The local Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) has invited companies to prequalify for the contract to build the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

Designed by US-based Frank Gehry, the 45,000 square-metre museum will be built on the northwestern tip of Saadiyat Island and will be surrounded on three sides by water. When complete the museum will feature art and technology exhibits.

TDIC has also received prequalification documents from companies for contracts to build the Zayed National Museum and Louvre Abu Dhabi (MEED 10:9:09).

Designed by UK-based Foster & Partners, the Zayed museum will feature exhibits on the life of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, the founding president of the UAE and former ruler of Abu Dhabi.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is designed by France’s Jean Nouvel and will feature exhibits on loan from the Louvre in Paris.

Both museums are part of Saadiyat’s cultural district, which also includes a performing arts centre designed by UK-based Zaha Hadid and a maritime museum designed by Japan’s Tadao Ando.

US-based Aecom is the programme manager for the cultural district.