Louvre Abu Dhabi

Louvre Abu Dhabi is the first museum of its kind in the Arab world: a universal museum that is a cultural beacon, bringing together different cultures to shine fresh light on the shared stories of humanity.

A floating dome of light and shade
Located on Saadiyat Island, Pritzker Prize winning French architect Jean Nouvel has designed a museum-city (Arab medina) under a vast silvery dome. Here you can walk through the promenades overlooking the sea beneath the museum’s 180-metre diameter dome, composed of almost 8,000 unique metal stars set in a complex geometric pattern. When sunlight filters through, it creates a moving ‘rain of light’ beneath the dome, reminiscent of the overlapping palm trees in the UAE’s oases.

“A welcoming world serenely combining light and shadow, reflection and calm. It wishes to belong to a country, to its history, to its geography without becoming a flat translation. It also aims to emphasise the fascination generated by rare encounters.”

Jean Nouvel

A museum-city in the sea
Designed as a micro-city, Louvre Abu Dhabi is an archipelago out at sea. Dedicated areas entice and encourage a multitude of activities, especially contemplation. For a diverse choice of transportation, visitors can arrive by either land or sea.

Just like wandering the narrow streets of an Arabian medina, visitors can explore 55 detached buildings. Twenty-three of these buildings are devoted to galleries, which were inspired by the low-lying homes of the local region. Exterior facades overlooking both sea and the Abu Dhabi skyline encourage considered walks and conversation.

“Louvre Abu Dhabi embodies our belief that nations thrive on diversity and acceptance, with a curatorial narrative that emphasises how interconnected the world has always been.”

HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak — Chairman, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi

On display will be the museum’s important collection of artworks, artefacts and loans from France’s top museums. These span the entirety of human existence: from prehistoric objects to commissioned contemporary artworks, highlighting universal themes and ideas and marking a departure from traditional museography that often separates objects from different civilisations.

In addition to the 23 galleries, the museum will include exhibitions, a Children’s Museum, a restaurant, a boutique gift shop and a café.

Museum Galleries
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s museum galleries tell the story of humanity through 12 inspiring chapters. Each chapter focuses on shared themes and ideas that reveal common connections throughout humanity. The works on show range from prehistoric artefacts to contemporary artworks.

Exhibitions
Louvre Abu Dhabi hosts four temporary exhibitions per year. As part of the unique collaboration between Abu Dhabi and France, they will be organised and created by 13 French museum partners, exclusively for visitors to Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Children’s Museum
The experience of learning is at the heart of the Children’s Museum. Centrally located across two floors, this specially designated section of Louvre Abu Dhabi hosts family-focused exhibitions and interactive workshops in Arabic and English. The aim is to inspire young minds by teaching children about artistic techniques and ideas.

Admission

Admission gives you access to the Museum Galleries, Exhibitions, Children’s Museum and public spaces underneath the dome. Tickets can be purchased online or on-site upon arrival.

Admission: 60 AED

Reduced price: 30 AED

Young people between 13 and 22 years
UAE school teachers, college teachers and university faculty members
UAE military
Auditorium / Workshop ticket holders

Complimentary ticket: Free

Children under 13 years
Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Club members
ICOM / ICOMOS / ICCROM valid members
Journalists
Disabled visitors and one companion

Facts and figures
The total weight of the dome is 7,500 tonnes (the same as the Eiffel Tower in Paris)
It is made up of eight different layers (four outer layers clad in stainless steel, four inner layers clad in aluminium)
The dome’s design forms a tapestry of 7,850 stars
The largest star is 13 metres in diameter and weighs 1.3 tonnes
Four piers support the dome and create its floating effect – each is 110 metres apart and hidden within the museum building
The diameter of the dome’s base is 180 metres
The highest point of the dome is 40 metres above sea level