The Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, has said that the Saadiyat Cultural District, along with its cultural institutions, is on track for completion in 2025.

The SCD is a global platform that celebrates traditions while advancing equitable culture.

A statement sent to Akonitv described it ‘as an embodiment of empowerment, showcasing museums, collections, and narratives that celebrate the region’s heritage while promoting a diverse global cultural landscape’.

According to officials of the DCT, once completed, the diversity of the SCD’s institutions is expected to make the district one of the most unique cultural platforms.

It is already home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi– the first universal museum in the Arab world– showcasing artworks from different cultures side by side and telling a story of human connections. Since opening in 2017, the prestigious art institution has played host to five million visitors and is acclaimed for its breathtaking architecture and innovative narrative.

Also, in the SCD, Berklee Abu Dhabi offers music, performing arts, and educational programmes throughout the year.

This is in addition to the Manarat Al Saadiyat, which serves as a centre for creative artistic expression and is home to two significant events on Abu Dhabi’s cultural calendar— Abu Dhabi Art and Culture Summit Abu Dhabi.

Zayed National Museum, which is the national museum of the United Arab Emirates, will celebrate the nation’s rich history and culture, as well as honour the legacy of the country’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Additionally, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, when completed, will take visitors on an ever-changing exploration that will transcend the limits of their imagination.

It will be joined by the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, which will include a research and teaching institution that will take visitors on a 13.8 billion-year journey through the story of the universe.

On its part, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is a museum celebrating art from the 1960s to the present.
More importantly, the SCD is said to pay homage to the legacy of the country’s founder and first President of the

UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed, who defined the cultural agenda and unveiled the history of the UAE to the world through archaeological excavations and findings.

The statement added that this legacy began in 1971 with the establishment of the Al Ain Museum, which was the first museum in the UAE. This was followed by the inauguration of the Cultural Foundation in 1981.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the SCD, the Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, Mohamed Al Mubarak, said, “Culture transcends mere connections. It shapes our very evolution and broadens our perspectives. Here in Abu Dhabi, we embrace this influence, fostering a deep appreciation that resonates throughout our community. Saadiyat Cultural District embodies ‘cultural hope’.

“The district will convey a message of cultural diversity that will become more powerful over time, creating global connections, inspiring cultural exchange, and fostering new ways of thinking to support the region, the global South and the world. Saadiyat Cultural District is somewhere people can come to learn from the past, understand our present, and focus on our future.”

He added that the SCD is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s commitment to preserving heritage while embracing a forward-looking vision.

Meanwhile, the DCT has launched a campaign titled, ‘Be Moved in a Thousand Ways’, introduced by philanthropist, talk show host, and author, Oprah Winfrey. The campaign film delivers an inspirational message on the transformative power of culture to unite, inspire, and open minds.

Contributors to the campaign include Al Mubarak; Cultural Adviser to the President of the UAE and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University, Zaki Nusseibeh; Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs UAE, Noura Al Kaabi; Pritzker Architecture Prize-winner and architect of the Zayed National Museum, Norman Foster; Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, Mariët Westermann; as well as celebrated artists— Mohammed Ibrahim, Najat Makki, Afra Al Dhaheri from the UAE; and multi-award winning actor, musician and entrepreneur, Idris Elba; and legendary pianist, Lang Lang, among others.

The statement added that the construction progress of the soon-to-open institutions in the SCD currently stands at 76 per cent.