Abu Dhabi unveils Frank Gehry-designed performing arts center on Saadiyat Island

Abu Dhabi has announced Dar al Funoon, a new performing arts center designed by Frank Gehry, set to open in 2030 on Saadiyat Island. The venue will feature a main multifunctional hall, open-air amphitheater, studio theater, and a jazz space, with a total capacity exceeding 6,000 spectators. Its transparent facade is intended to symbolize openness and cultural exchange, according to the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. The complex will host opera, ballet, theater, and live performances, alongside residency programs and international partnerships. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the department, stated the center aims to bring together artists and creative professionals globally. Dar al Funoon joins Saadiyat Island's existing cultural institutions, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and the forthcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, also by Gehry. The project reinforces the emirate's long-term strategy to establish one of the world's most comprehensive arts districts.