The Louvre Museum in Paris signed a Dh1.92 billion agreement allowing the museum in Abu Dhabi to use its name for three decades, and it has been 15 years since the French Parliament initially gave its approval for the project.
A fly-past by an Etihad A380, a stunning light show, and traditional Emirati dances were all part of the inauguration celebration for the first universal museum in the Arab world.
It was a special day, according to Manuel Rabate, director of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, who was speaking at the time. “You see individuals from everywhere,” he says, “Together, Emiratis, foreigners, and visitors were enthralled by the dome, the artwork, and the Children’s Museum.”
“Abu Dhabi has now been designated as the capital of art, architecture, and human legacy thanks to the opening of this museum,” he continued.
Louvre Abu Dhabi has always attempted to investigate universal humanity and the elements that unite rather than distinguish the world’s many civilizations. From One Louvre to Another: Opening a Museum for Everyone, the museum’s inaugural special exhibition, was infused with this spirit and featured 150 works of art from the Palace of Versailles and the Louvre Museum, including statues, paintings, and ceramics from all over the world.
“The arrival of the worldwide renowned masterpiece, Saint John the Baptist, as Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrates its fifth anniversary is symbolic of our lasting relationship with our partners in France and reaffirms Abu Dhabi’s status as a global cultural center,” said Rabate when it arrived.
If the exhibitions and collections at Louvre Abu Dhabi are any indication, the best is yet to come. It was built to astound visitors for centuries.