Saadiyat Island is set to welcome a major new cultural landmark in 2030, with the launch of Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi, a performing arts institution.
The announcement, witnessed by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, coincided with the start of construction on the project.
His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi, noted: “Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi represents our long-term investment in artistic expression and reflects our comprehensive approach to cultural development. It is an approach rooted in our values, shaped by our people, and open to the world. This is a deliberate investment in the future of our cultural ecosystem, and the scale of our ambition is clear. Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi will be a permanent home for performance, bringing together leading artists and creative talent from the UAE, the region and across 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.”
Designed by the late architect Frank Gehry, the venue will feature a flowing exterior inspired by fabric alongside a transparent façade that invites visitors to engage with the artistic process. The institution will include a 2,000-seat main theatre, a 3,500-seat open-air amphitheatre, a 400-seat studio theatre and a 250-seat jazz venue, with spaces to accommodate more than 6,000 visitors across its performance areas.
Located on Saadiyat Island, within the Saadiyat Cultural District, Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi will sit alongside major institutions including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The institution will operate throughout the year, presenting programmes that bring together opera, ballet, theatre and jazz performances, alongside residencies and cross-border artistic partnerships.
