This November, Louvre Abu Dhabi will celebrate its third birthday, after opening its doors in 2017.
We still remember being awestruck the moment we stood below that incredible roof for the first time and many visits and hundreds of pictures taken later we’re still amazed by it.
Since opening, Louvre Abu Dhabi has become one of the most popular tourist spots not only in the UAE, but in the region, too, and perhaps even the world.
People from all over the globe put the museum at the top of their list when arriving in the UAE for a holiday.
We’re sure when you’ve had visitors in town, Louvre Abu Dhabi was on their to-do list.
If you’ve still never been, we’d be surprised, as there’s so much to see and do at the iconic landmark. Here’s all you need to know about the museum, whether you’re planning a return visit or are venturing under the dome for the very first time.
On display
What would a museum be without an impressive collection from some of the world’s greatest artists? Head inside the Louvre Abu Dhabi and you can see works by the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Henri Matisse and Édouard Manet as well as modern greats including Jackson Pollock, Piet Mondrian and Andy Warhol. The paintings often change and some artworks are loaned for a short time so you can get a different experience every time you visit. In the past we have also seen works by Vincent Van Gogh and Whistler’s Mother by James Abbott McNeill Whistler on display at the galleries.
Travel back in time
As with any good museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi is filled with historical treasures from thousands of years ago.
Giving us a glimpse into the history of humanity, early settlements, ancient empires and more, there’s plenty to see.
The Ramses II Pharaoh of Egypt statue, standing at over two and a half metres, is one of the most striking pieces on show and it dates back more than three thousand years to 1279-1213 BCE.
The piece is among a number of items from ancient Egypt that also includes decorative sarcophagi, pottery and more.
You can also see some of the earliest artefacts from the Middle East, China and across the world with pieces on show dating back thousands of years.
Passing through
We’ve been treated to some great exhibitions over the first two years of the museum’s lifespan. Rendezvous in Paris: Picasso, Chagall, Modigliani & Co showcased more than 80 works of art by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, Marc Chagall, Juan Gris, Chaïm Soutine, Constantin Brancusi and Tamara de Lempicka.
Meanwhile, Rembrandt, Vermeer & the Dutch Golden Age: Masterpieces celebrated the works of great Dutch painters and included the unveiling of Head of a Young Man with Clasped Hands by Rembrandt van Rijn – which now finds itself part of the museum’s permanent collection.
In 2018, Japanese Connections: The Birth of Modern Décor explores the strong link between Japanese and French art.
The 10,000 Years of Luxury exhibition included 350 fascinating items from across the worlds of fashion, jewellery, visual art, furniture and design from the fifteenth century up until present day.
Currently, running until October 18, the Furusiyya: The Art of Chivalry between East and West exhibition explores how ancient battles were fought, and the roles knights and female warriors played on the battlefield.
Little Louvre
Louvre Abu Dhabi is also a family affair where kids can engage with art in the main galleries as well as at the dedicated Children’s Museum. Offering family-friendly exhibitions and activities, little ones can learn about artistic techniches, history and develop an interest in art and culture.
Catered to children from six to 12, the space is designed to nurture creativity and inspire the next generation of creatives.
Edible art
Legendary French chef Pierre Gagnaire has created the menu for the classy restaurant inside Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Fouquet’s Abu Dhabi has now opened inside the iconic museum and offers a new dining experience at the attraction, as well as a super-cool bar.
It’s inspired by the Parisian brasserie of the same name, which has just celebrated its 120th birthday. It’s a smart restaurant so no shorts, please.
Tue-Sun noon-3pm; Tue-Wed & Sat-Sun 7pm-midnight; Thu-Fri 7pm-1am (02 205 4200).
Exciting events
There’s also more to do inside Louvre Abu Dhabi than marvel at works of art.
In the past three years a host of events and festivals have been held including the Rain of Light Festival, Big in Japan Festival and more.
You can now even kayak around the museum during the day or at night for a different perspective of the iconic structure.
Events are taking a break at the moment but we’re sure we’ll see many more inside the museum in the coming years.
It’s not too expensive to enter, either, and currently children under the age of 18, taxi drivers and those over the age of 60 get free entry to the museum, so there’s never been a better time to pay a visit.
Enjoy exploring.
Museum entry Dhs63, free for under 18s and over 60s. Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, www.louvreabudhabi.ae (600 565 566).
SNAP SHOT
Ten facts about the iconic museum (most of them about the dome…)
It’s built on a 97,000 sq m site.
Engineers had to move 503,000 cubic meters of sand to lay the foundations for the museum.
It was planned to be part of a vast “museum city” that includes 55 white buildings inspired by traditional Arab medinas, which will also include Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The museum has 23 permanent galleries.
The dome that covers the Louvre is 36 m-high and weighs 7,500 tonnes – almost as much as the Eiffel Tower.
The dome appears to float, as its four pillars are hidden within the museum.
It is composed of eight superimposed layers: four outer layers in stainless steel and four inner layers separated by a steel structure that is five metres high.
The layers of the dome create a ‘rain of light’, where each ray of the sun must cross through all eight layers to reach the ground, creating an ever-shifting pattern.
Indoor exhibition spaces cover an area of 8,600 sq m while the galleries cover 6,400 sq m and showcase 600 works of art.
Louvre Abu Dhabi was set up under a 2007 inter-governmental agreement between Paris and Abu Dhabi.
