Menu
Initial discussions on the Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi first began in 2005 when the then chairman of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture, Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan visited Paris. By 2006, the Abu Dhabi government had appointed Jean Novel whose portfolio also included the design of the Arab World Institute in Paris.
Construction began in May 2009 and was concluded in 2017. On the 8th of November 2017, the Louvre Abu Dhabi was inaugurated by French President Emmanuel Macron, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan the then crown prince of Abu Dhabi and current president of the UAE and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president of the UAE and ruler of Dubai. Other dignitaries and VIPs at the event included King Mohammed VI of Morocco and the former president of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani. The Museum opened to the public on the 11th of November to rave reviews.
Once appointed, Jean Nouvel began to design the large project by drawing inspiration from rays of sunlight peering through date palm fronds in a lush oasis. The result was a seemingly floating dome structure with web patterned done to allow sunlight through. A waterfront boulevard was added in November 2019 and is named after the former French President Jacques Chiraq in recognition of his role in the project and the development of the relations between the two countries. The boulevard boasts numerous outlets including internationally renowned Parisian Bistro Fouquet with menu created by famed French Chef Pierre Gagnaire.
Since its inception, the Louvre Abu Dhabi has become the most visited museum in the Arab. With a total area of 24,000 square metres and a permanent collection covering 6,000 square metres, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is the largest in the region. Temporary exhibits span just over 2,000 square metres. The galleries are located in 23 buildings across the complex with the reminder of the 55 building also opened to the public. Furthermore, 2 great works of public art were commissioned for the opening. The first, a monumental structure in white limestone by American artists Jenny Holzer and the second named Germination by Guiseppe Penone which is partly inspired by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al Nahyan’s fingerprint.
The current permanent collection features 600 masterpieces spanning thousands of years across a range of cultures and continents. The works are divided into several galleries and include the paintings collection, Egyptian antiquities, decorative arts, Islamic art, sculpture collection and new eastern antiquities. In addition, the Louvre Abu Dhabi hosts an extensive selection of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities.
The Louvre Museum is located in the cultural district on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and is accessible by land and water. It is a must for anyone visiting the UAE.
