Market@Masdar City showcases eco-living

Masdar City, designated by Etihad Airways as an ‘Essential Abu Dhabi Tourist Destination’, hosted ‘The Market @ Masdar City’ to give visitors a taste of eco-living.

The programme, first-of-a-kind, family-focused street fair and organic market, offered the UAE residents a glimpse of what life is like in one of the world’s most sustainable urban developments.

Masdar employees ferried families and children with the electric cars and electric cabs to the actual stop of the market where only Masdar vehicles are allowed to enter.

The event started at 10am and continued till 5pm in the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology campus at Masdar City. Entry was free for all.

Alan Frost, Director of Masdar City, said: “Abu Dhabi is committed to a sustainable future, as reflected in the Abu Dhabi Plan 2030. We are contributing to the realisation of that vision through our work here at Masdar City, and so we see The Market @ Masdar City providing people an opportunity to see some elements of what a sustainable Abu Dhabi in the future could be like.”

The market featured organic foods, products, spa services, other retail and restaurant booths, as well as Masdar City’s existing restaurants, shops and cafes.

The fair included screenings of children’s films, workshops for kids, games, balloonists, handicrafts, henna designs and face painting, as well as live performances from entertainers, magicians and bubble makers.

Masdar City’s ‘green’ landmarks, including the prominent ‘Wind Tower’ and softly-angled knowledge centre are other attractions that were open to visitors.

The Market @ Masdar City will run as a monthly event, except from May to September.

Located over 17km from downtown Abu Dhabi, Masdar City is a high-density, pedestrian-friendly development, where current and future renewable energy and clean technologies are showcased, marketed, researched, developed, tested and implemented.

anwar@khaleejtimes.com