Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Art museum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Louvre Abu Dhabi, in the Saadiyat Cultural District, is the largest art museum in the Arabian Peninsula, about 24,000 square metres with 8,000 of galleries. It opened on 8 November 2017 in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, under a 2007 agreement between the UAE and France that allows it to use the Louvre name until 2047; the Louvre calls it France's largest cultural project abroad. By 2019 it had welcomed two million visitors, making it the most visited museum in the Arab world. Jean Nouvel designed it as a small city of low white buildings on the water beneath a vast silver dome of interlaced metal stars, through which sunlight falls on the walkways like a rain of light, inspired by the shade of palm fronds in an oasis. Rather than arranging works by country, it tells the story of humanity as one continuous journey, placing side by side objects from different civilisations of the same age: ancient statues, Qurans, icons, sculpture and paintings by great artists, from its own collection and on loan from French museums, to show what peoples share rather than what divides them.
Allow at least three hours, with time to walk under the dome and along the water; late-afternoon light is best. Wikivoyage lists it as closed on Mondays, with late opening on Thursdays and Fridays. Book tickets online to save time. It is air-conditioned and family-friendly, with a children's museum.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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AttractionAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
