Set to open in 2030, the project will become one of the region’s largest and most technically advanced performing arts venues offering year-round artistic programming.
The project will include a multipurpose performance hall with 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 total capacity exceeding 6,000 across its artistic spaces. The venue will host world-leading artistic productions, providing exceptional cultural experiences for local, regional and international audiences.
H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed reviewed the project’s plans and was briefed on the architectural vision for Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi, its phases of development and construction, and its advanced facilities and technical capabilities, designed according to the highest international standards to facilitate hosting leading global artistic productions.
H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed that investing in cultural infrastructure is a fundamental part of Abu Dhabi’s comprehensive development vision, which recognises the vital role of the arts in enhancing quality of life, reinforcing the values of openness and cultural dialogue, and building bridges of communication between peoples and cultures. This forward-looking vision reflects the importance of culture as a strategic driver of sustainable development and a key enabler of the knowledge-based economy.
Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi will serve as a permanent home for a wide range of world-class productions, including opera, ballet, theatre and other live performing arts. It will also foster long-term artistic residencies, international touring partnerships and co-productions with leading performing arts institutions worldwide, attracting acclaimed artists and companies, and opening new horizons for Emirati and regional talent.
Commissioned by DCT Abu Dhabi and designed by the late Frank Gehry, one of the leading figures in contemporary architecture and architect of the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi reflects an architectural vision inspired by music and the performing arts. Featuring a transparent façade that symbolises Abu Dhabi’s openness to creativity and cultural exchange, the project represents a significant addition to the emirate’s portfolio of world-class cultural landmarks.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi, said, “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, companies 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, cultural exchange and artistic excellence.”
Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi will enrich the cultural landscape in Abu Dhabi and the UAE by attracting leading global artistic productions and providing a prestigious platform to showcase Emirati arts and national identity, further strengthening the UAE’s role on the international cultural and artistic stage.
The project also aims to enhance community participation in cultural activities through artistic workshops, and educational and interactive programmes, while supporting the development of local artistic talent and capabilities. This will further embed the arts in everyday life and strengthen their role in reinforcing national identity, enriching the cultural landscape.
The project also represents an important contribution to the creative economy by supporting the continued growth of cultural and creative industries, enhancing cultural tourism, and attracting investment, talent and institutions operating in the cultural sector. This aligns with the emirate’s objectives to diversify its economy and increase the contribution of knowledge- and creativity-based sectors to sustainable development.
The announcement of the Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi project forms part of the continued development of Saadiyat Island, which includes Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. This reflects Abu Dhabi’s vision to build an integrated cultural ecosystem that reinforces the emirate as a global destination for culture, arts and knowledge.
Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi embodies Abu Dhabi’s commitment to continued investment in culture as a fundamental pillar of comprehensive development, as a driver of creativity and innovation, and as a catalyst for achieving the objectives of its broader cultural and development vision, further strengthening the presence of Abu Dhabi and the UAE on the global map of culture and creativity.
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