NEW FOR ABU DHABI IN 2019

Radisson Blu takeover

After a 45-year run, the capital’s iconic Hilton Abu Dhabi hotel, pictured in 1975, will undergo refurbishment by the Radisson Hotel Group and reopen as a Radisson Blu resort this month. The Hilton branch in Al Ain, which is thought to be the oldest hotel in the country, will also receive the same treatment, as part of the Radisson Club brand’s expansion in the UAE. www.radissonblu.com

Abu Dhabi Children’s Library

Families will be happy to know the new Abu Dhabi Children’s Library is slated to open in March at the newly refurbished Qasr Al Hosn. Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, told The

National that they’re “designing it as a child would design his or her library”. It’ll span three storeys and include everything from fiction to graphic novels and audio-books. Different programmes will explore art, film and music, and a children’s museum will be included as well. Different areas will be aimed at three age groups, and each will be themed. “You get the opportunity to choose the environment for the book,” Al Mubarak adds. That means children could be surrounded by plush camels and sand dunes or sat on top of a dinosaur.

Al Maryah Central

The opening of Abu Dhabi’s long-awaited Al Maryah Central has been set for August 2019. Housed inside will be more than 400 international brands and 100 different restaurants, according to the official website. This ranges from high-street fashion stores to higher-end designers and fastfood giants to gourmet bakeries. Originally, it was supposed to welcome the first Macy’s store outside of the United States, but the upscale brand, along with Bloomingdale’s, pulled out last year.

Jumeirah Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa

The first guests will start checking in to Jumeirah Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa from February 1. The 20,000-square-metre luxe desert resort, located 50 kilometres south of the capital, imbues a sense of Emirati culture across its 103 rooms and suites, 13 villas with private plunge pools, five restaurants and a Talise Spa. www.jumeirah.com