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Just 500 metres off the coast of Abu Dhabi city, the 27-square kilometre
Saadiyat Island is undergoing remarkable transformation to become a world-class leisure, residential, business and cultural hub of global proportions, housing the world’s largest single concentration of premier cultural assets.
These will include Zayed National Museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi, a performing arts centre and maritime museum which, combined, will make up the world’s largest single concentration of premier cultural institutions. All these prestigious cultural assets have been designed by architectural luminaries such as Lord Norman Foster, Frank Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Zaha Hadid and Tado Andao respectively.
saadiyat.ae
Manarat Al SaadiyatThis purpose-built visitor centre – Manarat Al Saadiyat brings Saadiyat Island's vision to life. This exciting artistic venue will host a dedicated space for touring international cultural and art exhibitions, and has been designed in line with international specifications to house a variety of art pieces. The centre will eventually encompass four major galleries, a central events space, sales centre, 250-seat theatre and restaurant and is opening in phases. Currently two galleries have opened to the public. The state-of-the-art Saadiyat Island exhibition, ‘The Saadiyat Story,’ is on permanent display and provides visitors with an interactive narrative on the history and cultural vision behind the island. Additionally, the ‘Arts Abu Dhabi Gallery’ is a permanent space for a series of exhibitions and educational programmes organised by Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC).
saadiyat.ae
artsabudhabi.ae
Cultural District exhibition
Open daily from 10am to 10pm at Emirates Palace, this exhibition charts the plans for the renowned Cultural District of Saadiyat Island. The exhibition traces the plans for the Zayed National Museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi, a performing arts centre and maritime museum which, combined, will make up the world’s largest single concentration of premier cultural institutions. Their designs are on display.
Entry is free.
Emirates Palace
Art Galleries
Abu Dhabi is home to several reputable galleries featuring interesting exhibitions of local art and traditional Arabian artefacts. Please see listed below:
Gallery One
A space within Emirates Palace which is programmed by Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) Cultural Department as part of an ongoing programme of art exhibitions and cultural events in the lead up to the Saadiyat Island Cultural District. Exhibitions are accompanied by a series of workshops for all ages, which take place at the Education Room of Gallery One.
To date, international high profile exhibitions at Gallery One are; The Arts of Islam: Treasures from the Nasser D Khalili Collection, Picasso Abu Dhabi, Emirati Expressions, Talking Art: Louvre Abu Dhabi, The Guggenheim: The Making of a Museum, and A Story of Islamic Embroidery in Nomadic and Urban Traditions.
artsabudhabi.ae
+971 2 690 8207
The Folklore Gallery
A great place to browse displays of local pottery and art, and has an excellent framing service.
Khalidiya Street
Hemisphere Design Studio & Gallery
An independent gallery showcasing works by local artists
Khalifa Street
+971 2 676 8614
Gallery One
Inside the Souk at Qaryat Al Beri, has a range of beautiful photographs and artwork that can be printed onto canvas and mounted, or rolled up into a suitcase friendly tube.
Barakat Gallery
Specialises in ancient art with genuine antiquities from China, Egypt, the Near East, Africa, Greece and Rome. Items vary widely and include statues, jewellery, coins, necklaces and pottery.
Emirates Palace
Ghaf Art Gallery
The funky Ghaf Art Gallery stages exhibitions showcasing local and also sometimes international artists, with new talent regularly exhibiting. The gallery is near Khalidiyah Gardens.
Al Khaleej Al Arabi St, Al Khalidiyah
+971 2 665 5332, ghafgallery.com
Al Ain
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Al Ain National Museum
On the edge of Al Ain Oasis, this museum was opened in 1971, and is the showcase for the city’s unique heritage and history. It is housed in the same compound as the Sultan Bin Zayed Fort (also known as the Eastern Fort), which was built in 1910 and is very well preserved. Divided into three main sections – archaeology, ethnography and gifts – its presentations illustrate various aspects of life in the UAE and include an interesting selection of photographs, as well as Bedouin jewellery, musical instruments, weapons, and a reconstruction of a traditional majlis.
The archaeology displays are extensive, and include many artefacts from the nearby Hili Gardens, so it is helpful to visit the museum before the gardens. Some of the displays, such as the one from Garn Bint Saud (12 kilometres north of Hili), date back to the first millennium BC. The gifts section houses an unusual collection of gifts that Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan received during his lifetime. It includes golden swords, silver daggers and a golden palm tree, among others. The labelling on all displays is in English and Arabic.
Timings:
8.30am - 7.30pm (Saturday - Thursday)
3pm -7.30 (Friday)
Closed on Monday
Entrance: AED 3 (Adults); AED 1 (Children under 10 years old)
+971 3 764 1595, aam.gov.ae
Al Ain Palace Museum
The Al Ain Palace Museum (also known as the Qasr Al Ain Museum) is near the commercial area on the road to Sinaiyya. Built in 1910, the museum was once the home of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and was also a hub of the city’s political life. The palace was turned into a museum in 1998 and now holds a large collection of material concerning the ruling family.
Timings:
8.30am - 7.30pm (Saturday - Thursday)
3pm -7.30 (Friday)
Closed on Monday
+971 3 751 7755, aam.gov.ae
Al Ain University Natural History Museum
For those interested in the UAE’s flora and fauna, this museum is a small but informative centre run by the university. It includes a herbarium and collections of various species of animals and birds. A collection of rocks, minerals and fossils is also on display.
8am – 4pm (Sunday - Thursday)
+971 3 7134 224
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