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Museums and Art Galleries in Abu Dhabi 

SAADIYAT ISLAND

Just a five-minute drive from downtown Abu Dhabi and one hour from Dubai, the 27-square kilometre island, which will be divided into seven districts, is located 500 metres off the coast of Abu Dhabi city.

abu dhabi saadiyat islandLinked to the mainland by two major highway bridges, Saadiyat Island is being developed to become a world-class leisure, residential, business and cultural hub, and promises to be a cultural haven for art aficionados.

Upon completion, it is set to become the world’s largest single concentration of premier cultural institutions, which will include Zayed National Museum (opening 2016), the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (Opening 2017), Louvre Abu Dhabi (opening 2015), a performing arts centre and maritime museum. Not only will these cultural institutions house art masterpieces, but having been designed by architectural greats like Lord Norman Foster, Frank Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Zaha Hadid and Tado Andao, the buildings themselves will undoubtedly be unique works of art.

In addition to its mesmerizing array of artistic institutions boasting world-class architectural styles, Saadiyat Island, which literally means the ‘Island of Happiness’, will also feature a beachfront tourist destination with several five-star hotels, resort-like waterfront homes for more than 145,000 residents, ocean-view golf courses, a New York University campus, and a bustling business hub, all designed and built with a stout environmental consciousness.

The Saadiyat Island project is in various stages of completion with the the region’s first championship beachfront golf course, the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, already open since January 2010. Jawaher Al Saadiyat, a collection of 10 luxury show villas was open to the public from April 17th.

For more information about the status of the project go to: www.saadiyat.ae

MANARAT AL SAADIYAT

Manarat Al Saadiyat means ‘the place of Enlightenment’. It is a 15,400 square metre arts and culture centre, designed to bring the vision of the island to life through The Saadiyat Story. The venue also features four gallery spaces.
Located on Saadiyat, this artistic venue houses TDIC exhibitions with international collections from around the world, including three major galleries, a central events gallery, sales centre, 250-seat theatre, and restaurant. 
Open daily from 10am – 8pm 
Entrance is complimentary.

SAADIYAT ISLAND CULTURAL DISTRICT EXHIBITION

The exhibition held at the Emirates Palace showcases the development plans for the Cultural District of Saadiyat Island. With stunning live-sized models of the Zayed National Museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi, a performing arts centre and maritime museum, this exhibition is an absolute must-see.
It is open daily from 10am to 10pm and entrance is free.

THE FOLKLORE GALLERY

One of the oldest art and picture framing galleries in Abu Dhabi, the Folklore Gallery has a large display of local art and pottery.
It is located on Zayed 1st Street in Khalidiya.
Call +971 02 6660361 or e-mail: info@folkloregallery.net for more information.

HEMISPHERE DESIGN STUDIO & GALLERY

Featuring a wide array of art work, prints, photographs and crafts by local artists, Hemisphere on Khalifa Street also hosts regular exhibitions, events and even art classes.
For more information, call +971 2 676 8614.

GHAF ART GALLERY

Located near Khalidiyah Gardens, this trendy gallery hosts exhibitions featuring both local and international artists.
For more information, call +971 2 665 5332.
HERITAGE VILLAGE

Run by the Emirates Heritage Club, this reconstruction of a traditional oasis village provides an interesting glimpse into the emirate’s past. Traditional aspects of the desert way of life, including a campfire with coffee pots, a goats’ hair tent, and a falaj irrigation system, are attractively displayed in the open museum. There are workshops where craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills, such as metal work and pottery, while women sit weaving and spinning. The craftsmen are happy to share their skills, and may occasionally give you the chance to try them out.
Opening Times: Saturday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm, and Friday from 3.30pm to 9pm
Where: near Marina Mall, Breakwater, Abu Dhabi city
Telephone: +971 2 681 4455
Email: info@torath.ae
Website: www.torath.ae

EMIRATES NATIONAL AUTO MUSEUM

This museum is an amazing private collection of H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan. The collection houses a vast array of cars and other vehicles; some seemingly bought from owners there and then, such as a customised camper van, others received as presents from all around the world. While some have been kept as originally intended, others have been modified to suit the Sheikh's preference. You will find several Mercedes, one in each colour of the rainbow for each day of the week. And they are all fitted with conveniences such as refrigerators and TV. A number of other vehicles are also rainbow coloured or have a rainbow logo painted on them and have matching seats and hubcaps. There are a number of military vehicles into which children are allowed to climb; one even has a golfing range on top. The Dodge comes in all sizes but none is as impressive as the 5-metre-high model with a complete apartment under its roof. It was parked next to some dune-bashing monstrosities and a shiny see-through disco car.

The Emirates National Auto Museum is located about one hour drive south of Abu Dhabi, on the E65 road to Liwa Oasis.
Timing : Open daily 9am-1pm , 2pm-6pm (Timing may vary)
www.enam.ae

AL AIN NATIONAL MUSEUM

Standing next to the Eastern Fort in Al Ain, the National Museum compiles relics and illustrative findings from the Stone Age until the early days of the United Arab Emirates. To understand life and cultures from the region's past, the museum is a must visit.
The museum consists of two main sections:
-The Ethnographic Section illustrates the life of people occupying the region during the pre-oil era. It highlights remarkable phases in the life of a typical citizen at that time such as birth, education, marriage, and working life. The section displays some old versions of the Holy Quran, manuscripts, women clothes and cosmetic materials.
-The Archaeological Section exhibits the antiquities of the country's ancient ages in a chronological order beginning with the Stone Age, then the Bronze Age (The third and second Millennium BC), over the Hellenistic eras, and ending with the Islamic Ages. Discoveries of these various ages such as stone tools, ironware, bronze ware, in addition to pottery and arrow heads, are all displayed in this section. Moreover, this section highlights the modern developments and the cultural transition, which the country witnessed following the discovery of oil with all its socio-economic impacts.

The Al Ain National Museum lies downtown, on the east side of Al Ain Oasis, coming from Abu Dhabi on the left side of Zayed bin Sultan Street, near the Murabba’ Roundabout.
www.abudhabi.ae

AL AIN PLACE MUSEUM

Qasr al-Ain (Al Ain Palace) is one of the most important cultural places in Al Ain City and one of the best restored forts of Abu Dhabi Emirate. The family rooms and administration facilities are kept and furnished true to the original fort when HH Sheikh Zayed resided in the palace prior to 1966, and give a lively impression of everyday life in a ruler’s fort. It is considered a symbol and a memorial for the modern history of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Enterance to the museaum is free.

Al Ain Palace Museum lies in the southeastern section of Al Ain City, near the commercial area on the road leading to the Industrial Area (Sinaiyya).
www.abudhabi.ae

QASR AL HOSN

Despite the skyscrapers towering above its white walls today, Qasr Al Hosn (also known as Al Hosn Palace or White Palace) has remained a landmark and icon of Abu Dhabi, telling the story of rulership by the Al Nahyan family going back to the 18th century. The palace is linked to the Cultural Foundation, which accommodates exhibitions, arts workshops and classes, as well as cultural events, operated by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH). The Qasr Al Hosn festival is held every year in February.

Qasr Al Hosn is located next to the Cultural Foundation, between Al Nasr Street, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street, and Sheikh Zayed the First Street, opposite the Etisalat Tower.
www.abudhabi.ae

AL HILI ARCHEOLOGICAL PARK

The village of Al Hili, about 12 km north of Al Ain City, has become internationally known for its archaeological excavations which were conducted starting in the late 1960s. Teams from universities around the world have discovered remains of a settlement and tombs dating back to the third millennium BC, which provide unique insights into early life in the region. To make the findings accessible to the public, the Abu Dhabi Government built Al Hili Archaeological Park around the sights. Here, people can discover the early history of Abu Dhabi Emirate in a relaxed garden atmosphere, which has made the sights a popular destination for weekend-trips. Next to Al Hili Archaeological Park is Hili Fun City, a family park with numerous attractions, such as picnic facilities, roller coasters and the Al Ain Ice Rink.

Al Hili Archaeological Park lies 12 km from the Al Ain National Museum near Dubai Highway.
www.abudhabi.ae
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