The hotly anticipated Louvre Abu Dhabi opened its doors to visitors in November, following a VIP inauguration that was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The spectacular Jean Nouvel-designed building is the first branch of the Louvre to open outside France with a collection comprising more than 600 pieces of art, of which 300 masterpieces are on loan from key French institutions, including works by da Vinci, Monet, Van Gogh and Matisse. Drawn from civilisations from all around the world, the works tell the story of shared human experience from ancient times to the present day. Entry to the museum starts at 60 AED (approx. £12) for adults and 30 AED (approx. £6) for those aged between 13 and 22.
Jumeirah Group to open luxury beachside resort
Jumeirah Saadiyat Island is set to grace the beautiful Saadiyat coastline during 2018, offering 293 rooms, 70 suites and eight villas that will boast their own private pools. Guests will be able to enjoy a luxury spa with 14 treatment rooms and a Hammam, plus a VIP couples suites with a private entrance. All rooms will feature views of the sea with six panoramic suites featuring floor to ceiling glass walls that will open up to make the most of the sea breeze. There will be three swimming pools and a pristine beach front for guests to enjoy, and the opportunity to see the Hawksbill turtles come ashore during the nesting season. This will be the brands second property in Abu Dhabi, with Jumeirah at Etihad Towers already located on the Corniche.
New Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Pearl Rotana
Following in the footsteps of Louvre Abu Dhabi, Rotana is launching a five-star resort on the same island, named Saadiyat Rotana Resort. Boasting a modern and elegant design, the resort will be ideal for both business and leisure travellers alike, featuring 327 upscale rooms and suites, 13 beach villas overlooking the turquoise sea, a private stretch of beach and large conference facilities. Guests will have a choice of eight dining outlets serving a wide range of cuisine and access to the Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Centre.
The second Rotana property, Pearl Rotana, will offer 315 rooms and suites in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s business district, located just a few steps from the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The luxury hotel will feature five food and beverage venues, a Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Centre and seven fully-equipped meeting and boardroom spaces.
Not too late for the 2017 Abu Dhabi Food Festival
The annual Abu Dhabi Food Festival, which started on 5th December, runs through to 23rd December. The festival features a fantastic menu of events for foodies, along with some new gastronomic experiences and demonstrations by international chefs.
Spread over 17 days across Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, the Abu Dhabi Food Festival will serve up an array of culinary delights, including three dedicated food truck events, the opportunity to witness a world record attempt to create the longest pizza in the UAE and the chance to dine at many of the emirate’s top restaurants as part of Zomato’s Abu Dhabi Restaurant Week.
