Frank Gehry’s highly anticipated museum is set to open on Saadiyat Island later this year
One of Abu Dhabi’s most anticipated cultural openings is getting closer, and now we have a better idea of what to expect from the building itself.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi has revealed new details about the architectural vision behind the museum, which officially opens on 11 December 2026 in the Saadiyat Cultural District.
Designed by the late Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry, the museum has been conceived specifically for its Abu Dhabi setting, drawing inspiration from the emirate’s coastline, climate, landscape and cultural heritage.
Rather than simply housing galleries, the architecture has been designed as part of the visitor experience, with shaded courtyards, terraces and outdoor exhibition spaces creating a connection between the museum and its surroundings.
The building will feature 28 galleries, 11,600 square metres of interior gallery space and 23,000 square metres of outdoor exhibition space, within a total building area of 84,000 square metres. The layout has been designed to give artists plenty of flexibility, with spaces capable of accommodating everything from large-scale installations to more intimate works.
One of the most distinctive elements is a collection of 10 monumental cones, nine clad in stainless steel mesh and one finished in onyx and glass. As well as giving the museum its instantly recognisable silhouette, the cones have a practical purpose, helping to create shade and encourage airflow through the courtyards and terraces.
The design takes its cues from the museum’s position between land and sea, too. Its orientation, movement through the building and public spaces have all been influenced by the surrounding coastline and the wider Saadiyat Cultural District.
Inside, the museum will focus on modern and contemporary art from the 1960s to the present, bringing together artists and perspectives from around the world through its collection, exhibitions, commissions and research. The programme will take a transcultural approach, looking beyond traditional geographical and chronological categories to explore artistic connections, exchanges and networks.
The building itself will also be part of the story. As part of the inaugural programme, an exhibition dedicated to Frank Gehry will explore the creative process behind Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, using original sketches, early models and archival material to show how the project evolved in response to the emirate.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is the result of a collaboration between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, and joins Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and other major cultural institutions in the growing Saadiyat Cultural District.
With its opening now just weeks away, the museum is entering its final phase ahead of welcoming visitors from the UAE and around the world.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi opens on 11 December 2026. Tickets are now available via guggenheimabudhabi.ae
