Louvre Abu Dhabi attracts over 1.4 million visitors in 2024

Photo : Abu Dhabi Media Office

Louvre Abu Dhabi had more than 1.4 million visitors in 2024, making it the busiest year since it first opened. This brings the total number of visitors to more than 6 million. The museum has become a place where people from all over the world come to see art, learn, and enjoy special events. Most visitors, about 84%, came from other countries. The highest numbers were from China and Russia, each with 12%. India had 7%, while France and the UK had 6% each. This shows that the museum is loved by both visitors from outside the UAE and people living in Abu Dhabi.

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Some of the biggest days in 2024 were International Museum Day on May 18, when 15,075 people visited, and UAE National Day on December 2, which saw 15,477 visitors. These record numbers were due to special programs that made the museum more exciting.

His Excellency Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said that Louvre Abu Dhabi’s success shows how important it is to the city’s growing culture. He said that the museum’s art, exhibits, and programs have made a big impact on people in the UAE and around the world. The museum’s director, Manuel Rabaté, said that 2024 was the best year so far. He said that the museum has become stronger and more respected since it opened. He also said that many UAE residents visit again and again, showing how much they connect with the museum. He added that Louvre Abu Dhabi has helped tourism in the city grow and is now an important part of the cultural scene.

The museum’s special exhibitions in 2024 attracted over 663,000 visitors. Some of the most popular were *Cartier: Islamic Inspiration and Modern Design, From Kalila wa Dimna to La Fontaine: Travelling through Fables, Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here 2024,* and *Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances*. The last one was a favorite, with 175,705 visitors. The museum also added new artworks and borrowed important pieces from other museums, making the collection even better.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi Children’s Museum was another popular place, with 357,117 young visitors in 2024. The exhibition *Picturing the Cosmos* has been visited by almost 500,000 people since it opened in 2023. The museum also held fun activities like summer camps and events with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, where children got to meet real astronauts. These activities made the Children’s Museum an exciting place to learn and explore.

Education was also a big focus, with 64,223 students and teachers visiting in 2024, a 41% increase from the year before. The museum made sure that teachers could use art to make learning more interesting for students. In addition, 18,735 people attended cultural events, including talks, outdoor movies, live music, dance shows, and secret dinners inspired by museum exhibitions. One of the biggest events was the first-ever *Masquerave*, with DJ Peggy Gou, where 3,000 people danced under the museum’s dome. Other special events included *Eid Al Etihad* celebrations and outdoor activities like kayaking, catamaran tours, and the *Louvre Abu Dhabi Run*, making the museum a place for adventure as well as art.

In 2024, Louvre Abu Dhabi also made it easier for people to explore the museum online. A total of 173,400 people used the museum’s app, which now includes smart features that help visitors learn about the art. The entire museum collection is also now available online, so people from all over the world can see it. To make the museum fun for younger visitors, it expanded its *Adventures in the Museum* podcast in Arabic and launched *Secret of the Dome Stars*, a game that lets visitors uncover hidden stories in a fun and exciting way.

As Louvre Abu Dhabi looks forward to 2025, it is preparing for the opening of *Kings and Queens of Africa* in January. This exhibition will take visitors on a journey through the history and culture of Africa. The museum is also continuing its research and support for new artists.

With 2024 being its best year yet, Louvre Abu Dhabi has become a leading museum in the world. It continues to bring people together through art and history, keeping culture alive while staying connected to the UAE’s heritage.