Louvre Abu Dhabi has recorded more than 1.4 million visitors in 2024, marking its highest attendance since its grand opening and bringing the total visitor count to more than 6 million. This achievement showcases the museum’s dedication to creating cultural connections through world-class exhibitions, engaging educational initiatives, and immersive visitor experiences.
Reflecting its global appeal, international visitors made up 84 per cent of total attendance. Across all visitors, both international and residents, China and Russia led with 12 per cent each, followed by India (7 per cent), and France and the UK (6 per cent each). This underscores the museum’s broad reach as well as its vital role within the local community.
Noteworthy moments of 2024 included International Museum Day (18 May) and the UAE National Day (2 December), which recorded single-day attendance milestones of 15,075 and 15,477 visitors, respectively, driven by innovative programming.
His Excellency Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “Louvre Abu Dhabi’s record-breaking yearly attendance reflects the museum’s contribution to the cultural transformation of the emirate. Through its collections, exhibitions and programming, this institution has enriched lives both in the UAE community and around the world, revealing cultural connections and showcasing our shared humanity.”
Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: “2024 marks a defining year for the museum, truly our best yet across every aspect. As we celebrate our seventh year, we reflect on the growth and maturity we've achieved, a testament to the confidence we've built since our opening. Our deep connection to local culture and heritage has been a driving force, as evidenced by the repeated visitation from UAE residents. We've not only contributed to, but also benefited from, the exceptional tourism success of the emirate. This success is reflected in the museum’s ongoing evolution and the 1.4 million visitors mark achieved in 2024. It also plays a key role in paving the way for other cultural institutions to join us, further enriching and elevating Abu Dhabi’s dynamic arts and cultural landscape”.
The museum’s exhibitions in 2024 captivated audiences and earned widespread acclaim, drawing more than 663,000 visitors. Highlights included 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, which emerged as a standout, welcoming 175,705 visitors and offering fresh insights into this artistic movement.
The museum's commitment to expanding its collection through major acquisitions and loans played a significant role in driving visitor numbers throughout the year. Through three carefully curated rotations in 2024, Louvre Abu Dhabi continued to enrich its universal narrative and reinforce its reputation as a leading cultural destination, attracting visitors from all over the world.
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Children’s Museum flourished, welcomed 357,117 young visitors in 2024. The ongoing success of its flagship exhibition, Picturing the Cosmos, has drawn around 500,000 visitors since its opening in 2023. Coupled with dynamic initiatives like summer camps, special activations in partnership with Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in the presence of Emirati Astronauts, the Children’s Museum continues to stand out as a creative haven for young minds.
In 2024, Louvre Abu Dhabi deepened its connection with the community through a record 64,223 student and teacher visits, a 41 per cent increase from 2023. By aligning its educational resources with school curricula, the museum empowered educators to weave art into everyday learning.
Dynamic cultural programming attracted 18,735 attendees, creating moments of shared joy and discovery through initiatives such as the talks series, outdoor film screenings, live dance and music performances, and secret dinners inspired by the museum’s latest exhibition.
Among the standout events, the first-ever Masquerave featuring DJ Peggy Gou brought 3,000 guests together under the museum’s iconic dome for a night of unforgettable celebration. Eid Al Etihad festivities invited visitors to honour the UAE’s rich heritage, while outdoor activities, including kayaking, catamaran tours and the Louvre Abu Dhabi Run transformed the museum experience into an adventurous journey of exploration.
Louvre Abu Dhabi expanded its digital footprint, welcoming 173,400 app users in 2024 and introducing AI-powered features that made discovering its collection easier and more engaging than ever. The entire collection is now accessible online, opening doors to audiences worldwide.
To captivate younger audiences, the museum expanded its Adventures in the Museum podcast series in Arabic and launched Secret of the Dome Stars, an interactive gamified experience in the museum galleries that brought hidden stories to life in a fun and engaging way.
As Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrates its successes in 2024, the museum eagerly anticipates the opening of Kings and Queens of Africa in January 2025. This exhibition aims to transport visitors through captivating narratives of African art and heritage. Building on the momentum of its grants and fellowships programme launched in 2024, Louvre Abu Dhabi remains dedicated to advancing research, fostering artistic exploration, and championing cultural dialogue.
