The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi announced Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will open its doors this December, further strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global capital for the arts.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is a museum of modern and contemporary art and will be a space for encounter and exchange, promoting a more connected and diverse global community through art. The museum has a unique identity and vision, shaped by Abu Dhabi’s artistic landscape and designed to reflect the United Arab Emirates’ stories and beyond, encouraging curiosity among younger generations about modern and contemporary art.

The museum joins a growing community of museums and cultural institutions in Saadiyat Cultural District, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, positioning the district as one of the world’s most significant concentrations of cultural institutions. Part of the Guggenheim constellation of museums in New York, Venice and Bilbao, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi brings a distinct identity shaped by Abu Dhabi’s legacy, in a region that has been at the crossroads of culture and trade for millennia.

“Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is a defining moment in our cultural journey,” said His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman, Department of Culture and Tourism. “The museum is shaped by the emirate’s long-held conviction that culture is the most enduring bridge between peoples and a building block for forward-looking societies. It brings new perspectives to modern and contemporary art, shining a light on art from all around the world. As a key element of Saadiyat Cultural District, the museum will create transformative new opportunities for learning, creativity, and cultural exchange, inspiring future generations to explore their own potential. Here, everyone belongs and can see themselves reflected in the stories the museum tells, engaging with ideas and artistic voices from across the world.”

Spanning a wide range of artistic media, including painting, sculpture, installation, photography, moving image and new media, the museum presents art as a dynamic and evolving conversation across time and place.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi reflects Abu Dhabi’s role as a catalyst for artistic innovation and creative production, fostering meaningful connections between artists, ideas and audiences. Placing the visitor at the center, the museum offers an open exploratory experience, where each journey unfolds across interconnected narratives of time, place and theme.

Designed by late Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Frank Gehry, the museum is located on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, a meeting point between land and sea. Extending the visitor journey through interconnected spaces, the architecture of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is an integral part of the artistic experience. The museum is designed to impress at every level. The building features 30 galleries that unfold across the interior, connected by a central atrium and 10 sculptural cones that punctuate the building’s dynamic skyline.

Spanning 409,000 square feet of interior gallery space and 247,000 square feet of outdoor exhibition areas, the landmark encompasses a total built-up area of 861,000 square feet, reinforcing its role as one of the most significant museum developments, suited to the impressive size, variety of media and experimental character of art since 1960.

Since 2009, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi has been building a growing collection of modern and contemporary art reflecting and advancing Abu Dhabi’s role as a catalyst for creative production and innovation in the arts. Guests are invited to engage with art on their own terms, shaping individual pathways through galleries that consider major vectors of art since 1960, such as Abstractions, Popular Culture, Land, Language and Storytelling.

More information about the collection and commissions will be announced in the coming months.