Abu Dhabi begins work on Dar al Funoon arts hub, opening slated for 2030
Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi representative image-1
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 Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced that works have commenced on Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi (House of the Arts), a landmark institution on Saadiyat Island that aims to become one of the region’s most technically advanced performing arts venues upon opening in 2030. Representing a major investment in cultural infrastructure, the institution reflects Abu Dhabi’s vision to create world-class platforms for international collaboration and cultural exchange.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT 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 at the highest international level, 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, exchange and artistic excellence.”
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.
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.
Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi was commissioned by DCT Abu Dhabi and designed by the late Frank Gehry. 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.
