Manarat al-Saadiyat, Arabic for “place of enlightenment,” is a unique gallery and visitor center dedicated to the future. As Saadiyat Island undergoes a massive transformation into a modern cultural hub, Manarat al-Saadiyat tells the story of its booming development. Two main spaces here are open to the public: one houses a permanent display on the history and culture of Saadiyat Island; the other, an ever-changing series of exhibitions and educational displays. The center is on the northwest side of Saadiyat Island just off the Sheikh Khalifa Highway.
UAE, Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Manarat Al Saadiyat, welcome center for museum island development, exterior.
Walter Bibikow/age fotostock
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Manarat Al Saadiyat
This large gallery space on Saadiyat is situated next to the copper-clad “dune” designed by Norman Foster for the Abu Dhabi pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. Manarat itself hosts a permanent exhibit that shows the planned development of the Saadiyat Cultural District; it also hosts regular exhibits and lectures, as well as Abu Dhabi Art, an international art fair held each November. After your visit, relax at Fanr Restaurant, in Manarat’s shady courtyard.
