It has been a decade coming but those who said the Louvre’s Middle East outpost would never open have been silenced. I first saw the beautiful models of the design by French architect Jean Nouvel, with its Islamic inspired metal roof, in 2007. At that time there were to be five museums on Saadiyat Island but at least two have been shelved, including most probably the Frank Gehry Guggenheim.
The new Louvre, built on the £18 billion manmade island that boasts a Ferrari World theme park as its other main attraction, will open in November. Buying the Louvre’s name cost Abu Dhabi £663 million and today that looks like a good deal: the Louvre branding is estimated to be worth £344 million for the duration of the contract. A series of exhibitions and loans will see masterpieces from the Paris HQ brought before an audience with a growing appetite for, and appreciation of, art and culture.
Opens at the end November
on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
www.louvreabudhabi.ae
Photo © Mohamed Somji
