The Louvre Abu Dhabi is Nearing Completion

Since its first announcement over five years ago, construction on the Louvre Abu Dhabi has been continous over on Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island and the new museum is set to open soon, as was shared on the official Louvre Abu Dhabi Twitter account recently.
 

Construction of the museum is in its final stages, and an opening date to the public is expected to be announced any time now, following a period of preparation and testing.

Of course, this piece of news has created an international buzz, as it's being touted as the largest art opening of 2017. 

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In anticipation of the museum's opening, we take a look at exactly why this is one opening we should all be looking forward to...

Louvre Abu Dhabi is a universal museum, born of an intergovernmental agreement

Back in 2007, representatives of the city of Abu Dhabi and France signed an intergovernmental agreement that drew the framework for the implementaton of Louvre Abu Dhabi, which includes loans from French museums for a decade. 

It will be a place of discovery, exchange and education

And will no doubt play a crucial social role in the United Arab Emirates. The museum will house diverse collections of artworks, for the purposes of public display and scientific study. Plus, the museum will house major objects from the fields of archaeology, fine arts and decorative arts for all to see. 

It's unique architectural design has already received global recognition

Louvre Abu Dhabi was designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect, Jean Nouvel, and was nominated in the Times of London's 10 buildings to get excited about in 2017 alongside California's Apple campus and Denmark's Lego House. 

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Louvre Abu Dhabi is located on Saadiyat Island

Saadiyat Island is one of the Emirate's natural islands located along the coast, and is set to become home to iconic cultural institutions. The area will be home to the Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in the future, soldifying the island's reputation as a Cultural District. Already, the island offers a wide range of developments that reflect hospitality, leisure, education, business and retail for visitors and residents to enjoy. 

It has a huge, 180 meter white dome covering the museum

Perhaps the most striking feature of the innovative Louvre Abu Dhabi design is its large, white dome that stretches 590 feet in diameter. Its design combins modern architecture, while also drawing inspiration from the region's traditions and Arabian traditions, evoking a mosque, mausoleum and madrasa. In fact, the design itself is inspired by the interlaced palm leaves that used to be traditionally used as roofing materials.