Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnesses announcement of major performing arts institution Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi
Designed by the late Frank Gehry, Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi will provide a home for a broad range of performances from ballet to opera
Set to open in 2030, the landmark institution will offer year-round programming, with 365 days of events and performances
Abu Dhabi, UAE — 25 June 2026: His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, witnessed the announcement of Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi (House of the Arts).
His Highness was briefed on the project’s role in advancing Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision. The new institution reflects Abu Dhabi’s continued investment in cultural infrastructure and reinforces the emirate’s position as a global destination for creativity, artistic excellence and cultural exchange.
Works have commenced on Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi. It is set to open in 2030 on Saadiyat Island, near Saadiyat Cultural District’s constellation of museums that includes Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
His Excellency 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, bringing together leading artists 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.”
A home for the performing arts
Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi will be a permanent home for opera, ballet, theatre and other performing arts as well as a platform for long-term artistic residencies, touring partnerships and co-productions with leading global institutions. Convening talent from the region and around the world, it will accommodate performances at different scales, from intimate to major productions, and broaden the ways in which audiences experience the arts in Abu Dhabi.
Set to be among the region’s most technically advanced performing arts venues, 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.
Envisioned as a living expression of music and performance, with a billowing fabric-like exterior that cascades over the heart of the site, the building is designed by the late Frank Gehry, one of the world’s most celebrated architects. Its transparent façade invites the public into the artistic process, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s commitment to openness, engagement and cultural exchange.
An expanding cultural landscape
Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi reflects the emirate’s continued investment in artistic excellence, cultural participation and the performing arts. Building on a cultural landscape anchored by landmark institutions such as Zayed National Museum and Louvre Abu Dhabi, it further strengthens Abu Dhabi’s commitment to culture, heritage and creativity as drivers of social, intellectual and economic development.
As a home for opera, ballet, theatre and live performance from around the globe, Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi will expand opportunities for artistic exchange, international collaboration and audience engagement. The project builds on Abu Dhabi’s long-term vision of investing in world-class cultural infrastructure and reflects the emirate’s broader commitment to the performing arts as part of a vibrant cultural ecosystem.
Beyond its cultural significance, Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi is expected to deliver lasting community and socio-economic benefits, creating jobs, developing local talent and skills, attracting cultural tourism and strengthening the creative economy as a driver of sustainable growth.
ENDS