Louvre Abu Dhabi set to open on November 11

The first Louvre is set to open on November 11, 2017, in the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi after nearly a decade of planning and construction. His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) and Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), said, “Louvre Abu Dhabi embodies our belief that nations thrive on diversity and acceptance, with a curatorial narrative that emphasises how interconnected the world has always been. The museum represents the latest innovation in a long-standing tradition of cultural preservation nurtured by the founding leaders of the UAE. Louvre Abu Dhabi forms one element of Abu Dhabi’s cultural strategy, which safeguards our rich heritage and catalyses creativity. Investment in a vibrant cultural ecosystem supports the UAE’s economic diversification and development as a modern, dynamic society. Louvre Abu Dhabi will inspire a new generation of cultural leaders and creative thinkers to contribute to our rapidly-changing and tolerant nation.”
Tickets for the museum will cost 60 AED for general admission and 30 AED for ages between 13 and 22, as well as UAE education professionals. Free entry will apply to members of the museum’s loyalty programme, children under 13 years, ICOM or ICOMOS members, journalists, and visitors with special needs (referred to visitors with determination in the UAE) as well as their companion.
The architect behind this work of art is Pritzker Prize winner, Jean Nouvel. The French architect has been inspired by the neighbouring Al Ain district which has brought out the vast silvery dome of the museum city (Arab medina) with natural light impending through the spaces which makes it stand out from the rest of the world.
Her Excellency Françoise Nyssen, the French Minister of Culture said, “The opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi on November 11, 2017, will be a milestone in the development of the cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and France, ten years after the signature of the inter-governmental agreement. This museum is one of the most ambitious cultural projects in the world, brought to light by Jean Nouvel’s exceptional architectural masterpiece. With the expertise of its cultural institutions and loans from its national collections, France is particularly proud to play a significant role in the completion and the life of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and so for several decades to come.”