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The vibrant capital of the United Arab Emirates is a spectacle of beautiful beaches and dazzling architecture, fuelled by its oil-rich history. In the past decade, a lot of care and consideration has been poured into developing the city’s cultural landscape. Below, we’ve compiled a guide to help you dive into Abu Dhabi’s buzzing art scene and explore the exciting Saadiyat Island development, which translates to “island of happiness”.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi

You could, and should, devote an entire day to exploring the mesmerising Louvre Abu Dhabi and its breath-taking design. Architect Jean Nouvel, winner of the Pritzker Prize, has created a staggering space blending tall white-stone galleries and stretches of water, creating striking reflections and angles within an atmosphere of calm. The museum is home to a mixture of permanent displays and a rotation of exhibitions on loan from its Paris outpost.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

No trip to Abu Dhabi can be complete without a visit to the outstanding Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, whose beautiful minarets can be seen from many points across the city. The mosque was built in 2007 and is named after the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, who championed the idea of building a grand mosque in the city. The building blends elements of Persian culture with Arabic design and Indo-Islamic influences.

Manarat Al Saadiyat Arts Center

In the centre of the Saadiyat Island development, and only a 10-minute drive from your hotel, the Manarat Al Saadiyat Arts Centre is the famous host of the annual Abu Dhabi Art, an international art fair showcasing both modern and contemporary talent and drawing a prestigious crowd from around the globe to visit each November. Throughout the rest of the year, visitors can enjoy a packed calendar of exhibitions, talks and films.

Abu Dhabi Art Hub

The Abu Dhabi Art Hub is a longstanding artistic community in the United Arab Emirates and provides a platform for artists of all ages to enjoy workshops. The community has two bases in the city, one at the mall at the World Trade Center Abu Dhabi, and a galleria on Al Maryah Island.

Coming soon…

Saadiyat Island already has more exciting projects underway, including the much-anticipated launch of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, which will be designed by Frank Gehry. More culture projects include a scorching hot list of renowned architects including Sir Norman Foster, who will design the impressive Zayed National Museum and the late Zaha Hadid’s exceptional performing arts hall. Tadao Ando is also dreaming up the design for the city’s Maritime Museum.

To learn more about exciting activities to enjoy during your stay, speak to our Concierge team at Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort.