Guggenheim Abu Dhabi to Open December 11 After Two Decades of Delays

On December 11, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will finally debut on Saadiyat Island, following two decades of delays and expenditures approaching one billion dollars. Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, highlighted the importance of promoting local artists. Saadiyat Island is also home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, and more. Al Kaabi pointed out the role of cultural advancement in boosting tourism and acknowledged the difficulties posed by the Iran war. Valerie Hillings, the museum's first director, will oversee the largest Guggenheim site, showcasing art from 1960 to the present. The structure, designed by Frank Gehry, includes a central atrium and 30 galleries, with a permanent collection that began in 2009.