE capital, ensuring a valuable contribution to the cultural exchange that is at the heart of the guiding principles of the Island's Cultural District - Mubadala Development Company has been appointed the developer of NYUAD on a BOOT basis (Build Operate Own and Transfer). Mubadala is already developing new campuses for UAE University, Zayed University and Paris Sorbonne University - Abu Dhabi.
During the visit, the parties inspected the location that is to be the site of the NYU Abu Dhabi campus.
"This agreement represents a wonderful fit for both NYU and Saadiyat Island. The benefits that the Cultural District's stimulating environment is set to bring NYUAD will be matched only by the benefits it will receive through the way that the University will further enhance Saadiyat Island's role as an international cultural gateway," said Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage and Chairman of Tourism Investment & Development Company (TDIC), the master developer of Saadiyat Island.
The NYUAD campus will consist of state-of-the-art educational facilities as well as support and residence accommodation, with the first class of students expected to enroll in 2010.
"For Abu Dhabi, the partnership with NYU delivers an ability to enhance the educational opportunities for our students, whilst also providing a platform to further enhance the role we play in the region as center for the interaction of learning, culture and commerce," said Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority.
"This is a great day. In Abu Dhabi, we have found extraordinary partners who share with us a recognition of the world's emerging shape," said Dr. John Sexton.
"The great centers of human activity and endeavor - the global 'idea capitals' - will be hubs of commerce and trade, to be sure, but just as importantly they will be focal points of intellectual, cultural, and educational strength. Great research universities - magnets for talent and creativity, engines for idea development - will be indispensable to these idea capitals. Our partners here fully understand that and are acting on it. Moreover, we in higher education know that a 21st century education will require engagement with other cultures, and the best universities will be distinguished by their level and extent of engagement. In establishing a campus in Abu Dhabi, NYU is taking a major step forward in making NYU a 'global network university,' with a research and teaching presence in idea capitals throughout the world." To initiate academic activities in Abu Dhabi rapidly, next year NYU will establish the 'NYU Abu Dhabi Institute' to host conferences, research workshops, short courses, and seminars involving scholars and students from NYU and the Middle East. These programs will promote academic and intellectual connections between NYU in Washington Square and NYU Abu Dhabi while the campus is being developed.
Dr Mariet Westermann, who has served as Director of NYU's Institute of Fine Arts since 2002, has been named Vice Chancellor of NYUAD.
"NYU Abu Dhabi is the outcome of a common belief in the value of a liberal arts education, in the benefits a research university brings to the society that sustains it, in the value of interaction with new ideas and those who are different, and in the necessity of educating students who are true citizens of the world, prepared to lead and contribute to global trade, politics, and culture. It is an honor to work on creating a first-rate liberal arts campus in this gateway region. This next step in the evolution of NYU's global network will provide new opportunities for students to learn and lead, and offer our faculty new opportunities for research," said Dr. Westermann The importance of the visit was marked by the exchange of gifts. Dr Sexton presented the Abu Dhabi government delegation with a bronze tablet, presented originally to NYU by its Class of 1894 and depicting the original University Building at the University's first home in Washington Square. In return, Khaldoon Al Mubarak presented Dr Sexton with a beautifully framed, original image from New York photographer William Huber's signature Abu Dhabi collection, which was recently unveiled as part of the launch of the Abu Dhabi brand. Source