AN OASIS OF ARTS IN THE DESERT

LOOK UP THE MINUTE you enter and be blown away by a canopy of 7,850 unique stars. The stainless steel and aluminium ceiling of the metallic silver dome – a major symbol of the structure – with eight layers of cladding, provides muchneeded shade peppered b

interesting angles, giving the sensation of the leaves of swaying palm trees or the temporary shelter of the captivating souks. Welcome to the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The genius behind this low-lying open-air arched roof of 180 meters and 7,700 tons is the Pritzer Prizewinning architect Jean Nouvel.

This architectural marvel of a museum was built on a dry dock of 24,000 square meters on the Saadiyat Cultural District with a cluster of 55 minimalistic buildings, all separate galleries, geographically independent of one another, interspersed on several sides by sparkling seawater. It has 6,400 square meters of galleries.

Spanning a total of ten years of negotiation and planning, two years of construction and the employment of over 800 workers at a time, it finally opened its doors to the public in November 2017. It was inaugurated in the presence of the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; and President of France Emmanuel Macron.

The exact cost of this noble project is unknown. However, resident friends in the Emirates who heard it through the grapevine, ventured the undertaking reached a grand total of €1 Billion.

A portion of the expenditures are dedicated to art loans and art shows – four are scheduled per year for 15 years – to include the temporary exchange of between 200 to 300 masterpieces.

This includes the entire package, such as being associated with the Louvre branding – this is the first museum to bear the Louvre name outside France – as well as management advice, plus a generous donation to the French sister structure to refurbish an entire wing.

Still the Louvre in Paris and the Louvre Abu