Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Construction has begun on Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi (House of the Arts), a major performing arts venue set to open on Saadiyat Island in 2030 and expand the emirate's growing portfolio of world-class cultural destinations.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) – Abu Dhabi, said that the project represented the UAE's long-term commitment to talent, public access, national identity and economic contribution.
"The UAE's cultural progression is the result of sustained, deliberate investment over many years in institutions, in artists, in education, and in partnerships," he said in a message marking the occasion.
"Dar al Funoon has been designed at the highest level globally of performing arts centres, from creation to performance, the kind of sustained creative exchange that turns a venue into an institution. It's a part of what makes the Emirates cultural strategy tangible – a permanent commitment to talent, access, identity, and long-term economic contribution."
The DCT Chairman also paid tribute to Frank Gehry, one of the leading figures in contemporary architecture, who designed Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
"Frank Gehry's architectural legacy in Abu Dhabi, shaped by the rhythm of our landscape, the movement of the wind, and the water, will endure through these buildings for generations, as Dar al Furoon Abu Dhabi is one of the latest designs that Frank was personally involved in."
DCT – Abu Dhabi announced on Thursday that work had started on the venue, which will serve as an international platform for artistic production, collaboration and cultural exchange.
Al Mubarak said that Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi represented a long-term investment in artistic expression and formed part of a broad approach to cultural development rooted in the UAE's values, people and openness to the world.
He added that the venue would become a permanent home for performances of the highest international standard, bringing together leading artists, companies and creative talent from the UAE, the region and around the world.
"Through artistic residencies, international partnerships and world-class productions, it will expand opportunities for cultural exchange, inspire new generations of creatives, and further strengthen Abu Dhabi's position as a global centre for creativity, exchange and artistic excellence."
Permanent Home for Both Local and Global Talent
Opening on Saadiyat Island, near the celebrated Saadiyat Cultural District, Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi will be among the region's largest and most technically advanced dedicated performing arts venues.
The highly adaptable performance complex will be a permanent home for opera, ballet, theatre and other live performances at the highest international level, and will bring together acclaimed and emerging talent from the region and around the world across a range of artistic disciplines. Audiences will experience the arts at different scales, from intimate productions to major performances.
Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi will offer 365 days and nights of events, performances and activities.
Its facilities include a multipurpose performance hall of more than 2,000 seats, a 3,500-seat open-air amphitheatre, a 400-seat studio theatre and a 250-seat jazz venue, with a combined capacity of more than 6,000 across its spaces.
The new performing arts institution is also envisioned as a platform for long-term artistic residencies, touring partnerships and co-productions with the world's leading performing arts companies.
It will bring the most celebrated artists and ensembles to Abu Dhabi while creating new opportunities for regional and emerging talent to perform alongside them.
Gehry's Architectural Legacy
Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi is envisioned as a living expression of music and performance, with a billowing fabric-like exterior that cascades over the heart of the site.
Its transparent façade invites the public into the artistic process, reflecting Abu Dhabi's commitment to openness, engagement and cultural exchange.
These structures of Frank Gehry underscore Abu Dhabi's commitment to architectural excellence and its strategic decision to invest in exceptional design that inspires and reflects the emirate's cultural aspirations.
The performing arts have long flourished in Abu Dhabi, demonstrated by its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Music; the annual Abu Dhabi Festival; the Berklee Abu Dhabi performing arts education centre; the Bait Al Oud music academy; and its role as host of International Jazz Day 2025, alongside other festivals and concerts.
The announcement of Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi reflects the emirate's commitment to investing in culture as a means of sustainable development. Beyond its cultural significance, the institution is expected to deliver lasting community and socio-economic benefits, creating jobs, developing local skills and talent, attracting cultural tourism and strengthening the creative economy as a driver of long-term growth for Abu Dhabi.
"The institution contributes directly to Abu Dhabi's creative economy, generating employment, anchoring cultural tourism, and placing the Emirate alongside the world's great performing arts cities," Al Mubarak said.
