FROM VIENNA TO THE WORLD
ARCH ON TOUR 53_DUBAI EXPO
and other highlights in Dubai, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi
MARCH 18 - 27, 2022
Concept and expert moderation: Marion Kuzmany / ARCH ON TOUR
Guiding: local experts; Expo-office Austria
Tour operator : Mondial GmbH & Co. KG
This tour of superlatives leads to the Expo Dubai with accompanied visits to several country pavilions and the themes "Opportunitiy", "Mobility" and "Sustainability". It starts with a guided tour and an exclusive welcome reception in the VIP lounge of the Austria pavilion designed by querkraft architects. The tour also provides an insight into the architecture of the three very different Arab cities of Dubai, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.
Dubai impresses with gigantic high-rise buildings by international architects - the iconic Burj Al Arab, the Opus building by Zaha Hadid and the Burj Khalifa, currently the tallest building in the world - as well as land fill projects such as "the palm tree", which we explore with the monorail and round off walks through the hotel-neighboring Dubai Marina. Also on the program are the international gallery district Alserkal, the historical Dubai with examples of traditional clay buildings, the cultural quarter Al Bastakya, side trips to the old spice and gold souk and a boat trip with traditional "Abras".
Al Ain, located in the desert, differs in every aspect from the two cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, located on the Persian Gulf. Our guided visit to the not only in terms of new technologies outstanding Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Center by Chalabi Architects, a stroll through the overwhelming date palm oasis and visits to authentic clay buildings provide direct access to desert culture.
Abu Dhabi is probably worth a visit just because of the Louvre designed by Jean Nouvel! We are paying a long visit to the grandiose museum building, which was built almost in the sea, and we are also exploring the "work-in-progress" eco-model city of Masdar City with numerous realizations by Norman Foster and the Central Market by the same architect. Last but not least impresses our sunset visit to the mighty Sheikh Zayed Mosque, which is made from the most elaborate materials.
In addition to the architecture program, interesting visits in authentic restaurants and time to enjoy our excellent hotels, which are mostly located on the beach, make this tour very pleasent and enjoyable in the local summer temperature.
PROGRAM
as of 2021/03/15, subject to changes, some appointments currently in request
Friday, March 18, 2022 / flight to Dubai
individual check-in
14:15 meeting at the boarding gate / Viena airport
15:10 - 23:40 flight Vienna - Dubai by EK128
coach transfer, arrival at the hotel after midnight
1st night at Hotel Hilton The Walk, Dubai
Saturday, March 19, 2022 / Dubai Marina and The Palm
breakfast at the hotel
free morning, time for the beach, pool, etc.
afternoon: walk and waterbus through Dubai Marina
Cayan Tower / SOM, 2013 (from outside)
by Monorail to "The Palm"
"Atlantis The Palm" (visit of the grand lobby and the aquarium)
common dinner at Abd El Wahab at "Pier 7", Dubai Marina
2nd night at Hotel Hilton The Walk, Dubai
Sunday, March 20, 2022 / Dubai - new Highlights and modern art
breakfast at the hotel
coach
Burj Al Arab / Tom Wright, Atkins & Partners, 1993-1999 (guided tour through the building and hotel)
coffee break at the outdoor area of Burj Al Arab
Alserkal-art-district, "Carbon 12 Gallery" (ev. meeting with the gallery owner Nadine Knotzer)
individual walk through the Art-District, individual lunch
The Opus / Zaha Hadid Architects, 2012-2020 (interior visit of the Atrium lobby and ME by Melia Hotel with drinks and snack)
Burj Khalifa / SOM, 2010 (view from the observation level 124/125; followed by a common dinner at "The Burj Club Rooftop")
3rd night at Hotel Hilton The Walk, Dubai
Monday, March 21, 2022 / Dubai Expo
breakfast at the hotel
walk to the Metro station: Dubai Metro / Aedas with Atkins, 2009
go by the new extension line of MRed / WestonWilliamson+Partners, 2021 until Expo 2020 Dubai
meeting the Expo Austria Host at the Metro Plaza entrance
(Expo area: Masterplan / HOK; portals "Mashrabiya" / Asif Khan; Expo Dubai Water Feature / WET Design; Dubai Exhibition Centre and Al Wasl Plaza / Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill)
visit of selected pavilions by Easy Access
- UAE Pavilion "The Land of Dreames Who Do" / Santiago Calatrava
- Saudi Arabia-Pavilion "Window to the Future" / Boris Micka Associates
- Austria-Pavillon "austria makes sense" / querkraft architekten
welcome by Helmut Döller (project leader of Expo Austria) and guided tour through the pavilion
exclusive lunch reception at the VIP Lounge of the Austrian pavilion
- UK-Pavilion "the Poem Pavilion" / Es Devlin, VERETEC
- Luxemburg Pavilion "Resourceful Luxemburg" / metaform architects
from 17:00 time for individual visits at the Expo
individual evening and individual return to the hotel by Metro (or Bus Exporider 191)
4th night at Hotel Hilton The Walk, Dubai
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 / Dubai Expo
breakfast at the hotel
go by the new extension line of MRed until Expo 2020 Dubai
visit of selected pavilions by Easy Access
- Singapore-Pavilion "Nature.Nurture.Future" / WOHA Architects
- Sweden-Pavilion "The Forest" / Alessandro Ripellino Architects + Studio Adrien Gardère + Luigi Pardo Architetti
-Brazil Pavilion "Together for diversity" / JPG.ARQ, MMBB Arquitetos, Ben Avid
common lunch at Alkebulan African Dining Hall
- Peru Pavilion "See the path Peru has travelled, woven in the fabric of time" / Habitare
- Belgium-Pavilion" the green arch"/ ASSAR ARCHITECTS, Vincent Callebaut Architectures
from 17:00 time for individual visits at the Expo
individual evening and individual return to the hotel by Metro (or Bus Exporider 191)
5th night at Hotel Hilton The Walk, Dubai
Wednesday, March 23, 2022 / historical Dubai
breakfast at the hotel
free morning, start of tour around noon
coach
Al Shindagha: House of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, Parfume Museum, Al Shindagha Museum
ride with traditionnal Abras (boats) on Dubai Creek
Deira: Dubai Municipality Building, Spice-Souk, Gold-Souk, Heritage House, Al Ahmadia School
Al Bastakya: Arabian Teahouse Al Fahidi (ev. coffe break), XVA Gallery, Architecture Heritage Museum
walk through Al Seef
common dinner at "Al Fanar Seafood Market" at Al Seef
6th night at Hotel Hilton The Walk, Dubai
Thursday, March 24, 2022 / Al Ain
breakfast at the hotel, check-out
by coach to Al Ain
Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Center / Chalabi Architekten & Partner, 2013 (guided visit through the entire building complex, guided by the architect Talik Chalabi)
common lunch at "Min Zaman" restaurant at Al Ain Rotana Hotel
check-in at Hotel Mercure Grand Jebal Hafeet
relax at the pool and Orient-Café with a view over the desert, mountain and city
free evening
1 night at Hotel Mercure Grand Jebal Hafeet, Al Ain
Friday, March 25, 2022 / Al Ain Oasis - Masdar City - Abu Dhabi
breakfast at the hotel, check-out
coach
Al Ain Oasis
by coach to Abu Dhabi
lunch on the way
Masdar City / Foster+Partners, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, u.a., ab 2013
Sheikh Zayid Mosque / Yusef Abdelki, 1989-2007 (visit of the mosque at sunset)
check-in at Conrad Etihad Abu Dhabi Towers at the "Corniche" / DBI Design, 2011
free evening
1st night at Conrad Etihad Abu Dhabi Towers
Saturday, March 26, 2022 / Abu Dhabi - Louvre
breakfast at the hotel
free morning for the hotel pool, spa, beach
coach
meeting with architect Talik Chalabi
Al Ibrahimi Building / Farouk El Gohary, 1983
Central Market Abu Dhabi (World Trade Center Souk) / Foster + Partners, 2014
(walk through the market)
Louvre Abu Dhabi / Jean Nouvel, 2006-2017 (visit of the museum)
cocktail at sunset
common dinner at "Beirut sur Mer" at Saadiyat Beach
2nd night at Conrad Etihad Abu Dhabi Towers
Sunday, March 27, 2022 / return flight to Vienna
breakfast at the hotel, check-out
11:00 transfer to Dubai airport
15:40 - 18:50 flight Dubai - Vienna by EK125
TOURINFOS
sunrise– sunset ca. 6:25 – 18:30
temperature Max/Min 29°/19°
time difference: CET +3 Std.
currency: 1 EUR = approx. 4 AED Dirham
Flights:
2022/03/18 Vienna - Dubai / 15:10 - 23:40 by EK128 / Airbus A380-800 (flight time 5 hrs 30 min.)
2022/03/27 Dubai - Vienna / 15:55 - 19:55 by EK125 / Airbus A380-800 (flight time 6 hrs.)
Hotels:
2022/03/18-24 / Hotel Hilton Dubai The Walk, Dubai / 6 nights
2022/03/24-25 / Hotel Mercure Grand Jebal Hafeet, Al Ain / 1 night
2022/03/25-27 / Hotel Conrad Etihad Abu Dhabi Towers / 2 nights
TOURPRICE per person in a double/twin room: 3.980 EUR (incl. tax)
single room supplement: 1.140 EUR
including: direct flights (Economy class) by Emirates, Vienna-Dubai, Dubai-Vienna; 9 nights with breakfast (6x at 4*Hotel Hilton The Walk Dubai, 1x at 4*Hotel Mercure Grand Jebal Hafeet Al Ain, 2x at 5*Hotel Conrad Etihad Abu Dhabi Towers); 7 meals (partly including non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages) at selected restaurants, incl. 1 exclusive reception at the VIP Lounge of the Expo Pavilion Dubai; airport transfers and private coach, Metrotickets, boat ride, water bus; Expo tickets, entrance fees and tickets to all museums and buildings according to the program; guided tours incl. interior visits; program, tour hand-out and expert moderation by Arch. DI Marion Kuzmany and local experts
not included: individual meals and individual program, partly beverages and alcoholic beverages at the restaurants and bars, coffee breaks, cocktails, taxirides
IMPORTANT: This tour requires good walking ability!
Program: subject to changes. Participation is at your own perils and risk.
ROUTE
03/18 / 15:10 - 23:40 flight Vienna - Dubai by EK128 / night at Hilton The Walk, Dubai
03/19 / free morning, afternoon visits in Dubai / night at Hilton The Walk, Dubai
03/20 / full day visits in Dubai / night at Hilton The Walk, Dubai
03/21 / full day Dubai Expo / night at Hilton The Walk, Dubai
03/22 / full day Dubai Expo / night at Hilton The Walk, Dubai
03/23 / free morning, afternoon visits in Dubai / night at Hilton The Walk, Dubai
03/24 / coach to Al Ain, visits in Al Ain / night at Mercure Grand Jebal Hafeet, Al Ain
03/25 / coach to Abu Dhabi, visits in Abu Dhabi / night at Conrad Etihad Abu Dhabi Towers
03/26 / free morning, afternoon visits in Abu Dhabi / night at Conrad Etihad Abu Dhabi Towers
03/27 / 15:55 - 19:55 flight Dubai - Vienna by EK125
The tour will be carried out in accordance with the current Covid regulations in March 2022 and the program will be adjusted if necessary. The relevant information will be updated shortly before departure. Current requirement for entry into the Emirate of Dubai: Proof of vaccinations or certificate of recovery (dated no more than 30 days before departure) to be presented at check-in and upon arrival. Please make sure you take the vaccination and test certificates with QR code and in English with you on your trip in printed form! They are absolutely necessary for all museum and restaurant visits, various visits, at the Expo etc. Access to any building is only allowed to fully vaccinated persons! A PCR test (valid for 14 days via the Al Hosn app) is required for our visits to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. If possible, this will be done after our arrival in Dubai at the airport, otherwise it will be organized for our group at the hotel in Dubai.
here to the TRAVEL and CANCELLATION CONDITIONS (attention: modified cancellation conditions for this tour!)
photos above: Expo Pavillon Österreich / querkraft architekten, 2020 © Timeleapse Middleeast, Kieran Fraser; Expo Dubai 2020; © Tim Griffith / SOM; © Laurian Ghinitoiu / ZHA; © Jonas Kullman; Chalabi Architekten; Archiv ARCH ON TOUR; AJN
here to the TOURPHOTOS of the ARCH ON TOUR 52_DUBAI IN NOVEMBER 2021