Summary
- Abu Dhabi has started construction on the House of Arts Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, one of the final projects designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry.<br>
- The complex will include four main performance venues with capacity for more than 6,000 visitors, hosting major international arts programming year-round.
- Its planned 2030 opening strengthens Abu Dhabi’s push to establish itself as a global center for arts and culture.<br>
Details
- Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism has announced the start of construction on the House of Arts Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island.
- The venue is scheduled to open in 2030.
- Designed by Frank Gehry, the complex is set to become one of the region’s largest performing arts projects. It is also among the last major works designed by the architect, adding another global cultural landmark to Abu Dhabi’s growing arts district.
The project will include:
- A main performance hall with more than 2,000 seats and an orchestra pit for up to 120 musicians.
- An outdoor amphitheater with capacity for about 3,500 people.
- A 400-seat experimental theater.
- A 250-seat jazz and small-format performance hall.
- Nearly 5,000 square meters of restaurants, cafés and retail space, plus a waterfront terrace.
Gehry’s design draws on the movement of wind and water and the natural environment of the UAE. The building is intended to combine contemporary architecture with a local sense of place.
Gehry is known for some of the world’s most recognizable cultural buildings, including the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. He also designed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, which is nearing completion on Saadiyat Island.
The House of Arts is expected to host opera, ballet, theater, orchestral concerts and live music, along with festivals, artist residencies and partnerships with international cultural institutions.
What to watch
The project adds another major piece to Abu Dhabi’s cultural strategy on Saadiyat Island, alongside Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Its 2030 opening will test how far the emirate can turn landmark architecture into a sustained global platform for performance, creativity and cultural exchange.
