The Opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi

Topped by an enormous signature dome of overlapping geometric lattices that weighs more than 7,500 tons, the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, will open to the public this weekend, on November 11, 2017. The new museum will showcase hundreds of works of art from around the world. Back in 2007, the Louvre Museum in Paris signed a $525 million agreement to allow the government of Abu Dhabi to use the “Louvre” name for its new museum for 30 years, and $750 million more for ongoing management advice and assistance. The project, more than a decade in development, drew criticism for the use of migrant workers in its construction, with the history of abuse and exploitation of such workers in that region. Although the architect recently defended the treatment of the workers, and UAE authorities say they have made progress on labor rights, critics maintain that conditions remain appalling.

Read more
Hints: View this page full screen. Skip to the next and previous photo by typing j/k or ←/→.

Most Recent

  • DenisTangneyJr / iStockphoto / Getty
    • In Focus
    • 12:44 PM ET
    • 38 Photos

    Massachusetts: Images of the Bay State

    A few glimpses of the landscape of Massachusetts, and some of the animals and people calling it home

  • Joseph Eid / AFP / Getty
    • In Focus
    • October 23, 2020
    • 35 Photos

    Photos of the Week: Watery Labyrinth, Giza Necropolis, Wuhan Opera

    Movie-making in Italy, a drive-in viewing of the World Series in Los Angeles, a church set ablaze in Chile, wildfires in Colorado, balloon crop-spraying in China, rescued huskies in Russia, and much more

  • Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters
    • In Focus
    • October 21, 2020
    • 34 Photos

    Photos: Prodemocracy Protests in Thailand

    A recent string of demonstrations against Thailand’s military-backed government continues despite crackdowns by officials.

  • Maxim Shemetov / Reuters
    • In Focus
    • October 20, 2020
    • 27 Photos

    Fall Is in the Air: Images of the Season

    Bundle up, maybe grab a mug of hot cider, and enjoy this batch of recent fall photos.

Most Popular on The Atlantic

  1. What Was Adele Doing on Saturday Night Live?
  2. What If Friendship, Not Marriage, Was at the Center of Life?
  3. The 11,000 Votes That Haunt Michigan Democrats
  4. Americans Are Losing Sight of What Fascism Means
  5. Amy Coney Barrett’s Judicial Philosophy Doesn’t Hold Up to Scrutiny
  6. You’re Not Supposed to Understand the Rumors About Biden
  7. Massachusetts: Images of the Bay State
  8. Bruce Springsteen and the Art of Aging Well
  9. Are We Trading Our Happiness for Modern Comforts?
  10. The Mad, Mad World of Niche Sports Among Ivy League–Obsessed Parents
Back to Top