gulfnews : Showcase projects yield to more urgent needs

When Abu Dhabi announced it would delay establishing local branches of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums, it was an important signal of the emirate's economic strategy as well as its cultural priorities.

"Due to the immense magnitude of the work associated with the development of such consequential projects, the company has decided to extend the delivery dates," government-owned Tourism Development and Investment Co said last month.

The company gave no new dates for opening the museums, which were originally scheduled to start operating between 2013 and 2014 as part of a $27 billion (Dh99 billion) art and culture development on Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island.

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