Abu Dhabi will finally open the doors to its version of Paris’s iconic Louvre on November 11.
The ambitious project has faced five years of delays due to the economic crisis caused by a drop in oil prices.
Abu Dhabi’s Louvre, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel himself, is nothing short of show-stopping.
A web-patterned dome gives the illusion it is hovering above the water on Saadiyat Island.
Made from seven layers of steel, the dome filters sunshine through to the artworks concealed within.
The special effect will cause the covering’s patterns to change by the hour.
Art will be brought in from all over the world to be showcased to international tourists at the middle eastern site.
The museum is yet to reveal the entrance fee, only that it will be “acceptable to all”, according to Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.
Chairman Mohammed Al Mubarak told Bloomberg the Louvre will “will speak to everybody – it’s not going to speak to a specific culture or to specific people”.
For the year-to-date from January to September last year, UK visitor arrivals spiked 28.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2015.
The CEO of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Tourism Development Authority believes the booming holiday spot has a multi-faceted appeal.
Haitham Mattar said: “The diversity of the land in Ras Al Khaimah is one of its main points of differentiation from anywhere else in the UAE.
“Our natural assets include 64km (40 miles) of pristine beaches, the highest mountains in UAE (1180 miles), hot springs, a unique terracotta desert, and rich flora and fauna.”
