The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with INPEX corporation (INPEX), a Japanese oil company, via its subsidiary Japan Oil Development, Co., Ltd. (JODCO), to secure a sponsorship of ¥1 billion Japanese yen (equivalent to US$ 7.646 million) for the upcoming teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. This art installation, which is based on the “environmental phenomena” idea by the international art group teamLab, is being established by DCT Abu Dhabi in partnership with Miral, the prominent provider of immersive experiences and destinations in Abu Dhabi.
After the project’s completion in 2024, the exceptional encounter will be available to both visitors and inhabitants. The Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, which houses various significant cultural initiatives such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Zayed National Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, is where teamLab Phenomena is situated.
The MoU was signed by H. E. Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Under-Secretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, and Hiroshi Fujii, President and CEO, JODCO. JODCO has agreed to sponsor teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, contributing to the enrichment of the UAE’s cultural landscape, and will pursue the execution of an official sponsorship agreement following discussions on specific terms.
H. E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating that it would inspire a new generation and ignite imagination and ideas for the future. Saood Al Hosani said that the MoU demonstrated Abu Dhabi’s competitiveness and attractiveness as a destination for commercial partnerships that add mutual value and enrich lives.
The President & CEO of INPEX, Takayuki Ueda, expressed his pleasure in sponsoring teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, stating that the collaboration was a component of their educational, cultural, and environmental activities that supported the core energy business of their subsidiary, JODCO. Ueda went on to say that teamLab’s awe-inspiring work could not be adequately expressed in words, and they were eager to take Emirati children and youth to the art space after its completion to encourage and develop their inquisitiveness, creativity, and imagination. INPEX also plans to offer low-carbon energy solutions to Japan and other nations in cooperation with Abu Dhabi over the next 50 years, while also advancing the relationship between the UAE and Japan via social responsibility initiatives.
The INPEX sponsorship highlights the ongoing partnership between the UAE and Japan, and the creation of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi will provide an exceptional and immersive cultural adventure for both tourists and locals.