Louvre Abu Dhabi - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 37 km from Abu Dhabi Airport, Louvre Abu Dhabi is an art and civilization museum, located on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. It is the most spectacular museum in the Middle East and among the prime Abu Dhabi Tourist Places.

The iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi is the first universal museum in the Arab World that translates the spirit of openness of cultures. The museum was inaugurated on 8th November 2017 by French President Emmanuel Macron and United Arab Emirates Vice President Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum along with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The museum is part of a thirty-year agreement between the city of Abu Dhabi and the French government. The museum is part of a USD. 27 billion tourist and cultural development for Saadiyat Island, a complex which is planned to include three other museums, including a Guggenheim Museum and the Zayed National Museum.

The Louvre was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and was constructed below a large silvery dome. The dome structure, which consists of 7,850 stars of distinct sizes and angles, is made up of eight layers - four clad in stainless steel and four in aluminum. The dome is made in such a way to appear to float above the rest of the buildings - this is achieved with the help of four piers, hidden within the museum building. The design and style of the dome is inspired by the cupola feature in Arabian architecture. Below, Jean Nouvel has designed a complex of buildings with harmonious proportions, embraced by the sea. Inspired by the ancient falaj system of Arab engineering, a water channel runs through the museum, making the space into a refreshing oasis that encourages strolling along the waterside.

As one of the premier cultural institutions located in the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District, the museum displays the works of historical, cultural and sociological significance from ancient times to the contemporary era. The Louvre Abu Dhabi encompasses 9,200 sq. m of galleries including the Permanent Gallery and a Temporary Gallery. Louvre Abu Dhabi's museum galleries tell the story of humanity in twelve inspiring chapters. Each chapter focuses on shared themes and ideas that reveal common connections throughout humanity. The works on show range from prehistoric artifacts to contemporary artworks. The art on the show comes from the museum's collection alongside many masterpieces on loan from some of the most world-renowned French museums including Musee du Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, and Centre Pompidou.

The museum has a collection of over six hundred masterpieces from all over the world, each with their own significant story to tell. These include Leonardo da Vinci's 'La Belle Ferronnière' (1490), Vincent Van Gogh's 'Self-portrait' (1887), Jacques-Louis David's 'Napoleon Crossing the Alps' (1803), Claude Monet's 'La gare Saint-Lazare' (1877), Osman Hamdi Bey's 'A Young Emir Studying' (1878) and 'Portrait of Fayoum, Egypt, Antinoopolis' (225-250 AD). The museum also hosts four temporary exhibitions per year. These temporary exhibitions will follow the same thematic approach as the permanent collections in the Museum Galleries, highlighting comparisons, influences and shared ideas across civilizations and cultures.

Centrally located across two floors, the Children's Museum is a specially designated section that 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. Besides, the Louvre Abu Dhabi has been working with the Paris Sorbonne University to set up a master's program for museum professionals to train them and help them respond to local needs.

Timings: 10 AM - 8 PM, Closed on Monday

Entry: AED. 63 for Adults & Free for Children below 13 years