Louvre Abu Dhabi is a breathtaking cultural gem with stunning architecture, diverse art exhibits, and serene waterfront views, making it a must-visit.
"Location of an exhibition showcasing Cartier's intermingling of traditional French craftsmanship and intricate Islamic art."
"At the Louvre Abu Dhabi, it's worth stopping at the eclectically curated Museum Boutique—a sleek space stocking vases made from waterproof paper and postcards featuring both world-famous painters and local names like Maitha Hazza."
"On the sunbaked shores of the Arabian Gulf, a good spot to catch a breeze is under the 600-foot-wide metal dome that shades the Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. The surface of this giant, parasol-shaped roof is an intricate, 7,850-piece jigsaw of perforated aluminum and stainless-steel panels. Rays of light pierce through the gaps, falling like golden rain on the museum’s exterior walls. Inside, the 23 galleries are divided by narrow alleyways and plazas to evoke the look and feel of a shady medina. The exhibits in the Louvre are not arranged by region, civilization, or era but instead by theme. Each one of 12 “chapters,” as the galleries are called, has a universal idea behind it. There’s the birth of civilization; motherhood; the portrayal of power; and representations of the divine, which include, unusually for a cultural institution in an Arab country, icons of Judaism, among them a 13th-century funerary stele and a 15th-century Yemenite Torah." - John Arlidge
"The Louvre has a new outpost in Abu Dhabi—well, sort of. The basis of a long-anticipated cultural collaboration between the UAE and France dates back to 2007; after 10 years in the works, the museum opened with its own unique philosophy and interpretation. It’s considered the first universal museum in the Arab world. If that isn’t reason enough to visit, the futuristic architecture by Pritzker Prize winner Jean Nouvel certainly is." - Jenna Scatena
"The Louvre has a new outpost in Abu Dhabi—well, sort of. The basis of a long-anticipated cultural collaboration between the UAE and France dates back to 2007; after 10 years in the works, the museum opened with its own unique philosophy and interpretation. It’s considered the first universal museum in the Arab world. If that isn’t reason enough to visit, the futuristic architecture by Pritzker Prize winner Jean Nouvel certainly is." - Laura Ratliff
