The Louvre Abu Dhabi is composed of white cuboid buildings under a honeycomb-style dome that filters sunlight into the galleries. This relatively new museum houses everything from prehistoric to contemporary artworks. Highlights include Leonardo da Vinci’sLa Belle Ferronnière, a 6th-century sphinx, early Chinese pottery, and paintings by Whistler and Klee. The collection is on loan from the Louvre Paris and other French museums, and some items are rotated periodically.
Tours include simple ticket-and-transfer options that ferry you between hotels in Abu Dhabi or Dubai and the museum, and let you explore independently. Skip-the-line tickets are also available. Visitors can also opt for a broader full-day city tour where the Louvre is just one element alongside attractions such as the Grand Mosque.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is a must-visit for art, history, and architecture buffs.
Pay extra for an iPad guide, or download a free guide app beforehand for background on the exhibits.
The Louvre has a Children’s Museum with displays and interactive workshops designed to get youngsters interested in art and history.
Relax over coffee, snacks, or a meal at the coffee shop or café-restaurant.
The museum is wheelchair accessible, and offers parking and secure lockers.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is easy to reach from Abu Dhabi. If you’re driving, take the Sheikh Khalifa Bridge to Saadiyat Island from the Zayed Port area before following the signs at the E12 junction. Otherwise, hail a cab or catch a No. 94 bus from Abu Dhabi bus station.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is closed Monday. Open hours are 10am-8pm Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; and 10am-10pm Thursday and Friday. Morning is a nice, quiet time to experience the full beauty of the sunlight-filtering dome.
If you’re visiting independently and would like to tour the museum with a guide, consider joining one of the tours offered by the Louvre. They usually begin at 10:30am, but be sure to double-check before arriving.
