Art-fuelled iftars and history walks at Louvre Abu Dhabi for Ramadan
Louvre Abu Dhabi has organised a series of activities, iftars and exhibitions to mark Ramadan, many of which are free to attend.
From art-fuelled iftars to talks highlighting the UAE’s architectural characteristics, here are some of the events to attend at Louvre Abu Dhabi this Ramadan.
History walks
Louvre Abu Dhabi will hold guided art walks across its Islamic collection every Tuesday at 11am throughout Ramadan. The tours will trace the developments of the Islamic world’s art. Tickets to the walk are priced at Dh100, including admission to the museum.
Al Manama
Emirati architects and urbanists Ahmed and Rashid bin Shabib will reintroduce the traditional values of the Gulf to citizens and residents alike through three different manamas.
Al Manama in Arabic means “a place to rest and sleep”. It also refers to the summer pavilions built across the Arabian Gulf. In the local context of the UAE, the manama is a structure often seen in mountains. It allows heat to be trapped within the ground and keeps animals outside.
Much like the Japanese tea house or the Mongolian yurt, Al Manama is a historic architecture that is native, made using sustainable forms of construction to keep the temperature cool.
The three manamas at Louvre Abu Dhabi will each serve a different purpose. They will consist of a majlis, a library and an exhibit with film screenings and archival displays. The manamas will be unveiled on April 4 and will be up at the museum until April 23. Access to them will be free with museum admission tickets.
Heritage talks
The Bin Shabib brothers will hold two talks centred on the history and heritage of UAE architecture as part of Al Manama project.
The first will revolve around the design of the manama and will take place on April 5. The second, taking place on April 11, will examine the ecological influences of the architectural feature. Both talks will be held at 10pm at the Auditorium Plaza. They will be free to attend.
Performances
Oud maestro Naseer Shamma will collaborate with visual artist Nja Mahdaoui, who is best known for his kaleidoscopic calligraphy works, in a live performance organised by Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre.
The performance will take place at 10pm on April 7. Though free to attend, the event requires prior registration.
Iftars
Louvre Abu Dhabi will be hosting several iftars during Ramadan. While some will feature specific cuisines, others will strike a mood with the museum’s surrounding art and culture.
Salt Camp will take place daily until April 30. It will be held between 4pm and 2am each night at the museum’s park, with visitors sitting around a fire pit.
Fouquet’s Abu Dhabi is holding an elegant iftar every day of the week except for Monday, serving a special Emirati-French fusion menu. Open all day, it accepts bookings and walk-ins. The iftar costs Dh390 per person.
Aptitude Cafe will hold a set menu iftar, featuring authentic Middle Eastern as well as international cuisines. Running throughout Ramadan on Saturdays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the cafe will be accepting guests between 6pm and 12.30am. The iftar is priced at Dh165 per person.
For a more laid-back affair, Manoushe Night will be offering street food found across the Mediterranean and souqs in the region. The event will be running every Thursday and Friday throughout Ramadan. There is no set price as guests can order a la carte.
It’s not just Middle Eastern fare either, with the museum offering pizzas inspired by Ramadan recipes every Tuesday from today.
During Ramadan, Louvre Abu Dhabi will be open from 10am to midnight, Tuesday to Sunday. Galleries will close at 6.30pm on weekdays and 8.30pm on weekends. The museum will remain closed on Mondays.