Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has been honoured at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum's 2026 annual gala in New York for his contribution to advancing art and culture and his longstanding partnership with the Guggenheim Foundation in developing Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

The event, titled Under the Oculus: A Celebration of Visionaries, took place on November 10 at the museum's Frank Lloyd Wright-designed rotunda. It also recognised contemporary artist Alex Katz and celebrated the role of art in promoting cultural exchange.

The programme included a tribute to the late architect Frank Gehry, whose design for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is nearing completion, and concluded with a performance by singer and songwriter Janelle Monáe.

Al Mubarak said: “I am deeply honoured by this recognition from the Guggenheim Foundation. It reflects a shared belief in the enduring value of art: its ability to expand perspectives, create understanding and bring people together. In Abu Dhabi, we have sought to build cultural institutions that are rooted in our identity, open to the world and designed to serve generations to come. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi reflects this ambition and our belief in the importance of creating spaces where artists and audiences from different backgrounds can meet, engage and exchange ideas.”

The gala was hosted by Guggenheim Foundation and Museum leadership, including Mariët Westermann, Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, and representatives of its boards and museum management. Artists, patrons and international cultural leaders also attended.

The recognition comes as Abu Dhabi continues to develop its Saadiyat Cultural District, which brings together institutions dedicated to art, history, science and heritage. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will join Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, further expanding the emirate's international cultural offering.

Designed by Frank Gehry, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is scheduled to open on December 11, 2026. The museum will feature a collection of modern and contemporary art displayed across 28 galleries, with 11,600 square metres of interior exhibition space and an additional 23,000 square metres outdoors.

Its opening will mark a milestone in the partnership between Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Foundation, as well as the emirate's continued investment in cultural institutions as part of its long-term development strategy. -TradeArabia News Service