Louvre Abu Dhabi is an art museum on Saadiyat Island, in the Saadiyat Cultural District of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. It is known locally as Louvre AD and is described as the first universal museum in the Arab world, bringing together works that span ancient to contemporary art.
What to expect
The building itself is a large part of the visit. Its dome is the museum's most striking feature, and it is designed so that light filters through it in patterns across the galleries and public spaces below. Visitors often spend time simply moving through the building before turning to the collections.
The collections cover a wide sweep of time and place, so a visit can move from very old objects to recent work within a single afternoon. Because the museum is organised as a universal survey rather than a single-period collection, it suits visitors with varied interests and those who want a broad overview of art across cultures.
Planning a visit
- Location: Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- Contact: +971 600 565 566.
- Time needed: allow a few hours to see the main galleries and the building at a relaxed pace.
Because the museum sits within a cultural district on Saadiyat Island, it can be combined with other visits in the area. For many, it is a natural centrepiece for a day spent exploring the capital's arts and architecture.
