Guggenheim Abu Dhabi to open in December 2026 expanding UAE’s global cultural presence

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has announced that Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will open its doors on 11 December 2026, marking a major milestone in the emirate’s cultural journey and further strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global destination for arts and culture.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is a museum of modern and contemporary art that will serve as a space for encounter, exchange and dialogue. The museum will connect cultures, inspire audiences and celebrate art from the 1960s to the present, bringing together diverse artistic perspectives from around the world.

With a distinctive identity shaped by Abu Dhabi’s cultural landscape, the museum will reflect stories from the United Arab Emirates and the wider region while placing them in conversation with global artistic practices. It will also encourage younger generations to explore modern and contemporary art and engage with new ideas and perspectives.

The museum will join the growing community of cultural institutions in Saadiyat Cultural District, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. Together, these institutions are positioning Saadiyat as one of the world’s most significant cultural destinations.

As part of the Guggenheim constellation of museums in New York, Venice and Bilbao, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will have its own identity, rooted in the history and cultural heritage of Abu Dhabi and the wider region, which has served as a crossroads of culture and trade for centuries.

His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said the opening of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi represents a defining moment in the emirate’s cultural journey.

The museum, he said, reflects Abu Dhabi’s long-standing belief in culture as a bridge between peoples and a foundation for forward-looking societies. It will bring new perspectives to modern and contemporary art while creating opportunities for learning, creativity and cultural exchange.

Dr. Mariët Westermann, Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, said the foundation was proud to continue its longstanding partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi in developing a museum of contemporary art of global scope and ambition.

The museum’s collection is both local and global, centred on the region while featuring works from all continents. Through its exhibitions and programmes, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will explore diverse stories and perspectives and provide a space for curiosity, connection and engagement with art.

Envisioned as a platform for dialogue, the museum will bring together perspectives from different geographies and generations through modern and contemporary art. Its programme will span a wide range of media, including painting, sculpture, installation, photography, moving image and new media.

The museum will present art as a dynamic and evolving conversation across time and place, while reflecting Abu Dhabi’s role in supporting artistic innovation and creative production.

Designed by the late Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate Frank Gehry, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is located on Saadiyat Island, where land and sea meet. The architecture forms an integral part of the visitor experience, with interconnected spaces designed to encourage exploration and discovery.

The building will feature 30 galleries arranged around a central atrium and connected by ten sculptural cones that form a distinctive element of its skyline. Nine cones will be clad in stainless steel mesh, while one will feature onyx and glass.

Reaching heights of up to 88 metres, the cones will provide natural ventilation and shade, contributing to the building’s energy efficiency while shaping its distinctive architectural character.

The museum will include 11,600 square metres of interior gallery space and 23,000 square metres of outdoor exhibition areas, with a total built-up area of approximately 80,000 square metres.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi has been developing its collection of modern and contemporary art since 2009. The collection will reflect and advance Abu Dhabi’s role as a catalyst for creative production and innovation in the arts.

Visitors will be invited to explore the collection through a series of interconnected themes reflecting major developments in art since 1960, including Abstraction, Popular Culture, Land, Language and Storytelling.

Rather than following a strictly linear chronology, the displays will explore relationships and connections between artworks, artists, geographies and generations. This approach will offer visitors different ways to understand modern and contemporary art as a source of knowledge, expression and connection.

The opening of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will mark a significant addition to the cultural landscape of the UAE and further strengthen Saadiyat Cultural District as an international centre for art, culture and creative exchange. More information about the museum’s collection and commissioned works will be announced in the coming months.