Louvre Abu Dhabi

Location: Jacques Chirac St., Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi

Hours: Open daily except Monday; 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Galleries and exhibitions close at 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Louvre Abu Dhabi is the Abu Dhabi branch of the world-renowned Le Louvre or Musée du Louvre, the result of a partnership between France and the United Arab Emirates. It is the first universal museum in the Middle East, featuring artwork from all over the world and presenting art as a historical narrative with a global context.

Louvre Abu Dhabi is a feast for the senses. The enchantment begins with its stunning architecture featuring a cupola-inspired, ‘floating’ roof that lets dappled rays of light into the museum complex. The shallow dome roof appears weightless, but at 7,500 tonnes, it’s actually 200 tonnes heavier than the Eiffel Tower metal frame.

Louvre Abu Dhabi has a grand vestibule, an Intersection and 11 galleries distributed across four wings.

Wing 1

• (Gallery 1) The First Villages
• (Gallery 2) The First Great Powers
• (Gallery 3) Civilisations and Empires

Wing 2

• (Gallery 4) Universal Religions
• (Gallery 5) Asian Trade Routes
• (Gallery 6) From the Mediterranean to the Atlantic

Wing 3:

• (Intersection) Cosmography
• (Gallery 7) Thinking the State
• (Gallery 8) First Globalisation
• (Gallery 9) A New Art of Living

Wing 4

• (Gallery 10) A Modern World
• (Gallery 11) Challenging Modernity

Louvre Abu Dhabi has approximately 600 masterpieces in its permanent collection. It also consistently updates its exhibits with loans.

Additionally, the museum hosts seasonal art exhibitions. For instance, Art Here is an annual exhibition showcasing the work of contemporary sculpture and audio-visual installation artists in the Gulf Cooperation Council. The museum also often holds interactive exhibits for children.

Etihad Modern Art Gallery

Location: Villa 15, Al Huwelat Street, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi

Hours: Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Etihad Modern Art Gallery, located behind Al Bateen Mall, is a private art gallery that holds monthly contemporary art exhibitions showcasing the work of Emirati, Arab and international artists. These art exhibitions are often free of charge.

The gallery also provides art consultancy services. It can help businesses and individuals develop their art concepts, advise which art pieces fit interior designs and facilitate art commissioning, sourcing and procurement. It also offers made-to-order sculptures, perfect for corporate gifting.

Manarat Al Saadiyat

Location: Jacques Chirac Street, Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi

Hours: Open daily; 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Manarat Al Saadiyat sits behind the UAE Pavilion designed by Norman Foster. It’s the same pavilion that debuted at the 2010 World Exhibition in China, was brought back piece-by-piece to Abu Dhabi and was installed in the Saadiyat Cultural District. This complex is a centre for the arts and cultural activities and events in Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi.

Manarat Al Saadiyat regularly hosts art exhibitions in its three galleries. They showcase world treasures, regional and local arts, private collections, photography exhibits, contemporary art, and interactive displays.

Manarat Al Saadiyat also has art and photography studios. The art studio is a favourite venue for art workshops and classes. It has fully equipped spaces for educational sessions as well as an open-plan area for bigger events and collaborative projects.

The photography studio hosts photography meetups, competitions and events. Photographers can rent a studio for shoots; there is a makeup and dressing room for their convenience. The photography studio also has a digital lab for post-production.

Warehouse 421

Location: Al Rutam St., Zayed Port, Al Mina, Abu Dhabi

Hours: Open daily except Monday; 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Warehouse 421 regularly hosts solo and group exhibitions by emerging and established local and regional artists. The curated exhibitions can be about anything, including architecture, social causes and anthropology. It can be in any medium, including works on canvas, sculptures, installations, photographs, video, audio, text, and performance art.

Warehouse 421 also holds film screenings, culture bus trips, talks, workshops, and other events.

Art Galleries in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has no shortage of art galleries. If you love or collect art, you will surely enjoy a trip to Abu Dhabi. Start your rounds by visiting Louvre Abu Dhabi, Etihad Modern Art Gallery, Manarat Al Saadiyat, and Warehouse 421.

Saadiyat Island is a luxurious leisure and recreation destination in Abu Dhabi with six five-star hotels offering pristine beaches and stunning ocean views. It also has a thriving cultural district that is home to two of the galleries on this list, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Manarat Al Saadiyat. Book your visit soon.