Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is located on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. ARCHIVE
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will officially open its doors on December 11, adding another landmark attraction to the UAE capital’s growing arts and culture district on Saadiyat Island.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced on Tuesday (July 28) the long-awaited opening date for the museum, which has been under development for years and is expected to become one of the world’s leading destinations for modern and contemporary art.
Designed by acclaimed architect Frank Gehry, the 80,000-square-metre museum is the largest Guggenheim museum in the world. It will feature 30 galleries connected by a central atrium, with 11,600 square metres of indoor exhibition space and a further 23,000 square metres dedicated to outdoor exhibitions.
The museum’s distinctive design includes 10 towering cones, some reaching up to 88 metres high. Nine are wrapped in stainless steel mesh while another is finished in onyx and glass. Beyond their striking appearance, the structures are designed to improve ventilation and provide natural shade, helping reduce energy consumption.
Saadiyat Island’s growing museum district
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi joins a world-class collection of cultural institutions on Saadiyat Island, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi.
Together, the museums are positioning Abu Dhabi as one of the world’s fastest-growing cultural destinations. Unlike other Guggenheim museums, the Abu Dhabi institution has spent more than 15 years developing its own permanent collection since 2009. Museum officials say it has been designed to reflect both regional artistic perspectives and global contemporary movements.
Its inaugural exhibitions will be organised around themes rather than chronological periods, exploring subjects such as abstraction, popular culture, language, land and storytelling.
More details about the opening exhibitions and commissioned artworks are expected in the coming months.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, described the opening as a landmark moment for the emirate. “The museum is shaped by the emirate’s long-held conviction that culture is the most enduring bridge between peoples,” Al Mubarak said.
He added that Guggenheim Abu Dhabi would create “new opportunities for learning, creativity and cultural exchange.”
Dr Mariët Westermann, Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, said the museum’s collection reflects both regional and international perspectives.
“The museum’s art collection is uniquely local and global, centred in the region but with works from all continents,” she said.
Fourth Guggenheim museum
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi becomes the fourth museum in the Guggenheim network, joining its sister institutions in New York, Venice and Bilbao.
The opening represents another milestone in Abu Dhabi’s long-term vision of establishing itself as a global centre for arts, culture and creativity, with Saadiyat Island continuing to attract visitors from around the world through its growing collection of internationally recognised museums. CAM/Expat Media
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