This International Museum Day on Sunday 18 May, Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi is the ultimate destination for culture lovers
This International Museum Day on Sunday 18 May, Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi is the ultimate destination for culture lovers.
From ancient artefacts and contemporary exhibitions to immersive digital art and hands-on workshops, there’s something to spark your imagination with experiences continuing all month long.
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At the heart of it all is Louvre Abu Dhabi, offering free entry for UAE residents on 18 May from 10am to midnight (galleries open until 8.30pm).
Explore global masterpieces and don’t miss Kings and Queens of Africa, a powerful exhibition running until25 May, celebrating the legacy and leadership of African monarchs through art and artefacts.
Families can drop by the Children’s Museum, where Picturing the Cosmos blends art, science and play in a creative space made for young minds.
Plus, on 18 May, you can join the final Drawing at the Museum session (4.30pm–6.30pm), where a museum educator leads guests through sketching techniques inspired by the permanent collection.
For a different kind of brushstroke, Bassam Freiha Art Foundation is hosting a textured art workshop, Art Beyond the Surface, on 27 May at 6pm. The hands-on session encourages creative exploration through touch, texture and layered technique, no experience needed.
A short stroll away, Manarat Al Saadiyat continues to be a vibrant hub for creativity. Its Art Studio offers daily workshops and drop-in sessions for all ages, covering everything from ceramics to painting.
Meanwhile, a major exhibition in collaboration with the Seoul Museum of Art is on show until 30 June, spotlighting Korea’s dynamic contemporary art scene through bold themes and boundary-pushing works.
You might also like: Café Ginori debuts at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island in exclusive Middle East First
Craving something more experimental? Step into teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, the island’s newest immersive art experience.
Now open, this 17,000-square-metre space invites guests to explore 20+ interactive artworks that blur the line between technology, nature and art where no two visits are the same.
Looking ahead, Saadiyat Island continues to shape the future of culture in the region with the much-anticipated arrival of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and the Natural
History Museum Abu Dhabi. These landmark institutions will add even more depth, diversity and global relevance to the island’s already rich cultural offering.
Whether you visit for a day or keep coming back all month, Saadiyat Island promises a cultural experience like no other; inspiring, engaging and ever evolving.
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