A Frank Gehry-designed space for modern and contemporary art opens its doors this year.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is set to open in December 2026, according to the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. This is a milestone that further cements the emirate’s position as a global capital for the arts. The modern and contemporary art museum will join big names such as Louvre Abu Dhabi etc to make Saadiyat Island home to one of the most significant concentrations of cultural institutions in the world.

While it carries the same name as the Guggenheim sites in New York, Venice and Bilbao, the Abu Dhabi outpost stands apart, shaped by its own architectural and curatorial identity rooted in the emirate’s history and regional character. That identity begins with its setting: architect Frank Gehry positioned the building where Saadiyat Island’s coastline meets open water, designing a structure spanning 80,000 square metres. Inside, 11,600 square metres of gallery space are complemented by a further 23,000 square metres of outdoor exhibition areas, spread across 30 galleries. Rising above it all are ten sculptural cones reaching as high as 88 metres, nearly all clad in stainless steel mesh, with a single cone set apart in onyx and glass.

The museum’s collection has been taking shape well before its doors open, with acquisitions underway since 2009. Once visitors step inside, they’ll move through galleries organised by theme rather than chronology, guided by categories such as Abstractions, Popular Culture, Land, Language and Storytelling. More detail on the collection and upcoming commissions is expected in the months ahead.

Saadiyat’s Growing Cultural Footprint

Guggenheim’s opening adds to a district already taking shape. Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi opened on the island, joining Zayed National Museum, which traces Emirati heritage, and Louvre Abu Dhabi, the district’s long-standing anchor institution. Earlier this year, the three launched a joint Museum Pass, marking the first time they were brought together under one unified offer. teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi adds a digital and immersive dimension to the mix. Together, the institutions form one of the most concentrated museum clusters in the world.

Public programming is already running ahead of the launch, giving audiences an early sense of what’s to come. 

To learn more, visit guggenheimabudhabi.ae/en.