Within the next two years, Saadiyat Island, located just northeast of downtown Abu Dhabi, is set to become a major hub on the world’s cultural map.
In 2016, the first Louvre outside Paris will open on the island in a striking building by Jean Nouvel. The Louvre Abu Dhabi will present a wide-ranging collection that spans ancient antiquities and iconic works by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Jacques-Louis David, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse and Andy Warhol.
Also expected to debut in 2016 is the futuristic Zayed National Museum, designed by Foster + Partners. Its architecture, inspired by the feathers of a falcon in flight, will house exhibitions dedicated to the history of the United Arab Emirates and to the life and legacy of the nation’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed.
The following year will bring the opening of the Frank Gehry–designed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, an $800 million project offering roughly twelve times the exhibition space of the Guggenheim in New York. This branch will focus primarily on post-1960 art, expanding the Emirate’s contemporary art presence.
Looking further ahead, plans are underway for an ambitious Performing Arts Centre designed by Zaha Hadid, which will add another signature cultural venue to Saadiyat Island’s growing roster.
Together, these institutions represent a concentrated cultural investment that aims to position Abu Dhabi as a leading destination for art, history and performance, attracting visitors, scholars and artists from around the world.