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Louvre Abu Dhabi: From dream to reality

Abu Dhabi - The spectacular museum will showcase more than 600 pieces of art under a magnificent roof, the 'rain of light.'

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There is just one week left until Louvre Abu Dhabi - the most anticipated museum in the world - will open its doors to the public, and mark a new era in the world of art. 
The spectacular museum, which took 10 years to come to life, will showcase more than 600 pieces of art under a magnificent roof, the 'rain of light,' which was designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning French architect, Jean Nouvel. 

In the presence of our Chairman & DG, #UAEFlagDay celebrations were held today at the @LouvreAbuDhabi, which opens Nov 11 pic.twitter.com/lNFysEeHRQ
- Louvre Abu Dhabi (@LouvreAbuDhabi) November 2, 2017

The museum will symbolise the epitome of human connection and unity - as its artworks will span the entirety of human existence, from the end of the third millennium BC, to the Medieval Era, the Renaissance and the Neoclassical period, right through to the contemporary era, thus highlighting the true meaning of universal connectivity.
Priceless artworks have been loaned from the top 13 French museums and institutions, including Musée du Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, the Centre Pompidou, the Bibliothèque Nationale and the Musée du Quai Branly. 
Part of these treasures include 13 fragments of a frieze that reveal Surah Al Hashr from the Holy Quran, a statue of Alexander the Great, a Portrait of Fayoum which dates back to 22-250 A.D, Antinoopolis, Bactrian Princess statue - end of third or beginning of second millennium BC Central Asia, a statue of Gudea, the Prince of Lagash, from the Neo-Sumerian period, 2125 - 2110 BC in Ancient Girsu, now known as Iraq, as well as an ancient statue of the Sphinx, which dates back to the 6th century BC.
The world-class museum will also display gems, created by some of the most famous master painters and sculptures in the history of art, including Leonardo da Vinci, Picasso, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Osman Hamdi Bey, Jackson Pollock, Jaques-Louis David and Paul Gaugin. 
The opening of the museum will attract thousands of Emiratis, expats and tourists, as well as some special VIP guests, including the French President, Emmanuel Macron.
Artworks and artefacts from the region will also be displayed alongside Louvre Abu Dhabi's permanent collection and 300 loans from Musée du Louvre and 12 leading French partner museums. 

Highlights of loans from the region include a prehistoric stone tool dating back to 350,000 BCE, a milestone indicating the distance from Makkah in Kufic inscriptions, a funerary stele from Makkah dating back to 700-900 CE (100-300 AH) from the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage, a collection of over 400 silver Dirhams Coins from the Abbasid Caliphate of Iraq, the Samanid Dynasty and the Saffarid Dynasty discovered in Sidamah (Al Waqba) in 2005 CE (1425 AH) from the National Museum - Sultanate of Oman, and an 8000-year-old two-headed figure from Jordan's Department of Antiquities called Ain Ghazal Statue.
In September, the doors of the museum were opened to its first special guests, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who had a tour around the museum and a glimpse of the treasures on display.

The journey of Louvre Abu Dhabi 

The journey of the museum's emancipation has certainly been an incredible one indeed.
It began in 2007 when a partnership was announced by the UAE and France, after it was initiated by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who stated that the museum "reflects the UAE's approach towards cultural connectivity and its pursuit to become a beacon of knowledge and tolerance". 

1,000 extra tickets to #LouvreAbuDhabi's opening day on 11 November are released. Purchase yours here https://t.co/o1l560FHwQ. pic.twitter.com/2GrHBfL4OD
- Louvre Abu Dhabi (@LouvreAbuDhabi) October 25, 2017

Certainly, the museum marks a crucial step forward in today's era and marks a new renaissance for the world - because in an age which is threatened by conflict, violence, and intolerance, the museum sheds light on unity, oneness and peace 
This museum will be the bridge, a school of thought that connects not only the visitor with the artwork, but also connecting its visitors to different races and religions.
And just as described by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the ethereal museum shall become the "cradle of art and culture", as it will welcome all people, from all backgrounds and all walks of life - just as it has welcomed treasures from countless cultures, countless eras, and from countless corners of our world.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com