Abu Dhabi has grown into a true cultural capital, and nowhere is this more beautifully showcased than at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Since its opening in November 2017, the museum has become one of the city’s most iconic landmarks — and with good reason.
I’ve been fortunate to visit many times as a long-time resident, and each visit reveals something new, whether it’s the breathtaking architecture, the way the light filters through the dome, or the chance to stand face-to-face with masterpieces from around the world.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know to plan your visit and make the most of your time at this extraordinary museum.
- Visiting the Louvre Abu Dhabi: Planning Tips
- What To Expect At The Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Children’s Museum
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Timings
- Admission Pricing For The Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Dining at the Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Kayaking at Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Further Tips For Visiting the Louvre Abu Dhabi
- How to Get to the Louvre From Abu Dhabi
- How To Get From Dubai To The Louvre Abu Dhabi
- What Else Is There To See And Do On Saadiyat Island?
Visiting the Louvre Abu Dhabi: Planning Tips
- The Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum is open six days a week from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM on Weekdays and 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM on weekends (last entry 15 minutes prior).
- The building, including access to the restaurants and the Dome, is open now until midnight, with the last entry at 11:00 PM.
- All venues are closed on a Monday.
- Hours remain unchanged for Ramadan.
- Children under 18 years old are now FREE with an adult (an adult must accompany all under-13s).
- In advance of your visit, you can download a museum audio guide through a free app on your mobile – Google Play or App Store.
- Bring your own headphones to follow the audio guide on your phone.
What To Expect At The Louvre Abu Dhabi
A cultural masterpiece simply not to be missed on your UAE itinerary, the Louvre Abu Dhabi opened to the public in November 2017. The building alone is one of the city’s most incredible landmarks.
The Louvre is one of many ambitious projects set to transform this Middle Eastern city. Marked by its giant metallic domed roof, it is a distinctly modern, eye-catching, and intriguing building.
Describing itself as an art and humanitarian museum, your journey through the Louvre Abu Dhabi begins in the Great Vestibule. From here, you are then walked through numbered galleries covering over 9,200 sqm.
Each transports you through different periods of human history, telling its own story that links smoothly to the next. From the first villagers to the great civilizations and empires, the impact of religion, the growth of trade routes, wealth, worldly perspectives, and modern art.
You can take the galleries at entirely your own pace, following along with the written commentary (each piece is described in English, French, and Arabic). Alternatively, use the audio guides on the museum app in your chosen language for a more detailed description.
The building itself is as much an artwork as the gallery displays. Light and water interplay under the huge domed roof, where your journey through time ends in the magnificent terraces. Whether intentional or not, the metal roof groans and creeks in a hauntingly beautiful way, only adding to the magic of the experience.
After your journey through the main galleries, you will find a special exhibit gallery, a children’s museum, an auditorium, a boutique, and an eatery area.
Louvre Abu Dhabi Children’s Museum
There is a separate Louvre Abu Dhabi Children’s Museum, located outside the main museum complex, which you will reach at the end of your self-guided tour. Designed for 6 to 10-year-olds, it includes additional interactive displays in English & Arabic.
The current installation running is Picturing the Cosmos. It is essential for parents to note that this is not a “stop and drop” service; you are expected to join in with your children and enjoy the interactive displays.
Guided Tour for Kids – Kids App Louvre Abu Dhabi
A great new, fun, and accessible way for children aged 4 years and above to 12 years old to enjoy the Louvre is with a guided tour through their own tablets.
Available in 6 languages (Arabic, English, French, Mandarin, German, and Hindi), Sophia and Rashid will provide your little ones with an accessible journey through Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Download the App in advance, ready for your Louvre visit with kids App Store | Google Play – and remember your headphones!
Is the Louvre Abu Dhabi suitable for kids?
As parents ourselves, Louvre Abu Dhabi is not something we’d put at the top of our family-friendly list of attractions in Abu Dhabi, but it’s certainly not one to miss just because you have kids in tow.
You may not want to stop at every exhibit along the way, but consider downloading the guided tour apps for parents and kids, and allow more time to visit the Children’s Museum at the end.
Allow plenty of time to explore the museum’s outdoor areas as well, and plan a meal stop to keep the little ones happy.
Louvre Abu Dhabi Timings
The Louvre Abu Dhabi complex is open from 10:00 AM to midnight, 6 days a week.
The Galleries at Louvre Abu Dhabi opening times
- Tuesday to Thursday, 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM (Last entry 6:15 PM)
- Friday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM (Last entry 8:15 PM)
- The dome remains open until midnight, last entry at 11:00 PM
- See individual restaurant hours below
- Closed Mondays
Admission Pricing For The Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Standard Admission Ticket AED 65 ($17.70 USD)
- You can now buy a combined Saadiyat Cultural District Museum Pass, which includes the Natural History Museum and Zayed National Museum, for AED 170 ($46.30 USD)
- Complimentary tickets to Louvre Abu Dhabi are offered for:
- Children under 18
- Journalists
- People of Determination (Disabled) + 1 companion
- Louvre Art Club Members
- UAE Nationals 60+
- Youth and teacher pass holders
Dining at the Louvre Abu Dhabi
There are several dining options to suit different budgets at Louvre Abu Dhabi.
- Aptitude Café Open Daily 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Museum Café 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM (closed Monday)
You can also use the cafe’s “Grab and Go” service (10:00 AM to 6:00 PM) if you’d prefer to sit outside on the terrace and enjoy the waterfront views, or you can opt for a full table service meal at the café.
The Art Lounge only opens for the winter season but offers one of Abu Dhabi’s most exclusive rooftop experiences.
- 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM Daily (external guests must reserve in advance if arriving after 6:30 PM)
Fouquet’s Abu Dhabi Restaurant. This Parisian brasserie offers a more formal fine dining experience in the Louvre.
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday:12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Thursday & Friday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
- Fouquet’s Abu Dhabi is closed on Mondays
- Dress code casual chic (no trainers or shorts)
- Booking in advance is highly recommended
The Art Lounge and Fouquets are accessible via Gate 2 after museum closing hours.
Kayaking at Louvre Abu Dhabi
An incredible add-on experience to your Louvre visit is to take a kayak tour through the waterways beneath the museum’s roof. Take on a new perspective of this incredible building, and learn more about the architecture and marine life.
Run by the experienced team at Husaak, the tours last 60 minutes and cost 126 AED (an adult must accompany children aged 6 to 12 years).
Further Tips For Visiting the Louvre Abu Dhabi
- The Louvre Abu Dhabi dress code: Although not explicitly stated, there’s an expectation you will dress modestly in keeping with the local culture and nature of the venue – see more dress code advice for Abu Dhabi
- Bring something warm: Due to the temperature control needed inside the museum, even in the peak of summer, you will probably want a light jacket or scarf/wrap with you to keep warm.
- How long will you need to see the Louvre Abu Dhabi? You could cover most of the museum in one hour moving at a pace, but including a café lunch stop and time to admire the outside areas and gift shop, allow yourself 2.5 to 3 hours, even for the mild enthusiast.
- Louvre closed day: Please note that the museum is closed on Mondays.
- Plan your rests and toilet stops carefully: Plenty of seats are dotted between the galleries for those who feel they need a rest, but we always find the toilets seem to be few and far between; plan accordingly!
How to Get to the Louvre From Abu Dhabi
The Louvre sits on Saadiyat Island, which is only a stone’s throw away from the main Abu Dhabi island. In fact, you may not even notice how many waterways and bridges there are as you cross around the city!
- There is free covered parking on site as well as a paid valet service.
- Abu Dhabi Taxis are plentiful to and from the venue. If you are seeking a taxi between the Louvre and the city’s other main cultural attraction, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, you can expect this to cost about 50 AED.
- Public Bus Route 94 can be taken from the central bus station, next to Al Wadha Mall.
- The Louvre is included on the Big Bus Hop-on-hop-off Abu Dhabi Green Route.
- The Louvre is also on the free Visit Abu Dhabi mini coach route A1, which collects passengers from Saadiyat Island hotels. The service runs approximately every 75 minutes.
- A water taxi also runs from Marsa Mina to Louvre Abu Dhabi (AED 15 for adults, AED 10 for kids) – find out more here.
You can easily reach Saadiyat Island from all other parts of the city, though the closest places to stay are the resorts actually on Saadiyat Island. Try staying at:
- The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
- Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas
- Saadiyat Rotana Resort& Villas
- Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island
- Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort
Note that none of these resorts are within easy walking distance of the Louvre Abu Dhabi. You will still rely on taxis and other forms of transportation, such as the free Experience Abu Dhabi shuttle, as the Louvre remains a standalone building on Saadiyat Island.
Following the E12 highway along the city’s outer islands, you are only 15 minutes from Yas Island, with its multiple theme parks, entertainment, and hotel plaza. The Zayed International Airport is approximately 25 minutes away; it is possible to squeeze in a visit during an airport layover if you have at least 6 hours between flights.
How To Get From Dubai To The Louvre Abu Dhabi
If you’re staying in Dubai, you can visit the Louvre in Abu Dhabi as a day trip.
There is a new service called the Cultural Express, which can transport visitors for FREE from Dubai to two major cultural attractions in Abu Dhabi, the Louvre and Qasr Al Watan – The Presidential Palace.
If you are self-driving in the UAE, take the E11/E10 for approximately 1 hour 15 minutes from Downtown Dubai, then take the E12/Yas Island exit. Follow the signs from the E12.
If you would prefer not to drive, here are some tour companies that offer Dubai to Abu Dhabi day trips, including the Louvre:
What Else Is There To See And Do On Saadiyat Island?
The Saadiyat Island Cultural District is an ambitious project. The original master plan included a Guggenheim Museum and the Zayed National Museum, as well as a Maritime Museum and a Performing Arts Centre with an opera house.
Various setbacks led to the Louvre’s opening being pushed back by several years, and other projects remain on pause or have been delayed by many years.
Over the next 12 months, we do expect completion of the Zayed National Museum and the Guggenheim. This will join other now-complete projects such as teamLab Phenomena, the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, and the Abrahamic Family House.
NEWLY OPENED! See what’s now open to visit in the Saadiyat Cultural District for 2026
Another recommended stop is Manarat Al Saadiyat, the first cultural offering to open on the island. Originally featuring a display of the master project and several temporary exhibits, it remains a cultural and arts centre, hosting workshops, performances, and film screenings.
What you will find on Saadiyat Island is a string of luxury beachside resorts along some of the most beautiful soft white sands of the Arabian Gulf.
Mamsha beach and Mamsha Al Saadiyat are popular spots to enjoy the sun in Abu Dhabi after a morning at the museum, or why not try an afternoon at one of Abu Dhabi’s luxury beach clubs that line the shores of Saadiyat Beach?
Jubail Mangrove Park
Another must-see attraction near Saadiyat Island that pairs perfectly with a day trip to the Louvre is Jubail Mangrove Park.
Situated on adjacent Jubail Island, explore the wonderful natural mangroves along the serene boardwalk paths.
Best seen at high tide and in the cooler months – though open year-round – you may want to check your tide times in advance when planning a full day out on Saadiyat/Jubail islands.
Before you go… Important things to consider when planning a trip to Abu Dhabi
- Pop into our essential planning information page; it includes everything you need to know about getting around Abu Dhabi, a handy guide on what to pack and top tips for first-timers on the dos and don’ts, laws, and customs in the UAE.
- Start planning your itinerary around the 60+ top places to visit in Abu Dhabi.
- Don’t forget to pack your travel insurance!
- Discover the best places to stay in Abu Dhabi.
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