Throughout history, culture and creativity have proven repeatedly that they can foster dialogue and mutual understanding by showing us that we have more in common than we know.
The unifying strength of cultural connectivity lies at the heart of Saadiyat Cultural District, a home to global museums and institutions located on Saadiyat Island, a coastal enclave close to the UAE capital’s city district.
Saadiyat Cultural District celebrates and supports equitable culture and represents a continuation of Abu Dhabi’s historical role as a meeting place of
civilisations. Due for completion by the end of 2025, the District is poised to solidify Abu Dhabi’s role as a nexus of cultural innovation and dialogue, profoundly impacting the UAE and beyond.
As a vibrant cultural centre, the District will intertwine the rich heritage of our past with the dynamic promise of the future, celebrating a legacy of enlightenment embraced by the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Saadiyat Cultural District’s leverages the catalysing power of culture to unite, inspire and open minds. Its unique museums and cultural institutions, housed in innovative architectural spaces, bringing together a diverse curation of collections, initiatives and programs from the UAE, region, and around the world.
Together, the District’s institutions tell stories of human history, connection and creativity, acting as a cultural bridge between the global north and global south.
Opened in 2017, Louvre Abu Dhabi, is recognised for its innovative, Jean Nouvel-designed architecture and has attracted over 5 million visitors to date. Its unique curatorial approach places objects from different cultures side by side, in dialogue, to explore key moments of cultural encounters and intellectual exchange.
These include the Asante Stool of the Queen Mother from 19th century Ghana embodying the rich heritage and artistic prowess of the Asante people. In 2025, the museum plans to deliver Kings and Queens of Africa: Forms and Figures of Power, an impressive exhibition of African art and history explored through the lens of the continent’s royalty.
Other cultural institutions currently welcoming visitors from around the world include Berklee Abu Dhabi, which offers music, performing arts and educational programs to talent from the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, and Manarat Al Saadiyat, a centre for artistic expression and home to global annual cultural events such as the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Art Fair.
Currently reaching fruition in the District are the Zayed National Museum, designed by Foster Partners, which will celebrate the history and culture of the United Arab Emirates as well as the life and works of Sheikh Zayed.
The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, designed by Dutch architects Mecanoo, will take visitors on a 13.8-billion-year journey through the history of the universe and life on Earth curated through the lens of Abu Dhabi. The museum’s scientific and research institute is also set to educate and inspire a new generation of scientists, academics and curators.
The District will also be home to one of the most anticipated museums in the region, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Designed by Frank Gehry, the museum will create a dynamic space for modern and contemporary global art within the emirate’s cultural fabric. Among its permanent collect is Earth’s Skin, (2007) by globally-renowned Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui who converts found materials into a new type of media that lies between sculpture and painting.
Also underway is teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, an immersive, interactive experience sitting at the intersection of art and technology. Housed in a purpose-built structure, its futuristic installations will provide visitors with ever-changing artworks to spark endless imagination and curiosity.
Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District is a celebration of the diversity of our shared culture, mapping the past, present and future. The District sends a powerful message of the strength of cultural exchange and the importance of fostering global connections. It is a platform capable of promoting, through the power of the arts, new ways of thinking about the future of humanity and our planet.
Executive biography: HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak
A member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak is shaping the future of Abu Dhabi across the culture, tourism, real estate, leisure and entertainment sectors. He shares Abu Dhabi with the world, positioning the UAE capital as a vibrant city to live, work and play.
The post Abu Dhabi harnesses the power of culture to unite us appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.
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