Abu Dhabi starts construction of landmark performing arts centre - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

Abu Dhabi has begun construction of Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi, a landmark performing arts institution on Saadiyat Island that is expected to open in 2030. Announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the project represents a major investment in the emirate's cultural infrastructure and is designed to strengthen Abu Dhabi's position as a global centre for artistic excellence, cultural exchange and creative innovation.

A year-round home for world-class performances

Located near the Saadiyat Cultural District, Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi will provide a permanent home for opera, ballet, theatre, jazz and other live performances. The venue will offer year-round programming with events taking place on all 365 days of the year, ranging from intimate productions to large-scale international performances.

The complex will feature a multipurpose theatre with more than 2,000 seats, a 3,500-seat open-air amphitheatre, a 400-seat studio theatre and a 250-seat jazz venue. Together, the facilities will accommodate more than 6,000 visitors across the site.

The institution is also intended to become a platform for international artistic residencies, touring productions and co-productions with leading performing arts companies, while creating new opportunities for emerging artists from the UAE and the wider region.

Designed by Frank Gehry

Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi was commissioned by DCT Abu Dhabi and designed by the late Frank Gehry, the internationally acclaimed architect behind the forthcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The building features a flowing, fabric-inspired exterior intended to reflect the movement of music and performance, while its transparent façade is designed to encourage interaction between visitors and the creative process.

The project forms part of Abu Dhabi's broader strategy to combine world-class cultural institutions with internationally recognised architecture.

Investment in culture and the creative economy

According to DCT Abu Dhabi, the new institution will contribute not only to the cultural life of the emirate but also to its long-term economic development. The project is expected to create jobs, develop local creative talent, attract cultural tourism and further strengthen Abu Dhabi's growing creative economy.

"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," said His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi.

Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi builds on the emirate's growing cultural profile, which includes its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Music, the annual Abu Dhabi Festival, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Bait Al Oud and its role as host of International Jazz Day 2025.

Image Credit: © DCT Abu Dhabi