Facing the desert, the Abu Dhabi Louvre opens its doors

With sand dunes, date palm trees and futuristic skycrapers as neighbors, this mushroom city that always attracts more high-end shoppers, is a new cultural edition sprouting from the desert within the United Arab Emirates. Similar to a mirage floating on turquoise waters, the local Louvre is the first universal museum of the Arab world.

The Louvre, at the heart of the United Arab Emirates

Conceived as a sanctury of precious art works by architect Jean Nouvel, it welcomes the public, since the 11th of November 2017, on the island of Saadiyat (the island of happiness). In cooperation with 12 French public establishments, gathered unde the aegis of the Agence France Museums, its 30 rooms present ancient and contemporary works, of international cultural and sociological interest, stemming from the entire world. Far from being an exact replica of the Louvre, it is the reflection of its era and local traditions. Its principle is to benefit from collections on loan for ten yeras, coupled with their own patrimony, all according to a breakdown by school, by technique and by material to explore the convergences between eras and civilisations.

Materials and lights mingle under the blue sky of Abu Dhabi. © MS

The pure lines of this interior courtyard make water a living element of the concept. © MS

A bridge between cultures and civilizations

Under a cupola with a diameter of 180 meters, featuring open-work lacing like the leaves of interlaced palms, letting in sunlight , this major project transforms the artistic scene of the Middle-East. At its beginning, it shelters, amongst other items, a gold bracelet, with lion figureheads, manufactured in Iran, some 3 000 years ago, a gold brooch and garnets from Italy, dating back to the 5th century, an octogonal box from China, a Virgin and Child by Bellini, paintings by Jordaens, Caillebotte, Manet, Gauguin, Magritte, a collage by Picasso and 9 canvases by American painter Cy Twombly. For sure, visitors will live an intense experience in this city-museum, only 7h by air from Paris…

The spectacular view point shows the scope of the project and its ambition. © MS