Louvre Abu Dhabi

The Louvre Abu Dhabi opened in 2017 on Saadiyat Island and quickly became one of the UAE's main attractions. It is the first museum in the Arab world to carry the Louvre name.

People come for two things: a collection where masterpieces from East and West stand side by side, and the building itself under its vast lace-like dome.

What to see inside

Permanent collection. The galleries tell the story of humanity from the first settlements to the present day: religion, culture, trade and science. The museum's mission is to show how Eastern and Western cultures connect, so one room may bring together objects from China, India, Mesopotamia and Europe.

Masterpieces from France. Some works are lent by the Louvre in Paris, the Centre Pompidou, Versailles and other French museums. Over the years the museum has shown works by da Vinci, Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Gauguin, Picasso, Matisse and Magritte. The display changes, and some galleries may be closed while new works are installed.

The building and the dome. The building is a work of art in itself. Architect Jean Nouvel, winner of the Pritzker Prize, designed it as a "city" of white pavilions on the sea under a lattice dome that lets through a "rain of light", surrounded by seawater canals. You can walk under the dome even after the galleries close.

Nearby, in the Saadiyat Cultural District, the Zayed National Museum and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi have opened. They are easy to combine with the Louvre, and there is a joint museums pass.

How to get there

From Dubai, take the free Cultural Express bus, which stops only at the Louvre and Qasr Al Watan; the timetable is on the museum's website. Another option is a day tour from Dubai that includes the museum, for example the full-day Abu Dhabi city tour with Louvre tickets or the Louvre and Grand Mosque tour from Dubai.

In Abu Dhabi, take city bus 94 or the Experience Abu Dhabi shuttle, a taxi (the drop-off point is right in front of the main entrance) or the water taxi from the Marsa Mina cruise terminal. By car, take Sheikh Khalifa Highway (E12) and follow the signs to the Cultural District; the museum has paid valet parking.

Tips before you go

Allow 2–3 hours for the museum, and in the evening leave time to walk under the dome: the lighting and reflections on the water are an experience of their own.

Visitors under 18 enter free, but still need to get a ticket.

Large bags go to the cloakroom. Wheelchairs and strollers can be borrowed free of charge from the loan desk. There is free Wi-Fi, a café, a boutique with art books and prayer rooms.

Museum educators lead guided tours every day, and there is a 90-minute architecture tour of the building; both can be booked on the museum's website.

Attraction photo: