Video: Louvre Abu Dhabi museum opening date announced

Abu Dhabi - The 'Museum on the Sea' will open this year

A first of its kind Museum on the Sea in the Middle East - will open its doors to the public on November 11 in Abu Dhabi.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, tweeted the museum will enhance country's image.

At the opening announcement ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, said just like Louvre is the crown jewel of Paris; Louvre Abu Dhabi is destined for such distinction in the UAE and the Arab region.

"Beauty is the essence of Louvre Abu Dhabi," he said in opening remarks at Manarat Al Saadiyat in the Capital on Wednesday.

Sheikh Nahyan said the museum is a magical 'work of art' that will bring tourists from world over to Abu Dhabi.

"The global population of the UAE will be an essential element of Louvre public," he said. "People from every corner of the world will visit Louvre Abu Dhabi."

The museum, he said, reinforces the UAE's productive relationship with France.

"It is a monument to the deep and lasting friendship between France and the UAE."

Sheikh Nahyan said the museum is a "celebration of common humanity".

"It represents the latest innovation in a long-standing tradition of cultural awareness and appreciation nurtured by the leaders of the UAE," Sheikh Nahyan added.

French Minister of Culture Francoise Nyssen said Louvre Abu Dhabi is an ambition to reach out to the whole world.

"This is a message of hope and one related to heritage. This is a milestone in the development of the cooperation between the UAE and France."

She said the museum is one of the most ambitious cultural projects in the world.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and Tourism Development and Investment Company, noted the contributions of all the workers, who made Louvre Abu Dhabi possible.

"They are really the heroes who came up with this building. We want to spend, every single minute, when inside Louvre Abu Dhabi, thinking about the hardships and difficulties from everybody to maintain what we made today," Al Mubarak said.

Meanwhile, director of Louvre Abu Dhabi Manuel Rabate said all art works were in place and now the museum was waiting its visitors.

"There are some 600 pieces of art from French museums. This is the biggest place of art work. I am proud to have so many pieces of art being made available to public," he said.

Rabate said the museum will be a new face in the history of humanity.

"Abu Dhabi has ambition to send a global message. This is a fruit of cooperation between the UAE and Abu Dhabi," he added.

The 'Museum on the Sea' is part of the the Saadiyat Cultural District, which will also house the Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

The entry fee for the museum will be Dh60.

The museum's official account had tweeted this teaser weeks before the official announcement:

TAKE A SNEAK PEEK INSIDE THE MUSEUM:

• Abu Dhabi