- Establishment of a major museum for global modern and contemporary art in 
Abu Dhabi 

    - Abu Dhabi's plans to transform the emirate into a culture and creative 
industries centre and further its economic diversification

    - Collaboration between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi 
and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation advances Abu Dhabi's cultural vision

    - Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will foster cultural exchange and present a global 
collection with a focus on West Asia, North Africa and South Asia (WANASA)

    - Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museum contractor has been appointed with a contract 
value of USD 1 billion to deliver the Frank Gehry designed museum

    The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has 
announced that the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is on track for 2025 completion.

    Set to be part of a thriving community of cultural institutions in Abu 
Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is the latest installment in the Solomon R. 
Guggenheim Foundation's international constellation of museums. Guggenheim Abu 
Dhabi will be the region's pre-eminent museum dedicated to global modern and 
contemporary art and programming.

    Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will foster cultural exchange with a mission to 
contribute to and stimulate expansive perspectives on the history of art. 
Presenting a global collection with a specific focus on West Asia, North 
Africa, and South Asia (WANASA), Guggenheim Abu Dhabi fosters a deeper 
understanding of how different art perspectives have shaped the interconnected 
histories and cultures of our time. With both Emirati and regional experts 
playing a key role in the development of the museum's collection and 
programmes, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will provide a first-of-its-kind platform for 
artists from the UAE and the Gulf, the WANASA region and the world to create 
commissioned works and engage with global audiences.

    H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: 
"Guggenheim Abu Dhabi advances Abu Dhabi's position as a dynamic centre for 
arts and culture. The region's pre-eminent museum of global modern and 
contemporary art, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will present an equitable platform for 
art from all over the world. The museum will also play a civic role through its 
mission to spark wider interest in global modern and contemporary art, 
fostering diversity and inclusion in a meaningful cultural exchange. As we move 
forward with our plans, it is crucial to recognise the impact of this museum in 
realising our vision for the Emirate's culture and creative industries. 
Investing in these industries is pivotal to the economic development of our 
Emirate, and to our contribution to the global art world. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, 
along with other cultural institutions such as Louvre Abu Dhabi and Zayed 
National Museum, will undoubtedly contribute significantly to a thriving 
creative scene."

    Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is being established and developed by DCT Abu Dhabi in 
collaboration with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. The museum is set to 
be the largest and most expansive of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation's 
constellation of museums, which includes the Guggenheim Museum in New York 
designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Guggenheim Bilbao designed by Pritzker 
Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection housed 
in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni in Venice. 

    Richard Armstrong, Director, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation 
stated: "Today's announcement represents a significant milestone in the 
realisation of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, a landmark new museum. The Guggenheim 
Abu Dhabi, housed in Frank Gehry's distinctive building, will be home to an 
expansive and evolving collection of artworks that advance multiple 
perspectives on the global histories of modern and contemporary art, with a 
particular focus on art from West Asia, North Africa, and South Asia. Abu Dhabi 
is a vibrant and diverse cultural centre with a global outlook and rapidly 
growing creative economy, making it the ideal location for a new international 
museum. We are grateful to the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, 
our partners in this bold collaboration. It is with great enthusiasm that we 
look forward to sharing the museum's collection, programming, and building with 
the public at the future Guggenheim Abu Dhabi."

    Frank Gehry, commented: "It is truly thrilling to see this project enter 
into this new phase. I am immensely proud to work closely with our partners, 
DCT Abu Dhabi and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, to create a home for 
their ground-breaking cultural program. I hope that this building is embraced 
by the people of the UAE and that this work will endure as a landmark for the 
country for many years to come."

    As part of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's commitment to support artists in the 
region, the museum has been curating and delivering engaging public programming 
for its audiences since its inception. This includes three exhibitions held in 
Abu Dhabi featuring select works from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi collection in a 
bid to represent the future museum's curatorial vision. In addition, the museum 
organised a dynamic public programme highlighting contemporary artists from 
around the world. Most recently, the museum launched its 'Spotlight' video 
series on the Abu Dhabi Culture social media platforms, which explores a 
selection of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi works on loan across the world.

    Located in the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District, the museum will be 
an architectural landmark inspired by the vernacular architecture of the UAE 
and the region. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be a part of Abu Dhabi's growing 
network of cultural institutions, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, New York 
University, Manarat Al Saadiyat and the Cultural Foundation. Upcoming cultural 
institutions set to join the Saadiyat Cultural District include Zayed National 
Museum dedicated to celebrating the life and achievements of the Founding 
Father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the 
Abrahamic Family House, a multi-faith place of worship.  

    For media inquiries please contact:

    Sherine Nour  
    Culture Sector Marketing & Communications Director
    Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi 
    SAbdelGafar@dctabudhabi.ae 

    Nada ElBarshoumi 
    Weber Shandwick 
    nelbarshoumi@webershandwick.com 
    +971 50 274 0741

    Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1638393/DCT_Abu_Dhabi_Guggenheim.jpg

    Source: DCT Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim