Abu Dhabi bureau says museums ready from 2015-2017

The opening dates for the museums of the Saadiyat Cultural District, the Louvre Abu Dhabi will be in 2015, Zayed National Museum in 2016 and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in 2017, Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) said in a statement in its website.

TDIC said these institutions are strategic components of the Abu Dhabi Government’s vision for the emirate and the timeline has been finalised in close coordination with its partners and advisors, Agence France Muséums, The British Museum, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.

The firm said substantial work has already been completed on the museums. Detailed architectural designs have now been finalised, as well as all foundation and piling work.

Growing teams with regional expertise that will operate each institution are undergoing comprehensive training, and the acquisition of the vast and diverse art and artifact collections for each is well underway.

TDIC explained that due to the immense magnitude of the Saadiyat Cultural District, careful planning has been undertaken to ensure the sustainability of the institutions.

These opening dates give each museum sufficient time to establish its own identity on the local and international cultural stage.

This includes holistic consideration of the many facets of the museum development such as construction, museography, training, building a permanent collection, and outreach through public programmes and education.