News

Abu Dhabi has come to an agreement with the Guggenheim Foundation to build a new contemporary and modern art museum.

The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (GAD) will be the sixth and largest museum established by the foundation and will house its own collection of contemporary art along with major pieces from the Guggenheim's collections.

To be completed in 2011, the museum will cover 30,000 sq metres and will be located on an island off the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Saadiyat Island will also have a national museum, classical art museum, maritime museum, performing arts centre and an expansive arts centre park forming the new Culture District.

The museum is to be designed by architect Frank Gehry who also made the Bilbao Guggenheim.

Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority explained how he wanted Mr Gehry to produce a museum as impressive as Bilbao's.

He said: 'When the museum, made of titanium, glass and limestone, opened in 1997 it was instantly hailed as the most important building of its time.

'Just as Bilbao established a new level of design excellence, Gehry's GAD design brief is to push the boundaries of his own architectural practice and set the benchmark for museums in the 21st century.'

Abu Dhabi's museum will join the Guggenheim museum network which currently includes museums in New York, Venice, Bilbao, Berlin and Las Vegas.


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