Louvre Abu Dhabi, the architectural icon in the UAE capital, has announced that it welcomed more than one million visitors in its first year, establishing itself as one of the leading cultural institutions on the global stage. 

 

Since opening on November 11, the museum has presented four international exhibitions, launched the world’s first roadside gallery and championed the next generation of Emirati cultural leaders.

 

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), said: "One year ago we spoke about Louvre Abu Dhabi as Abu Dhabi’s gift to the world – and today we are proud to have shared it with more than one million visitors already."

 

"Louvre Abu Dhabi has become an icon and a favourite destination in Abu Dhabi both for our local communities and visitors to the city. Our strong collaboration with our French and regional partners supports the museum’s mission to tell universal stories and we thank them," he noted.

 

"Yet our greatest success, 10 years in the making, is the next generation of Emirati museum professionals who are trained to the highest standard in the cultural sector and are leaders in their field,," he added.

 

According to him, Louvre Abu Dhabi’s vision is to celebrate cross-cultural connections that transcend geographies and civilisations, to see humanity in a new light. 

 

"The diversity of its audiences not only reflects Abu Dhabi’s multicultural society, but also illustrates how its ambition and universal narrative, which aim to create bridges between cultures and nurture dialogue between communities, appeal to many, from seasoned art enthusiasts to younger audiences and families," stated Al Mubarak.

 

UAE residents have rapidly adopted the museum and made it a favourite destination to gather with family and friends, he added. 

 

According to him, they represent 40 per cent of the museum’s total number of visitors. Emiratis are in the top two nationalities of residents who visited the museum and is the top nationality of repeat visitors. 

 

The museum has 5,000 members to its loyalty programme (Art Club).Louvre Abu Dhabi has also become a global magnet for international visitors who account for 60 per cent of visits. The museum is driving tourism to the emirate and visitors comes from all parts of the globe, including the Middle East, Europe and Asia, with France, Germany, China, UK, the US, India and GCC being the top visitors. Overall, India is the top nationality of visitors, including Indian tourists and UAE residents.

 

The museum has hosted more than 1,000 school trips, 5,000 guided tours, workshops and masterclasses, and programmed 115 special events from Bait Al Oud performances to talks, film screenings and concerts with more than 400 artists from 22 countries including a major show by British pop star Dua Lipa to celebrate its one-year anniversary tomorrow (November 11). 

 

The Manga Lab, a special space to experience contemporary Japanese culture, has been popular with teenagers and young adults and is open until January 5, 2019.

 

Around 47 per cent of the museum’s staff members are Emiratis and a strong group of talented up and coming Emirati curators are working on the collection and in the permanent galleries, as well as in the education and mediation teams.

 

Manuel Rabaté, the director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: "From the beginning, this project has embodied Abu Dhabi’s bold vision and we have endeavoured to offer experiences that celebrate human creativity in our galleries and programmes."

 

"Not only are we privileged to gather such treasures under our iconic dome on Saadiyat island, but we are also thrilled that so many visitors came to discover our universal narrative this year. On one hand, we have access to some of the most incredible collections and benefit from collaborating with some of the world’s most qualified museum experts," stated Rabate. 

 

"On the other, being a young museum in this region empowers us to be experimental and encourages us to be agile to appeal to our incredibly diverse audiences. Before the opening, we were often asked if there was an appetite for museums in Abu Dhabi and the amazing response we’ve had in our first year is proving that there is. We look forward to welcoming many more visitors in the exciting years to come" he added.-TradeArabia News Service