The Spectacular Louvre Abu Dhabi

In perfect timing, the Louvre Abu Dhabi opened to the public just before Fred and El arrived in Dubai.

So, naturally, we had to go and see it!

Armed with multiple articles about the best artifacts/artworks to see and the tickets we booked online to ensure entry, we headed out early in hopes of arriving as it opened and thereby missing at least a bit of the crowds.

Although busy when we pulled in, we were able to secure parking quite close to the entrance and our online tickets allowed us to walk right by the long line of visitors waiting to secure their entrance.

The only hiccup was the line-up for the audio guides. The staff were dealing with more than half of the new headphones not working, which they solved only by sending a staff member to the nearest mall to buy new Beats headphones.  El used her own headphones, and Beth and Geoff found that if you bent the cords in just the right way and held it like that with your thumb, then they would at least work out of one ear. And Fred, well he managed to find, and be accepted into, a live walking tour of the Museum, thus not needing the audio guide at all!

A few small growing pains aside, the stunning Louvre Abu Dhabi is undoubtedly well-worth a visit! 

The exhibit tracked the evolution of history, and is a true blend of east and west.  With Middle Eastern and Asian influences, Cabinets of Curiosity and some of the Western notables like Van Gogh, Monet, Degas and Da Vinci, it highlighted the evolution of the world with an international perspective.  

What was especially enjoyable was understanding the global influences that many of the well-known Western artists had used in their works such as Gauguin’s fascination with Japanese culture.  In addition, the commonalities between the different cultures was highlighted through a comparison of artifacts, such as the frequent use of gold for death rituals around the world.

The Louvre’s building, however, is perhaps the most impressive.  Surrounded by water, the 180-metre dome allows beams of light to shine down during the day, reminiscent of the overlapping palm trees in the UAE desert.    The various rooms and open air spaces are connected by small walkways, an ode to the city design of the traditional UAE.

Perhaps too busy to take in all of the nuances of the Museum – the map of the UAE integrated into the floors, the writings engraved into the walls – we look forward to heading back in a few months to check it out all over again!

After an educational morning, we headed to the St. Regis Abu Dhabi for a relaxing outdoor lunch to share our thoughts about the museum and take in the beautiful views. 

The drive back to Dubai was a quick one and we changed our clothes and headed out to City Walk's Grapeskin Restaurant for some wine and cheese.  As a last adventure, we dropped by a nearby Fashion Show for a final few pics before Fred and El headed off on the next stage of their travel adventure.