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Dubai to get 2,000-seat opera house in The Opera District

Dubai Opera within The Opera District in Downtown Dubai to take the shape of a traditional dhow.

The city is set to make a lasting contribution to the performing arts and events sector with Dubai Opera, a 2,000-seat multi-format venue for opera, theatre, concerts, art exhibitions, orchestra, film, sports events and seasonal programmes, within The Opera District, the newest development by Emaar Properties in Downtown Dubai.

Set to promote the arts, culture and events scene of Dubai by ensuring global exchange and promoting local talent as well as serve as a vibrant events venue, The Opera District will also feature luxury hotels, elegantly designed residential and serviced apartments, a retail plaza, waterfront promenades, recreational spaces and parks. A technological masterpiece, Dubai Opera will feature state-of-the-art audio-visual technology and support systems to ensure an unmatched events experience.

Entered from Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai’s main thoroughfare, The Opera District faces the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, Burj Park, and The Dubai Fountain. Complete with a sky garden and rooftop restaurant, Dubai Opera will be the centerpiece of this wider development.

Envisaged to be as iconic in appearance as the world-famous Sydney Opera House, Dubai Opera is styled on the traditional sailing vessels of the Arabian Gulf, the classic wooden dhows that are synonymous with the famous Dubai Creek.

The ‘bow’ of the structure will contain Dubai Opera’s main stage, orchestra and seating areas, as well as the proposed sky garden and restaurants. The elongated ‘hull’ area will feature the waiting areas for spectators, taxi drop-off area, and parking amenities.

Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, said: “The Opera District highlights the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to develop a vibrant cultural community and events destination in the city which will encourage our talented local artists and also promote global cultural exchange.

“Dubai Opera, which is central to the new arts and lifestyle district, will be a spectacular addition to Downtown Dubai, already home to global icons such as Burj Khalifa. The state-of-the-art opera house and the varied lifestyle components of The Opera District will energise Dubai’s events and tourism sectors. With the city establishing its global reputation as an arts hub, the new development will also strengthen the ‘Dubai Art Season,’ which brings together the city’s vibrant arts initiatives.”

Downtown Dubai has already established its clear differentials in the arts and culture scene. In addition to hosting premier events, the vibrant community also has several exquisite works of arts, including Al Sidra, a free-shaped bronze sculpture by Kuwaiti sculptor Sami Mohamed Al Saleh; world-renowned figurative artist Fernando Botero’s Horse 2007, a bronze sculpture weighing 1,500kg; Syrian artist Lutfi Romhein’s Together featuring two sculptures — that of an Arab man and an Arab woman; Spanish sculptor Xavier Corbero’s Gathering; South African sculptor Vincent Da Silva’s Life Size Andalusian Horse and Rhims Gazelle Herd Edition 1; and South Korean sculptor Jaeyho Lee’s Chorus.

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