Louvre Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi · United Arab Emirates · Founded 2017
Quick answer
Louvre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates — the Louvre Abu Dhabi is an art and civilization museum, located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Open Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM; closed Mondays. Admission: 63 AED standard admission. Allow 2–3 hours.
Visitor information last reviewed 30 June 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
Louvre Abu Dhabi at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM |
|---|---|
| Closed | Mondays |
| Admission | 63 AED standard admission |
| Free or reduced entry | Under 18 free always · First 8 days of each month free for UAE residents |
| Booking | Tickets usually available on the day |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
| Getting there | Taxi: Saadiyat Island — 20 minutes from central Abu Dhabi city, best by taxi or rideshare |
| Address | Saadiyat - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates |
| Official website | louvreabudhabi.ae |
Checked 2026-06-30 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is Louvre Abu Dhabi known for?
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is an art and civilization museum, located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The museum was established on November 8, 2017 by French President Emmanuel Macron and United Arab Emirates Vice President Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
It is part of a thirty-year agreement between the city of Abu Dhabi and the French government. The museum is located on the Saadiyat Island Cultural District. It is approximately 24,000 square metres in size, with 8,000 square metres of galleries, making it the largest art museum in the Arabian peninsula.
Artworks from around the world are showcased at the museum, with stated intent to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western art.
The museum's stunning architectural design, created by Jean Nouvel, features a massive webbed dome that creates a 'rain of light' effect, filtering sunlight through intricate geometric patterns.
Best for: Art Lovers · First-timers · Rainy-day visits
How long do you need at Louvre Abu Dhabi?
Allow 2–3 hours. A focused route through 3 must-see highlights at Louvre Abu Dhabi without museum fatigue. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
Portrait of a Young Woman
📍 Chapter 12, Modernity
One of the most intimate portraits by the leading painter of the French Revolution.
- 2
La Belle Ferronnière
📍 Chapter 3, Universal Religions
A portrait attributed to Leonardo depicting a young woman of the Milanese court.
- 3
The Last Supper (after da Vinci)
📍 Long Gallery
A rare full-scale oil-on-canvas copy of da Vinci's wall painting made within decades of the original, preserving details since lost to deterioration.
What are the must-see works at Louvre Abu Dhabi?
3 highlights that define the collection: Portrait of a Young Woman, La Belle Ferronnière, The Last Supper (after da Vinci).
Portrait of a Young Woman
Jacques-Louis David · 1800
📍 Chapter 12, Modernity
One of the most intimate portraits by the leading painter of the French Revolution. The young woman's direct gaze and loosened hair give this commission an unusual psychological intensity.
La Belle Ferronnière
Leonardo da Vinci · c. 1495–1499
📍 Chapter 3, Universal Religions
A portrait attributed to Leonardo depicting a young woman of the Milanese court. The model's three-quarter pose and her direct gaze — unusual for the time — suggest she was a person of significance rather than a passive subject.
The Last Supper (after da Vinci)
Workshop of Leonardo · 16th century
📍 Long Gallery
A rare full-scale oil-on-canvas copy of da Vinci's wall painting made within decades of the original, preserving details since lost to deterioration. One of only a handful of near-contemporary copies in existence.
Collections and highlights
- • Fountain of Light installation
- • Bactrian Princess
- • Virgin and Child by Giovanni Bellini
- • Portrait of a Lady by Pablo Picasso
- • The Rain of Light dome
How do you get to Louvre Abu Dhabi?
- taxi Saadiyat Island — 20 minutes from central Abu Dhabi city, best by taxi or rideshare
- bus Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities buses to Saadiyat Cultural District
Address: Saadiyat - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
Louvre Abu Dhabi: frequently asked questions
How is the Louvre Abu Dhabi different from the Louvre in Paris?
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is a completely independent museum that shares only the name and a temporary loan arrangement with the Louvre in Paris. Under a 30-year intergovernmental agreement signed in 2007, France loans artworks from the Louvre and other major French museums to Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi museum focuses on 'universal history of humanity' — presenting art from all civilisations chronologically rather than by culture or region, to show the parallels between Eastern and Western art across time.
What is the 'Rain of Light' at the Louvre Abu Dhabi?
The Rain of Light is the effect created by the museum's extraordinary white dome, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. The dome — 180 metres in diameter and weighing 7,500 tonnes — is made of eight interlocking geometric layers of perforated steel and aluminium, creating a complex arabesque pattern inspired by traditional Islamic lattice screens. As sunlight moves across the dome throughout the day, thousands of tiny light shafts filter through, creating the illusion of dappled light falling on the galleries, water, and buildings below.
What are the must-see works at the Louvre Abu Dhabi?
Highlights include the Bactrian Princess (2500–1500 BCE) — a rare composite statuette found in Central Asia combining stone, gold, and bitumen; Virgin and Child (c. 1480) by Giovanni Bellini; Portrait of a Lady by Picasso; Fountain of Light (2016) by Ai Weiwei — a 7-metre chandelier of crystal and steel; and a rotating selection of major loans from French institutions, which can include works from the Louvre, Versailles, the Musée d'Orsay, and the Centre Pompidou.
Is the Louvre Abu Dhabi worth visiting?
Yes — the Louvre Abu Dhabi is considered one of the finest museums in the Middle East and one of the most architecturally significant museum buildings in the world. The Jean Nouvel dome alone justifies a visit. The collection, while smaller than the Paris Louvre, is curated to tell a genuinely cross-cultural narrative of human history. The waterfront setting on Saadiyat Island, with views over the Arabian Gulf, adds to the experience. Allow 2–3 hours for the main collection and exhibition.
How do I get to the Louvre Abu Dhabi?
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is located on Saadiyat Island, approximately 10 minutes by taxi from central Abu Dhabi. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM (closed Mondays). Standard admission is 63 AED. Free parking is available on site. The museum is a 1.5-hour drive or 1-hour express bus journey from Dubai.
How long should I spend at Louvre Abu Dhabi?
Plan 2–3 hours for the highlights of Louvre Abu Dhabi. Our 3-stop route — Portrait of a Young Woman, La Belle Ferronnière, The Last Supper (after da Vinci) and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
Is Louvre Abu Dhabi open on Mondays?
No — Louvre Abu Dhabi is closed every Monday. It is open Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM. Plan a different museum for that day, and check the official website for holiday changes.
What are Louvre Abu Dhabi's opening hours?
Louvre Abu Dhabi is open Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM, and closed Mondays. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
Is Louvre Abu Dhabi free to visit?
Not for everyone. Standard admission: 63 AED standard admission. Free or reduced entry: Under 18 free always; First 8 days of each month free for UAE residents.