Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will open its doors this December

One of Saadiyat Island’s cultural landmarks is getting ready to welcome the city’s residents and visitors.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will open its doors on 11 December 2026, bringing a new destination for modern and contemporary art to Abu Dhabi’s growing cultural landscape. 

Designed by the acclaimed architect Frank Gehry, the museum will become another major cultural addition to Saadiyat Cultural District, alongside Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi.

A visit to Guggenheim Abu Dhabi won’t take you through a traditional timeline of art history. The museum is centred around themes, ideas and connections, inviting you to discover art through concepts such as abstraction, storytelling, language, land and popular culture. 

Inside, you’ll find a mix of artistic mediums, from painting and sculpture to photography, installation, moving image and new media, featuring artists from around the world alongside voices from the UAE and the wider region. 

Before you even explore the artwork inside, the architecture might catch your attention. Frank Gehry’s design includes 30 galleries, a central atrium and ten sculptural cones reaching up to 88 metres, shaping the museum’s distinctive silhouette. These features also help provide natural shade and ventilation throughout the space. 

The museum will offer a large-scale space to explore, with 11,600 square metres of galleries and 23,000 square metres of outdoor exhibition areas, making Guggenheim Abu Dhabi one of the world’s largest museums dedicated to modern and contemporary art. 

The museum has been in development since 2009, with its collection continuing to grow over the years. When it opens, you’ll be able to explore exhibitions that connect different cultures, generations and artistic styles, offering a new way to experience art in Abu Dhabi.