Abu Dhabi Opens its Own Louvre Museum

In order to experience cultural masterpieces in one of the greatest homes of art in the world, travelers no longer need to venture to Paris, France, or Florence, Italy. After a five-year setback and a final price tag of more than $500 million, the Louvre Abu Dhabi finally opened its doors Nov. 11, 2017.

Both interior and exterior design elements of the new museum pay homage to forms of art that span time and the globe. Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the new Louvre is laid out like a typical Middle Eastern medina with a pinnacle-domed roof that rises over the Arabian Gulf.

The décor of the museum is a marvel in itself, but, inside the museum walls, guests can enjoy both permanent and temporary exhibits, some on loan from Paris’s Centre Pompidou and Rodin Museum. Rather than organizing the art by time period or style, the galleries instead are arranged by themes, some include Asian Trade Routes, Civilizations and Empires and Universal Religions. Museum curators designed the exhibits this way in order to encourage conversation about human commonalities and what brings us together as a species.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is open every day except Mondays and admission is approximately $16 for adults.