Abu dhabi: H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has witnessed the launch of the Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi (House of the Arts) development project near Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi. 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.
According to Emirates News Agency, 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 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 international standards to facilitate hosting 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 development vision, which recognises the arts' role in enhancing quality of life, reinforcing openness and cultural dialogue, and building communication between peoples and cultures. This 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 range of productions, including opera, ballet, theatre, and other live performing arts. It will also foster artistic residencies, international touring partnerships, and co-productions with performing arts institutions worldwide, attracting artists and companies, and opening horizons for Emirati and regional talent.
Commissioned by DCT Abu Dhabi and designed by the late Frank Gehry, Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi reflects an architectural vision inspired by music and the performing arts. Featuring a transparent fa§ade that symbolises Abu Dhabi's openness to creativity and cultural exchange, the project represents an addition to the emirate's portfolio of cultural landmarks.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, stated that Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi represents a long-term investment in artistic expression and reflects a comprehensive approach to cultural development. It is an investment in the future of the cultural ecosystem, and the scale of ambition is clear.
Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi will enrich the cultural landscape in Abu Dhabi and the UAE by attracting global artistic productions and providing a platform to showcase Emirati arts and national identity, further strengthening the UAE's role on the international cultural stage.
The project also aims to enhance community participation in cultural activities through workshops, educational and interactive programmes, while supporting the development of local artistic talent and capabilities. 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 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.