Frank Gehry Brings Architectural Excellence to Abu Dhabi’s Upcoming Performing Arts Center
DUBAI — A major performing arts center designed by the late architect Frank Gehry is set to be built in Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s Department of Culture and Tourism announced on Thursday.
Dar Al‑Funoon Abu Dhabi Arabic for “house of the arts” will provide a home for ballet, opera, theater, and other performances, drawing talent from across the region and around the world. Scheduled to open in 2030, the center will be located on Saadiyat Island, which already hosts the Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The building, designed by the Canadian‑American Gehry who also designed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and passed away in December features a vast, billowing fabric‑like exterior.
Mohamed Khalifa Al‑Mubarak, chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, called the project a “deliberate investment in the future of our cultural ecosystem.” He added that the center will expand opportunities for cultural exchange and further strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for creativity and artistic excellence.
The complex will include a 2,000‑seat multipurpose performance hall, a 3,500‑seat open‑air amphitheater, a studio theater, and a jazz venue. The announcement was attended by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al‑Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
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