The city’s oldest surviving building is located in Old Dubai, near the banks of Dubai Creek. It stands within the historic Al Fahidi neighbourhood, by the modern waterfront development of Al Seef, which features a recreated souk designed to evoke the Dubai of centuries past.

Between the reconstructed market and the towering skyscrapers of the modern city, the fort will welcome visitors again, offering a glimpse into the history of a destination now synonymous with high-rises, ultimate luxury and futuristic architecture bordering on science fiction.

Long before the discovery of oil, Dubai Creek was at the heart of the city’s economic life, with fish and pearls being traded there.

Originally built – in phases – as a defensive stronghold, the fort is roughly square in shape (41 by 33 metres) and has three towers positioned at its corners; the oldest was built around 1787. Its thick walls, built of coral and shell stones bonded with lime, protected the inhabitants from threats from the land and the heat.

The main, and only, entrance features a heavy teak door reinforced with iron nails and brass plates.

Over the years, it served as a residence for the ruler, a centre of governance, a prison and an arsenal. Each of these functions marks a different period in the emirate’s history.

In 1971, the year the United Arab Emirates was founded, the fort became Dubai’s first museum.

Ayisha Khansaheb, Director of Al Fahidi Fort and Specialised Museums at the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, presents the museum as a gateway into Dubai’s history.

In an interview with Euronews Travel, she emphasised the importance of cultural heritage for tourists, residents, local communities and schools alike.

“There is a growing need to emphasise that there is a soul, a culture and a history here,” she said.

Inside, visitors can discover the history of the fort and the city through a combination of artefacts, archival material, and immersive technology.

The tour begins in a newly built underground extension, where a series of galleries explore defence, leadership, and craftsmanship. In the fort itself, The Vault, is a light and sound show that retraces the history of Dubai’s defence capabilities.

Another gallery A Landmark Across the Ages explores the fort’s changing roles over nearly two and a half centuries, while a collection of Islamic arms and armour offers visitors a glimpse into the region’s military history.

The site has been designed as an educational space with interactive activities especially for children.

The watchtowers, gates and courtyard are open to the public, with the fort itself remaining at the heart of the exhibition, allowing visitors to “experience history through architecture”, according to Khansaheb.

The focus on the Emirate’s defensive history is particularly resonant in 2026, as Dubai continues to contend with the consequences of a very different kind of warfare.

The Iran war, which began in late February 2026, badly hit Dubai’s tourism industry, with the United Arab Emirates being targeted by Iranian missiles and drones, which disrupted air travel.

The industry is now showing signs of recovery. According to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), hotel occupancy reached 66% in August, up from 36% in March.

Nevertheless, visitor numbers remain well below last year’s levels. In the first eight months of 2026, the Emirate welcomed 6.97 million international visitors, compared to 12.24 million for the same period in 2025.

L’article Dubai’s oldest building set to reopen after five-year restoration est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Since 28 February 2026, air traffic across the Middle East has been heavily disrupted. During the first few months after the initial US-Israel attack on Iran, many of the airspaces in the region were closed more often than not. Yet even once the shutdown was over, the aviation industry encountered numerous hurdles on the way to recovery.

While at the time of writing, airports across the Gulf are accepting arrivals and departures again, international carriers are slow to return. Local airlines have been rebuilding their schedules for a while but travellers relying on Asian, European, and North American operators thus need to be patient.

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British Airways is one of the international airlines that are cautiously planning a return to the Middle East. While flight routes were initially scheduled to resume one 1 fully 2026, that deadline has been pushed several times. The first connection to be reinstated was the route to Doha, which opened again on 2 September 2026 and offers one daily flight.

The next flight route set to resume is the one to Tel Aviv. As of 25 October 2026, the airline is planning to reinstate a daily flight from London.

The Middle East is once again at the top of Flightradar24's most-tracked list as aviation activity draws attention following new attacks in and around Iran. pic.twitter.com/pITzxaisif

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) September 1, 2026

British Airways is planning its return to Riyadh and Dubai on 3 November 2026, with one flight per day for both destinations in a first stage. During the summer of 2027, the number of daily flights to Dubai should increase to two.

Starting from 4 November 2026, British Airways should be organising four weekly flights to Amman.

However, British Airways will not be flying to two destinations in the Middle East before 2027. Flights to Bahrain should resume around the end of March 2027, while direct flights from London to Abu Dhabi aren’t expected to resume until the winter of 2027. In a statement to Metro UK, the airline blamed the late date on the conflict in the Middle East and ‘airspace instability’.

Travellers who wish to fly from London to Abu Dhabi before then have multiple options. Etihad is offering a direct connection from London Heathrow. Meanwhile, British Airways enthusiasts can catch a flight to Doha, from where a Qatar Airways connection will be able to bring them to Abu Dhabi – a voyage which takes approximately 11 hours in total.

Although the situation has calmed down since February, the airspace remains high risk. Israeli airstrikes in Syria remain likely and several countries still prohibit or strongly discourage their operators from entering the region’s skies.

Prospective flyers can check safeairspace.net for more info. British Airways customers who have booked a ticket to or from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Tel Aviv, and Riyadh up to and including 31 October 2026 can request a full refund. This also applies to flights which are still set to operate.

L’article British Airways not to resume Abu Dhabi flights until late 2027 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Emirates is constantly trying to upgrade its passenger experience. In July 2026, the airline launched a multi-way adjustable headrest for Economy Class passengers. The feature is to be rolled out across its fleet by the end of 2026 and is meant to be “a game-changing new seat addition”.

During the Arabian Travel Market 2026 (ATM), which runs until 16 September 2026, the carrier announced yet another upgrade to its fleet. The so-called A350 fully electric Premium Economy seat will be equipped with a full-height privacy divider, an industry first. The feature will offer Premium Economy passengers more privacy than ever at the press of a fingertip through a set of integrated seat controls.

The novelty will be present across the carrier’s new Airbus A350 aircraft in a 2-3-2 configuration. The Premium Economy class will offer just 28 electric seats, each seat being 50.8 centimetres wide and offering up to 99 centimetres of pitch. When reminded in cradle position, the seats do not intrude into the row behind. The seat adjustments will be available through the Passenger Control Unit, with dedicated settings for lounge and meal modes.

During the opening of ATM, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, tried the new A350 fully electric Premium Economy first-hand.

Alongside the divider and positioning buttons, the Airbus 350 Premium Economy seat offers preset lounge and meal seating positions, the airline’s industry-first U-Dream leather headrest, wireless charging, USB-C power charging, a 13.3-inch 4K HDR screen, and numerous other touches. The experience is rounded off with a welcome drink, amenity kits, elegant dishes served on Royal Doulton China, accompanied by an extensive speciality beverage list.

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Aside from the launch of the new Premium Economy seat, Emirates also signed seven Memoranda of Understanding with tourism boards across the Indian Ocean, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the UAE during the first day of ATM. Moreover, the airline took the opportunity to renew agreements with technology and retail partners.

Finally, Emirates shared some up-to-date statistics regarding 2026.

“Emirates has closed the summer season ahead of expectations and enters winter with strong booking momentum across a broadening range of markets, as the airline continues to invest in its fleet and industry-leading products, in its global network, and in offering customers greater booking flexibility and comprehensive travel cover,” the airline stated.

The data show that Emirates carried over 8.6 million passengers between July and August, while arrivals into Dubai on Emirates in the second half of August alone were up 7% on the same period in 2025. Premium Economy is available on 137 aircraft as of 14 September 2026 and 18 aircraft have been delivered since January, with six more A350s arriving before year-end. Emirates is planning on continuing to expand its network heading into winter, with new destinations, additional frequencies and more of its latest aircraft deployed across key markets. Helsinki is set to join the Emirates network on 1 October.

L’article Emirates reveals new Premium Economy seats featuring full-height privacy screens est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Traffic dropped to 13 million passengers for the quarter, and to 31.5 million for the whole first half of the year—a decline of 31.3% for the period, year-on-year. The wider Middle East region suffered a similar drop in aircraft movements, falling 32.1% to 62,500 movements in Q2, and 150,600 for the first half of the year.

Passengers, holidaymakers, and foreign residents in the United Arab Emirates were left stranded by the impact of the war on commercial aviation, with nations and airlines forced to operate emergency repatriation flights in some cases. The situation damaged consumer confidence in choosing destinations around the Arabian Gulf and peninsula, as images of drone strikes circulated on social media, with influencers and others cowering in hotel foyers.

In July, Dubai began offering residents rewards worth more than €700 for persuading friends and family to visit the emirate, as authorities launched a new tourism initiative designed to encourage travel during the traditionally quieter summer season.

The “A Dubai Invite” programme, launched by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), gives UAE residents and citizens the chance to invite friends and relatives living abroad to visit the city between 20 July and 31 October 2026. In return, residents can unlock benefits worth more than AED 3,000 (€716), with access to over 20 perks, including hotel stays, dining experiences, attraction tickets and lifestyle offers.

But speaking to the Associated Press, Dubai’s CEO Paul Griffiths has pointed to an upward trend in passenger volume over the second quarter as a sign of hope and returning positive sentiment, saying, “The events of the disruption, which lasted two months, that had an impact on traffic. However, the trajectory now is universally positive.”

Weeeeeeeeeelcome to Dubai

We’ve missed you, and we’re so excited to welcome you with a little taste of our Arabian hospitality. Keep an eye out as you arrive at or transit through DXB. We’ve got smiles, music, treats and a few surprises waiting for you along the way … pic.twitter.com/foGNyBklLz

— DXB (@DXB) August 20, 2026

The airport, which suffered minor damage during the military tensions, is anticipating the return of carriers that pulled out of Middle East routes amid the security threat and fuel crisis, swapping capacity to different routes and destinations. “I’m very confident we’ll be back to full operation in a very short space of time,” Griffiths said.

However, the key shipping and oil route of the Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed, with Iran failing to succumb to efforts by the US and Israelis to exert enough military and financial influence over the matter.

L’article Dubai airport traffic plunges 31% in first half as Iran War disrupts travel est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Passengers travelling to Dubai can now change their travel dates without a fee on several Economy and Business Class fares. The option applies to Economy Saver through Flex fares and Business Class Special, Saver and Flex fares. Travellers can therefore change their dates as many times as needed without paying a separate change fee each time.

However, a free date change does not mean that the new flight will always cost the same. If the replacement flight has a higher fare, passengers may still have to pay the difference. Economy Flex Plus, Premium Economy, Business Flex Plus and First Class tickets already offer full flexibility under their existing conditions.

Emirates has also reduced the fees for passengers who want to cancel their Dubai-bound flights. Economy Saver and Business Special or Saver fares can now be refunded for a $50 (€43) fee. The charge for Economy and Business Flex fares has been reduced to $25 (€22). No-show fees remain unchanged.

The lower fees give passengers another option if changing their travel date is no longer suitable. Travellers who are uncertain about their plans can therefore book with more flexibility than before. Emirates advises passengers to check the conditions of their individual fare before making changes or requesting a refund.

The new flexibility also extends beyond Dubai. Tickets booked since 2 April 2026 include one complimentary date change across the Emirates network, including itineraries that connect through Dubai. Passengers can also hold a fare for 24 hours without paying a fee while they finalise their travel plans.

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The measures come against a backdrop of uncertainty for Dubai’s tourism sector, with regional instability and disruptions to air travel affecting travel plans in recent months. Travel Tomorrow previously reported on a Dubai initiative offering residents rewards worth more than €700 for inviting friends and relatives from abroad. Emirates’ new policy gives travellers another option when booking a trip by making it easier to adjust their plans if circumstances change.

Emirates is also offering support when passengers face operational disruptions. Where necessary, affected travellers can receive accommodation and be rebooked at no additional cost if their onward connection is disrupted or an Emirates service is unavailable. The measures also cover situations involving airspace closures.

The airline is additionally promoting its Comprehensive Travel Cover in 27 countries. The insurance includes cancellation and baggage protection, as well as worldwide medical and emergency evacuation cover. It also provides specific protection related to conflict, including up to $25,000 in medical expenses and trip extensions of up to 30 days.

Emirates Skywards members can also receive temporary benefits until 31 August. Members need 20% fewer Tier Miles to reach Silver, Gold or Platinum status and receive a 20% Tier Miles bonus on Emirates and flydubai flights. The airline is also increasing the value of its Cash+Miles option, with 2,000 Miles redeemable for $30 (€26), twice the usual value.

L’article Emirates introduces free date-change policy for flights to Dubai  est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The arrival of the UAE’s first casino resort represents a major shift in the country’s approach to commercial gaming. For decades, gambling has been prohibited in the UAE, but authorities started creating a framework for regulated gaming in recent years. In 2023, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) was established to oversee the sector and ensure that future gaming activities would follow strict rules. In October 2024, Wynn Resorts received the UAE’s first commercial gaming operator licence, allowing the company to develop the country’s first licensed gaming facility.

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Ras Al Khaimah was selected as the location for the ambitious project, offering a different setting from the busy urban environment of Dubai. The emirate has been investing heavily in tourism and luxury accommodation, while promoting its beaches, mountains and outdoor experiences. Located around 80 kilometres north of Dubai International Airport, Wynn Al Marjan Island is expected to attract international visitors looking for a combination of relaxation and entertainment. The resort could help position Ras Al Khaimah as one of the Gulf region’s emerging luxury tourism destinations.

Construction of the resort is currently entering its final stages, although the project has faced some delays. Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings previously announced a “modest delay” due to logistical and shipping challenges linked to regional conflicts and wider supply chain disruptions. The company estimated that these issues increased the cost of the project by around $600 million (€520 million). Despite these challenges, work on the resort is progressing, with the 70-storey tower reaching its highest structural point and interior works continuing across the property.

Wynn Al Marjan Island is designed as an integrated resort, meaning that visitors will find much more than a casino on the site. The development will include more than 1,500 rooms, suites and residences, offering different levels of accommodation. The resort will feature 22 restaurants, bars and lounges, bringing together international concepts and new dining experiences created specifically for Ras Al Khaimah. Among the announced venues are Delilah, a well-known entertainment dining concept from Las Vegas, and a new steakhouse by French chef Alain Ducasse.

Entertainment will also play an important role in attracting visitors to the resort. Wynn Al Marjan Island will include a theatre with around 900 seats, immersive experiences and live performances. The resort will also feature a 15,000-square-metre luxury retail promenade with international brands. These facilities reflect a broader trend in global tourism, where travellers increasingly look for destinations that combine accommodation, entertainment, shopping and unique experiences in one location.

The resort will also focus on leisure and relaxation, with facilities designed for both short stays and longer holidays. Guests will have access to a 420-metre private white sand beach, 12 swimming pools, a luxury spa and a beach club. A marina will allow the resort to welcome superyachts from around the world, while events facilities will provide space for conferences, celebrations and other large gatherings. The combination of these amenities is aimed at attracting different types of travellers, from luxury holidaymakers to business visitors.

The opening of Wynn Al Marjan Island comes as the UAE continues to expand its tourism offer beyond traditional attractions. Dubai has built a global reputation around shopping, architecture and luxury experiences, while Ras Al Khaimah is developing its own identity based on nature, beaches and high-end resorts. The new project adds another element to the emirate’s tourism strategy by introducing a large-scale entertainment destination. Future transport improvements, including a new bridge connection and plans for possible flying taxi services between Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai, could further improve accessibility for international visitors.

L’article UAE’s first casino resort to open in Ras Al Khaimah in September 2027 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The new “A Dubai Invite” programme, launched by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), allows UAE residents and citizens to invite friends and relatives living abroad to visit the city between 20 July and 31 October 2026. In return, residents can unlock benefits worth more than AED 3,000 (€716), with access to over 20 perks, including hotel stays, dining experiences, attraction tickets and lifestyle offers.

“The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism launches ‘A Dubai Invite’, inviting residents to become ambassadors of the city by welcoming their loved ones to Dubai,” said the Dubai Media Office, announcing the initiative in a post on X.

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism launches ‘A Dubai Invite’, inviting residents to become ambassadors of the city by welcoming their loved ones to Dubai. The programme runs until 31 October 2026, delivering tangible benefits to the community of nearly 200 nationalities. pic.twitter.com/2V85yoQ1Fw

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 22, 2026

According to the official Visit Dubai website, residents who successfully nominate eligible visitors can access exclusive offers from hotels, restaurants and attractions across the city. These include discounts of up to 45% at selected hotels, including Meliá Desert Palm, W Dubai Mina Seyahi, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Waterpark, and IHG Hotels & Resorts. The package also offers complimentary attraction tickets to destinations such as Aquaventure and IMG Worlds of Adventure, as well as two-for-one dining deals at restaurants including ULA, Asia Asia and The 305, allowing residents and their guests to explore and enjoy Dubai together at reduced prices.

To qualify, nominated visitors must be non-UAE residents travelling on a valid tourist visa or be eligible for a visa on arrival. Residents must also be at least 18 years old and hold a valid Emirates ID. Visitors need to arrive before 31 October, while the rewards can be redeemed until the end of the year. Each resident can receive up to three reward packages under the scheme.

The campaign aims to encourage residents from nearly 200 nationalities living in Dubai to promote the destination to friends and relatives abroad. On its website, Visit Dubai says: “You’re their best reason to visit.”

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The programme also comes during Dubai’s traditionally low tourism season, when temperatures frequently approach 50°C, making summer one of the quietest periods for international visitors.

Dubai welcomed around 19.5 million visitors annually, making it one of the Middle East’s leading tourism destinations. However, the tourism industry has faced challenges in recent months following regional instability linked to the conflict involving Iran. The unrest disrupted air travel, affected visitor confidence and prompted the Dubai government to introduce a series of economic support measures for businesses, including relief for hotels, restaurants and aviation operators.

The campaign has already attracted strong interest, with 10,000 applications submitted within the first 48 hours of its launch. Due to the overwhelming response, authorities are reviewing the cap on the number of reward packages available under the programme.

The initiative comes as Dubai’s tourism sector introduces further measures to reassure travellers amid regional uncertainty. Alongside the resident referral programme, airlines and tourism businesses have also introduced new incentives and offers aimed at restoring travel demand and supporting the sector’s recovery. As part of these efforts, Emirates has launched an industry-first travel insurance initiative covering conflict-related disruptions, including certain risks linked to geopolitical events, offering passengers greater reassurance when travelling during periods of uncertainty.

L’article Dubai launches €700 discount scheme for tourists invited by UAE residents est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The system helps airport operators and passengers beat the queues by deploying smart cameras and biometrics to recognise and clear up to 10 passengers at the same time. It is now able to be used by other airport users, following an initial test phase in the hub’s Terminal 3.

Travel pro tip: check before you queue
When travelling through #DXB, you can now quickly scan your passport to check if you can use the @GDRFADubai Smart Gates, or if you need to head to the Passport Control desks instead.

The Smart Gates PreCheck tool is available to use… pic.twitter.com/7T1jLvveba

— DXB (@DXB) July 16, 2026

Well over 26 million travellers benefitted from the Smart Gates last year. UAE and GCC nationals, UAE residents, and visa-on-arrival guests with biometric passports are all eligible to use them, both at arrivals and departures, where officials say they will “pass through passport control swiftly, typically within seconds, thanks to their enhanced features and contactless process.” (Though it’s worth noting that families with children and people under 1.2-metres tall cannot use the service).

The use of the tech at Dubai is a world-first, linking to the airport’s advanced systems including integrated flight data and AI passenger registrations. Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports, told Times reporters the aim was to improve the passenger experience in the airport and “make the security process no less rigorous but far less intrusive.”

Griffiths said: “We’ve invested in camera technology, whereby you can continue to walk through a space and be verified as OK to enter or leave the country, so no passports in your hand, no gate readers, no difficulty with the whole process.”

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Gulf News explains that passengers using Dubai International can already sign up to use Smart Gates via the Smart Gates Pre-Check, accessible from anywhere in the world before travel and allowing passengers to confirm their eligibility before arriving at the airport. Registration involves travellers scanning their passport photograph. In addition, travellers already in situ at DXB, can scan QR codes displayed throughout the Arrivals and Departures passport control areas to navigate to the same service.

But the “red carpet” clearance system now goes beyond even the Smart Gates in terms of performance, in some instances clearing passengers in as little as three seconds. The airport is also speeding up passenger journeys to and from the airport with the anticipated launch of Joby air taxis. After a difficult year in 2026 so far, following aviation disruption in the Middle East due to the Iran-US-Israel conflict, Dubai will be looking for ways to improve its passenger flows and throughput to retain its position at the head of the world’s busiest airport rankings.

L’article Dubai airport trials AI-powered biometric system cutting terminal wait times by over 60% est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

According to a press release from the Dubai-based, UAE flag carrier, the U-Dream Headrest is “designed to provide full neck and head support during sleep or relaxation.” Despite having only just finished the 100th aircraft in its €5-billion fleet upgrade, Emirates is installing the headrest across all Emirates A350s by the end of 2026. The product will come pre-installed on its new  Boeing 777s, and will be retrofitted to Airbus A380s from 2027.

Part of Emirates’ Z400 seat by Safran, with padded leather and flexible side wings that can be folded inwards to “gently cradle” the head and neck, the headrest “helps passengers maintain a comfortable sleeping position without their head falling forwards or sideways,” the airline says. It can be moved vertically and tilt, to support passengers of different heights and body sizes. It has been independently tested and verified to meet European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards.

The innovation comes as airlines, transport manufacturers and operators, and hospitality providers around the world, rush to cater to growing demand from travel consumers for premium and luxury comfort features. Examples include other airlines competing on lie-flat economy bed options, and Collins Airspace turning the dreaded rear aircraft seat into a semi-private “Skynook.”

The phenomenon can be seen across road, rail, and sea-faring transport as well. Earlier this year, Uber announced a deal to acquire Blacklane, a Berlin-based global chauffeur service platform, describing premium travel as “one of the most exciting growth areas” of its business. And in an extreme version of the trend, Orient Express is branching into the luxury yacht market.

In a statement, Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said the airline had “found a way to significantly improve the comfort for Economy Class passengers, especially those travelling long-haul. The U-Dream changes the game if the person wants to sleep – by supporting the neck in full. No more neck pillows needed. It’s another innovation that shows our commitment to customers and cements our Economy Class as the best.”

In another appeal to the luxury segment and another potential world-first, Clark recently said he was working on en-suite bathrooms in the airline’s first-class suites. Early in 2025, Emirates inaugurated a $5-million premium lounge in Bangkok, intended to mark a “new standard for premium travel”, according to an airline statement at the time.

L’article Emirates enhances economy class with new ergonomic headrest est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Dar al-Funoon, or House of the Arts, will sit alongside the Saadiyat Cultural District, which is rapidly becoming one of the most ambitious cultural clusters in the world. The Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum, the Natural History Museum by Mecanoo and TeamLab Phenomena by TeamLab Architects are already open, while the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome visitors later this year.

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Dar al-Funoon is being developed by the Department of Culture and Tourism. The venue will host operas, ballets and theatre productions, but also orchestral concerts, musicals, festivals and cultural events, alongside more intimate performances.

The main multipurpose hall will seat over 2,000 people, with an orchestra pit large enough for 120 musicians and acoustics engineered for major productions.

Details have not been overlooked, and every genre will get its own dedicated space, thoughtfully designed for optimum enjoyment and performance.

Beyond the main hall, a 3,500-seat outdoor amphitheatre will host large-scale events and festivals, while a 400-seat studio theatre is earmarked for experimental and community productions. Jazz, meanwhile, will be celebrated in its own specially designed 250-seat venue, offering a more intimate atmosphere suited to the genre.

No such place would be complete without food, beverage and retail space, and Dar al-Funoon will be dotted with 5,000 square metres of delectation for the eyes and stomach.

The space is intended to be open year-round, not just for one-off events but as a permanent home for major live productions, with artistic residencies on offer and international touring partnerships and co-productions with performing arts centres around the world.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, described the project as a reflection of the emirate’s long-term investment in artistic expression and cultural development, saying the centre “will be a permanent home for performance, bringing together leading artists, companies and creative talent from the UAE, the region and across the world”.

Ghery’s undulating design is spectacular, a rippling, fabric-like exterior that seems to breathe and shift, inspired by the movements of the sea and wind. It is very much his signature: the same restless, sculptural energy that defines the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. Gehry, who passed away in December 2025 at the age of 96, also designed the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, currently under construction on the same island. Dar al-Funoon will rank among the final projects of his extraordinary career.

L’article Abu Dhabi to open Frank Gehry-designed performing arts centre by 2030 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.