Local and regional artworks from eminent collections to be displayed

Opening its doors on 11th November in the capital of the UAE, artworks and artefacts from the region will be displayed alongside Louvre Abu Dhabi’s permanent collection and 300 loans from the Louvre Museum and 12 leading French partner museums.

Together, they will tell a universal story of art from pre-history showcasing archaeological findings to contemporary times with installations of established regional artists.

Highlights of loans from the region include a prehistoric stone tool dating back to 350,000 BCE, a milestone indicating the distance from Mecca in Kufic inscriptions, a funerary stele from Mecca dating back to 700–900 CE (100–300 AH) from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, a collection of over 400 silver Dirham Coins from the Abbasid Caliphate of Iraq, the Samanid Dynasty and the Saffarid Dynasty discovered in Sidamah (al-Waqba) in 2005 CE (1425 AH) from the National Museum – Sultanate of Oman, and an 8000-year-old two-headed figure from Jordan’s Department of Antiquities called Ain Ghazal Statue.

HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, President and Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, said, "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are a model of close brotherly relations among states. Such ties are based on having total cohesion and integration towards various visions, issues and matters of mutual interest."

One of these common interests is the field of tourism and national heritage, Prince Sultan bin Salman Al-Saud went on to say, adding, "Cooperation in the fields of tourism and national heritage is an extension of this model partnership which aims to build on the distinguished relations between the two countries and to strengthen social and economic ties between them, as per the directives of the leaderships of the two states."

The partnership culminated with the signing of an agreement for the establishment of a coordination council between the two countries in May of 2016, as well as the signing of an agreement regarding the loaning of artefacts.

"The opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi in November 2017 is a significant international cultural event particularly on the regional level, given that it is a result of the cooperation between leading global cultural establishments. This will reflect the local culture of the UAE in particular and the region in general given its important role in presenting human history and achieving a more mature understanding of the convergence of different cultures. This event will contribute to creating an attraction for specialists and those interested in culture, and will provide a unique and rich opportunity for tourists in the region. In addition to being a unique model representing modern museums, one where beautiful architectural design is integrated with attractive artistic content and mesmerising displays attracting all segments of society with their different cultures and interests. The National Museum of Saudi Arabia is proud to be associated with the Louvre Abu Dhabi as one of the partners in creating this international cultural event," Prince Sultan bin Salman continued.

Displayed in the museum’s first gallery for visitors to explore humanity’s earliest artistic expressions are loans from the UAE, including a precious pendant dating back to 2000-1300 BCE from the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah. Also displayed in the gallery will be a painted Neolithic vase from the island of Marawah, the oldest ceramic vessel yet discovered in the country. In addition, a fragment of stucco from an ancient church in Sir Bani Yas, as well as an axe-head from Al Ain Museum dating 1000–600 BCE, will be shown. These loans embody the UAE’s rich cultural heritage, and tell the story of the country’s strong historic connections with the wider world, completing the universal narrative of Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Mohamed Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said, "We are proud to have the collections displayed in Louvre Abu Dhabi, the first museum to open in the Saadiyat Cultural District and to share the UAE’s story alongside other cultures. We have always aimed to build strong partnerships with cultural institutions in the region in order to share knowledge. Louvre Abu Dhabi’s visitors will learn about the UAE’s rich past and contemporary art scene through these loans, which was a crossroad of many civilisations, leading to our cosmopolitan city of today."

Louvre Abu Dhabi will be the first of the future Saadiyat Cultural District museums and will open to the public with a display of loaned artworks from the collections of Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Zayed National Museum will lend a selection of calligraphic works on paper, including Ottoman scrolls containing important paintings, texts and letter forms from the region. A selection of works from Guggenheim Abu Dhabi’s collection by renowned artists such Abdullah Al Saadi (1967), the late Hassan Sharif (1951–2016) and Ibrahim El-Salahi (1930) will feature in the contemporary chapter of Louvre Abu Dhabi’s display.

Manuel Rabate, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, commented, "Louvre Abu Dhabi is the first museum of its kind in the Arab world – a universal museum that focuses on shared human stories across many different civilisations and cultures, but remains shaped by the unique history of its region. Displaying these artworks demonstrates the collaboration between the local and regional institutions help to tell the story of art from a Middle Eastern perspective, and supports the ongoing cross-cultural exchange and understanding which Louvre Abu Dhabi embodies."

Ahmed Obeid Al Tonaiji, Director-General of the Department of Antiquities and Museums in Ras Al Khaimah, said, "As members of the antiquities and museums sector, we have a great responsibility to protect and preserve our historical heritage. Promoting understanding of our nation’s history is a central priority for our leadership. Preserving our artworks, artefacts and historic treasures is a core mission for the UAE’s cultural institutions; however, equally important is making them accessible to the public through creative and innovative displays. This commitment is reflected today in the opening of this great cultural institution, Louvre Abu Dhabi."

Jamal Al Musawi, Director-General of National Museum of the Sultanate of Oman, said: "Stemming from the distinguished relationship between the National Museum – Sultanate of Oman and Louvre Abu Dhabi, represented by the Department of Culture & Tourism, we are pleased to announce a loan of selected artefacts from our permanent collections that stand for their historical and aesthetic dimensions. The aim of this loan is to promote principles of mutual cooperation, and to highlight the cultural role of Oman through the ages as a bridge for human interaction, which is consistent with the noble message held by Louvre Abu Dhabi, as a cultural monument that is founded to strengthen the cultural communication and human understanding among the peoples of the world."

Dr Munther Jamhawi, Director General of Department of Antiquities of Jordan, said: "Here is the newly established Louvre Abu Dhabi which emphasises the importance of preserving the heritage and history of humanity. The cooperation between the Department of Antiquities of Jordan and Musée du Louvre in Paris contributed to this cooperation with Louvre Abu Dhabi through the display of Ain Ghazal Statue, a great finding that dates back to the 8th millennium BCE. It also highlights the close collaboration between both countries, the UAE which is ruled by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Jordan ruled by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein. We congratulate the UAE for the opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi and we support the museum through the longstanding cultural cooperation to the bring awareness and share knowledge in the region."

Louvre Abu Dhabi includes 6,000 square metres of galleries, exhibitions, a Children’s Museum for visitors aged 6 to 12, a research centre, a restaurant, a boutique and a café. Architect Jean Nouvel’s ‘museum city’ (Arab madina) under a 180-metre dome, comprised of almost 8,000 unique metal stars set in a complex geometric pattern. Visitors can walk its promenades overlooking the sea beneath the dome as the sunlight filters through, creating a moving ‘rain of light’, reminiscent of the overlapping palm trees in the UAE’s oases and traditional souqs.