Louvre Abu Dhabi, Art museum on Saadiyat Island, United Arab Emirates
Louvre Abu Dhabi is an art museum on Saadiyat Island in the United Arab Emirates, consisting of a series of white gallery buildings beneath a geometric dome. The dome consists of eight layers stacked on top of each other, filtering sunlight and creating a shifting pattern of light and shadow.
A bilateral agreement between France and the United Arab Emirates from 2007 set the project in motion, enabling cultural cooperation and collection sharing. Construction ran from 2009 to 2017, and the completed museum opened its doors in November of that year.
The name honors the partnership between the United Arab Emirates and France, while the architecture connects Arab traditions with contemporary design. Visitors experience the exhibitions along a chronological path that shows how different civilizations connected through trade, migration, and artistic exchange.
The museum welcomes visitors Tuesday through Sunday, and guided tours in several languages run throughout the day. Outdoor areas beneath the dome offer shaded paths to rest between gallery visits.
The perforated dome weighs around 7500 tons and was raised through a complex system of supports resting on only four permanent pillars. Part of the collection is regularly loaned from partner institutions in France, so the exhibitions shift over the years.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
