Highlights of the Day
Today we visited the only Abu Dhabi Louvre museum — one of the only two Louvres in the world. While its exterior felt understated at first, the play of sunlight beneath its geometric dome transformed the experience into something quietly breathtaking. In the afternoon, a visit to Abu Dhabi Mall gave us a different view of Ramadan —colorful, lively, and full of joy. The day ended with a view from our hotel window: palm trees, white villas, and a soft sunset that captured the stillness and grace of Abu Dhabi.
Logistics
Accommodation: Abu Dhabi Marriott Hotel Al Forsan
Transportation: Rental Car
🖼️ Two Louvre Museums in the World
There are only two Louvre museums in the world: the famous one in Paris, and another, lesser-known gem in Abu Dhabi, which we visited today.
The story behind this Louvre is as bold as the ambition of Abu Dhabi itself. Determined to establish the Middle East’s first world-class art museum, Abu Dhabi pulled out all the stops. Just look at the numbers:
• €400 million to license the “Louvre” name for 20 years
• €747 million for temporary exhibitions, curation, and expert consulting over 10 years
• €600 million to build the museum
Designed by renowned French architect Jean Nouvel, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is an architectural statement. But to be honest, when I first approached it, I felt a bit underwhelmed. From afar, all I could see was a flat gray dome. The main building is low, and the tone muted—if I hadn’t known it was an art museum, I might have walked right past.
🖼️ A Global Museum – Walk Through Time
Inside, the museum is vast, with collections spanning prehistoric artifacts to modern art. With limited time, we could only browse through, but a few pieces left a deep impression:
• Golden masks from the Andes (we saw something similar in Greece!)
• A two-headed statue from Jordan
• Glazed Tang dynasty figurines from China
But the most powerful piece was Rodin’s Socrates and Truth. The dynamic energy between the two figures was unforgettable, almost like the marble could speak.
☀️ A Roof of Light – A Surprising Goodbye
Just before leaving, we looked up from the inner courtyard and finally saw the underside of that massive gray dome—and it completely changed my view.
Layered like a woven web of geometric patterns, the dome lets sunlight filter through, casting soft patches of light across the floor. The light shifted as we walked, sometimes sharp, sometimes gentle. It made me slow down, take a breath, and soak in the beauty. A poetic farewell.
🚧 A Surprise Beyond the Louvre
As we stepped out of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a striking structure under construction in the distance caught our attention. Curiosity took over—we snapped a photo and zoomed in several times. Finally, we spotted the name Guggenheim on the facade. It turns out that Abu Dhabi is building its own Guggenheim Museum here, likely in partnership with the iconic one in New York. This discovery made it clear: Abu Dhabi is ambitiously shaping this area into a cultural hub—almost like a “Western art village” rising in the heart of the Middle East.
🛍️ A Modern Mall and a Ramadan Surprise
In the afternoon, we visited Abu Dhabi Mall. Like in Dubai, all the restaurants were open despite it being Ramadan. This was a big relief for us—we now knew we wouldn’t go hungry during the day in either city.
What surprised us even more was how festive everything looked. There was an entire section turned into a “Ramadan Village,” filled with cheerful decorations and children playing everywhere. It was completely different from the solemn image we had of Ramadan. Instead, it felt joyful and full of life.
🏎️ Evening Moments – A Car and a Sunset
Back at the hotel in the evening, we spotted a Formula 1 race car displayed in the lobby—a fun surprise!
Looking out from our window, we saw two worlds side by side: lush palm trees on one side, and neat white villas glowing in the soft light of sunset. Everything felt calm, warm, and perfectly Abu Dhabi.
🌍 What’s Next?
Stay tuned for Day ７ as we visit The Yas Island!
Have you ever visited Abu Dhabi Louvre? What part amazed you the most?
Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear them!
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