Life
Saadiyat Cultural District is home to Louvre Abu Dhabi, Manarat Al Saadiyat, teamLab Phenomena and the future home of soon-to-open cultural destinations Zayed National Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi that invite discovery and information exchange.
Saadiyat Cultural District Abu Dhabi versity of the UAE’s multi-cultural eco-system with renowned institutions that support preserving the region’s heritage while embracing a forward-looking vision. “Saadiyat Cultural District invites people from the UAE, the region, and the world to experience the transformational, uniting power of art and culture, and how these pillars of human expression unite us all. Collectively, these museums are repositories for education, innovation, imagination, and possibility. Our goal is that the District’s impact will be felt for generations to come,” shares His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT).
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Opened in 2017, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is the first universal museum of the Arab world. Recognised for its breathtaking architecture, the museum continues its legacy in the region through stories of cultural connections across cultures through a line-up of well-curated exhibitions and performances in its programmes that create a unique space that brings the community together.
Zayed National Museum Abu Dhabi
On track for completion this year, Zayed National Museum aims to celebrate the rich history, culture, and stories that highlight the narratives of its people from ancient times to modern day. Exploring over 300,000 years of history, landscapes, languages, and culture, it also tells the story of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose enduring example still guides the nation and its people today. Through its exhibitions, research and public programmes, Zayed National Museum explores the legacy and cornerstone values grounded in solidarity, tolerance, among others, that Sheikh Zayed embodied and their lasting influence on the country he founded.
teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi
If you haven’t heard of teamLab Phenomena yet, the multi-sensory experience by a Japanese art collective that creates other-worldly immersive digital experiences with next-generation storytelling has opened in the capital’s cultural district. Officially launched on April 18, 2025, it comprises mesmerising interactive exhibits within the 17,000 square-meter space that play with light, sounds, shape, video, and movement. teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi resides at the intersection of art, theatre, technology, and theme park.
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi
The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi aims to put a spotlight on the evolution of the universe through engaging site-specific installations and immersive displays that serve as educational resources. Not only does it aim to ignite the minds, but the museum is also thinking ahead with initiatives set in place before the opening to encourage women to pursue careers in the fields of science, archaeology, and conservation. “We hope that through our programmes that highlight different characters and people from this region that we don’t normally hear about, young girls and women will be encouraged to enter these fields. There is so much potential here and so many routes to go down, it is just a case of finding the area you are interested in and following that,” says Noora Abdulla Albalooshi, Assistant Curator at the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
Set to be completed in 2025, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be the region’s enigmatic destination for contemporary art, showcasing artworks from across the globe housed under a floor area of 80,000 square meters designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry. This collaboration between DCT and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation will comprise 28 galleries with an international collection of artworks commissioned for the exceptional spaces within the museum. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will also serve as a thought-provoking forum for research and cultural dialogue amongst artists, scholars, curators, and other like-minded creative thinkers through a dynamic programme that explores the careers of individual artists and the histories of art movements.
– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Images: Supplied
