The Louvre Abu Dhabi is proof that the Emirates are no longer just a world business capital, but has now become one of the most open and interesting cultural realities in the entire Middle East.
Those who visit Abu Dhabi today can discover that there is much more beyond skyscrapers and symbols of power and entertainment, the city is becoming more and more a capital of art and culture.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi has jumped to the top of the list of things to see in the capital of the UAE, capable of attracting even people who are not very interested in art, but who cannot help but be fascinated by the amazing architecture of the museum.
5 things to know about the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum
- The Louvre Abu Dhabi is a museum of art and civilization born from the partnership between the governments of the Emirates and France. The Louvre has therefore been enriched with this new venue, with the aim of creating a new home for world art, bringing a greater number of people from different countries and cultures closer to art.
- Louvre Abu Dhabi is located on Saadiyat Island, just 5 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Thanks to its strategic position Saadiyat Island has been chosen to become the new capital of art and culture: here in addition to the Louvre Abu Dhabi other important museums are being built, including the Zayed National Museum designed by Norman Foster, a maritime museum designed by Tadao Ando, Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zaha Hadid’s Performing Arts Center.
- The Louvre Abu Dhabi was inaugurated in 2017 and is the largest museum in the Arabian Peninsula and one of the most important oriental artistic and cultural centers. It was designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel and tells the story of humanity in twelve chapters. Each chapter focuses on a theme, from prehistoric art to contemporary art.
- The Louvre Abu Dhabi has a Permanent Gallery with a collection of works by major world artists and a Temporary Gallery which displays paintings borrowed from numerous French museums such as the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and the Center Pompidou.
- The Louvre Abu Dhabi houses a collection of thousands of works of art, including paintings, sculptures and photographs. Among these stands out: two works by Leonardo and others by Picasso, Chagall, Pollock and Modigliani.
Why visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi?
It’s one of the most beautiful museums in the world
A great reason to go to the Louvre Abu Dhabi is to admire its architecture. In my opinion this is one of the most beautiful museums in the world.
You will be enchanted even if you are not a lover of architecture: the Louvre Abu Dhabi was built on water, and water is present in all its structure: fountains, ponds, springs.
The award-winning French architect Jean Nouvel has created a masterpiece that blends the minimal elegance of contemporary architecture with the intricate weaves of traditional Islamic architecture.
It’s a fantastic place for photography lovers
If you like photographing you will love this place: the geometries and patterns are amazing, the effects of light and shadow accompany the visitor along the entire route.
The roof was designed to give the sensation of light filtering through the leaves of the palm trees, the reference to the typical elements is strong throughout the museum.
Along the way there are temporary art installations, with many interactive and multimedia attractions that make the visit pleasant and never boring.
It has a top-notch collection
The museum’s collection ranges from primitive art, to the first Mediterranean civilizations, from classical to medieval art and from the Renaissance, to contemporary art, allowing the visitor to make a journey between European and Western civilizations, up to discover the masterpieces (some never seen before) of modern art, with interesting works by Picasso or Mondrian.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi also regularly features paintings by Van Gogh (such as one of his famous self-portraits), Monet, Matisse and Cezanne in his collection. Lovers of ancient art will be able to admire treasures of Chinese, Japanese (including the armor of a Samurai) and Mongolian art as well as various treasures of Indian, Syrian and Egyptian civilization.
It’s also suitable for families with children
The Louvre Abu Dhabi can be visited easily (don’t expect something huge and massive like the Louvre Paris) and is also suitable for families with children: for children there is an entire two-story wing, the Children’s Museum, which through games and interactive installations allows young people to learn interesting things while having fun.
Louvre Abu Dhabi Ticket Price
Tickets to the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum cost AED 63. Under the age of 18, admission is free.
Louvre Abu Dhabi is visited by millions of people every year, in peak periods the queues for tickets can be a few hours long. This is why it is important to buy your ticket in advance.
Tickets can be purchased online at a discounted price (this ticket also allows you to skip the line)!
Many visitors prefer to book a guided tour that allows you to visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Louvre Abu Dhabi on the same day.
Louvre Abu Dhabi Opening Hours
The Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum is open every day except Monday, from 10.00 AM to 6.30 PM.
Last entry at 5.30 PM. The museum is closed on Monday.
The visit takes 1.5 to 3 hours.
Along the way there are guides and information panels (also in English, of course), also at the entrance they will tell you how to use the multimedia guide (it is a free app for smartphones).
How to Get to the Louvre Abu Dhabi
By Bus
You can reach the museum with public bus no. 94 which passes through Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station and stops at Louvre Abu Dhabi (Saadiyat Island). The journey takes about 30 minutes. A bus runs every 30 minutes.
In front of the Louvre Abu Dhabi there is one of the double-decker Hop On Hop Off Bus stops that many visitors choose to take a complete tour of the city.
By Car
Those arriving by car from Abu Dhabi can easily reach the Louvre Abu Dhabi through the Corniche and Mina Port.
Those coming from Dubai can follow the signs for Yas Island and Saadiyat Island and then continue on the Sheikh Khalifa Highway E12 to the Cultural District – Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island. The road is well signposted.
There is a parking lot near the museum.
By Taxi
Getting there by taxi is quite easy, there is a taxi rank right in front of the museum. A ride from the city center costs AED 30-40 on average.
Planning your trip to Abu Dhabi? Then you should check out the GUIDE TO THE BEST THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN ABU DHABI.