Louvre Abu Dhabi Exhibit and revisiting Emirates Palace
- July 9th, 2009
- Posted in Arts . UAE
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Last weekend we checked the Talking Art Louvre exhibit in Emirates Palace. Louvre Abu Dhabi is one of the cultural development projects of the government. The first universal museum in Middle East is set in Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. Under a two-year-old agreement, Abu Dhabi will pay France $555 million for the use of the Louvre’s name, as well as for art loans, special exhibitions and management advice. The 260,000-square-foot museum is expected to open in 2013.
Like in last year’s Picasso exhibit, photo taking was not allowed. Louvre exhibit started with a film which showed the setting up of the universal museum, followed by the guided tour to 19 works of art (which include standing bodhisattva from the second to third century A.D., a Chinese white marble head of Buddha from the Northern Qi Dynasty, A.D. 550-577, a 16th-century polychrome painted copper ewer from Venice, works on Christian religious themes, including a Bellini “Madonna and Child” from the 1480s and a 16th-century sculpture of Jesus from Bavaria or Austria) bought over the last 20 months for the Louvre Abu Dhabi, as well as loans from the French national museums.
If you have a chance, don’t miss this one. The guided tour is free of charge, but reservation is required. You may send an email to artsabudhabi@tdic.ae or call +9712 690 8230. The exhibit will run until August 29, 2009 (11am and 630pm sessions daily) at Gallery One in Emirates Palace.
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Since I was with visitors-friends from Dubai that night, we checked some unrestricted areas in the hotel before the exhibit begun. These portraits of the sheiks will welcome you at the main entrance.
If you’re visiting UAE, don’t be surprised to see photos/portraits of sheiks in the offices, malls, roads, and other establishments.
To correct most of the people’s perception, Emirates Palace is actually a hotel (for me, it’s a palace, period 
heehee). The president/ruler of UAE lives in a real palace. (UAE has nine emirates, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The latter as the capital city/emirate).
I don’t mind looking up to this ceiling whenever I visit here.
During my first visit I couldn’t believe that the lobby, ceiling and the leaves of the palm trees are gold-plated and that chandeliers were made of Swarovski crystals.
No wonder that the price of the items in the bars and cafes are so goldirrific. Just like the pricing in the seemingly underwater restaurant where we took lunch last time.
This so called Palace cake is so expensive. Hence, I had to savor it to the tiniest visible trace of glucose. But it’s absolutely delicious.
Of course, we were regaled by the irregular shape of chairs.
After we were done with the at least 60-minute guided tour in Louvre exhibit, we did catch this gorgeous lady playing harp.
This is a mural at the second level showing the entire Emirates Palace Hotel.
Next: Emirates Palace at night
grabe! $550 to use their Louvre’s name? i wonder if they [the "producers" of Louvre there in abu dhabi] will be able to earn that enough….
wow! ang ganda. *inggit mode*
gold plated and swarovski? wow! and that cake is absolutely tempting! hehehe.
very luxurious. i wonder what is the damage for a night’s stay there?
the harpist is showing some skin, is that fine?
i love that photos, and that cake is mouth-watering.
woo, the louvre arriving in dubai came with a hefty price tag!
wow.. so much of money been spent on the exhibition!
Amazing.UAE is indeed a place of aesthetic and richness!!!!
As what my collegues who works there said….whenever they build a structure, if it’s about the financial aspect sky is the langit!!!!hahahaha
wow that is soooo luxurious! the cake made me drool
Yes, your right. It maybe a hotel, but it really looks like a palace to me too.
I think its common practice to put current ruler’s portraits in government and private establishment here in the middle east. The king’s portraits are also in every building you go into.
Wow, that is a fabulous place. Luxury at its best. The cake looks so tempting.
U.A.E. impresses me! I’ve been hearing news about this Middle East country doing everything it can (and money is absolutely the least of its worries) to nurture the cultural aspect of its population. And bringing the exhibits from The Louvre (possibly the most famous museum on the planet), I must say, takes the cake! Now, if they could only loan the “Mona Lisa” portrait and bring it over to Abu Dhabi for exhibit, that would be mind-blowing!
Thanks, wits, for posting such beautiful pictures!
Take care always!
WOW!!! that’s all I can say
That’s one thing I envy about working in Dubai. You get to see a whole lot of beautiful things. Tsaka din I like the fact that Dubai is really supportive of the arts (in its various forms).
Nice photos you took there. Nice angles.
Wow! Beautiful! Grabe, sobrang grand ng hotel na yan ah! And that view of the ceiling, ganda talaga!
ang ganda ng mga chandeliers! palace talaga! bongga!
i suggest you save all ur bucks if youre into art pieces shown in louvre auh and head to louvre museum in paris..kulang ang maghapon sa dami ng makikita at mabibisita inside the museum..
Shocked din ako sa cost of investment ng ‘producers’, errr ng government. I think they don’t care much about the financial benefit, but about creating an impression that Abu Dhabi would be the cultural centre in UAE or in entire Middle East. They have so much funds. =)
The last time I checked, if you’re staying in a suite it would cost you at least USD 1,633 a night. The other rooms range from USD 340 – USD 585 a night.
Yes, showing some skin to that extent (or even more) is allowed. It depends on the occasion and type of establishment. But the risk of being the center of attraction is there, regardless that she’s a harpist or not. =)
Hehehe, shocking no? =)
The place is so extravagant. It’s prettier in person. I hope you’d be able to visit in the future. =)
That was my reaction in my first visit. Kahit nga succeeding visits na, gusto kong kututin yung gold plated portions to test. Hahaha. Baka ipakulong ako. =)
The cake is worth the price.