Louvre Abu Dhabi
Art museum · Al Saadiyat Island ·
Iconic dome art museum blending civilizations, history, and design
Iconic dome art museum blending civilizations, history, and design
"An outpost of the Paris institution opened in 2017 that blends art, history and innovation beneath a striking dome that creates a celebrated 'rain of light' effect; the collection spans masterpieces by artists such as da Vinci, Monet and Van Gogh alongside ancient artifacts, and the outdoor areas are especially appealing around golden hour." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"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."
"Beneath a 600-foot-wide metal dome whose surface is an intricate, 7,850-piece jigsaw of perforated aluminum and stainless-steel panels, rays of light pierced through the gaps and fell like golden rain on the museum’s exterior walls as I stood in the shade. Inside, 23 galleries are arranged as narrow alleyways and plazas to evoke the feel of a shady medina, and the exhibits are organized not by region or era but by 12 thematic “chapters” — from the birth of civilization and motherhood to portrayals of power and representations of the divine — so that, for example, a 13th-century funerary stele and a 15th-century Yemenite Torah sit alongside works from other faiths and eras to encourage dialogue. I loved the juxtapositions — 16th-century paintings of scholars by Jacob de Backer beside a 21st-century bronze sculpture of Arabic words by Ghada Amer, a 14th-century French Mary-and-Jesus sculpture exhibited beside similar expressions of motherhood from Egypt and Congo — and the floors of patchwork dark Omani stone and camel leather. The building itself feels like a flying saucer that has crash-landed on the beach and rivals the Sydney Opera House in audacity; inside I even ordered a glass of wine in the café and another at the museum’s outpost of Fouquet’s, where the steak tartare is mixed tableside, à la Parisienne." - 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
