Spices and Wonders at Louvre Abu Dhabi: dates, tickets and visitor guide
by Admin
by AdminBabylon Radio
Listen now“Spices and Wonders: Sailing the Indian Ocean” runs at Louvre Abu Dhabi from 14 October 2026 to 14 February 2027. The exhibition follows 1,000 years of maritime travel, trade and cultural exchange linking Africa, Asia and the wider Indian Ocean world.
For Abu Dhabi residents and visitors, it is a chance to see the Indian Ocean as a network that moved more than cargo. Navigational knowledge, beliefs, languages and ideas travelled alongside spices and other goods, reshaping communities around its shores.
What is Spices and Wonders about?
Louvre Abu Dhabi says the exhibition charts routes that connected civilisations across Africa, Asia and beyond. It examines how sailors crossed large distances using specialist knowledge and techniques, including navigation guided by the stars.
The story also includes voyages that ended in shipwreck and the objects carried by vessels. Rather than treating the ocean as a barrier between regions, the exhibition presents it as an early route of sustained exchange.
The exhibition is organised by Louvre Abu Dhabi in partnership with Musée National des Arts Asiatiques – Guimet in Paris.
When does the exhibition open?
- Opening date: 14 October 2026
- Closing date: 14 February 2027
- Venue: Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
The museum currently lists the exhibition as “coming soon”. Visitors planning an early trip should check the official exhibition page before travelling in case opening arrangements or gallery access change.
How much are Louvre Abu Dhabi tickets?
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s current standard admission price is AED 70 for adults aged 18 and over. Admission is free for visitors under 18 and for several other eligible groups, including People of Determination with one companion, journalists, ICOM and ICOMOS cardholders, and UAE senior nationals and residents aged over 60.
The exhibition page does not list a separate supplement. Ticket conditions can change, so check the live booking page before paying, particularly if you are using a membership or museum pass.
What are the museum opening hours?
The museum is open from 10:00 to midnight. Galleries and exhibitions normally close at 18:30 from Monday to Thursday and at 20:30 from Friday to Sunday. Last gallery entry is 30 minutes before closing. The dome remains open until midnight, with last entry at 23:00.
How do you get to Louvre Abu Dhabi?
The museum is in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District. Abu Dhabi city bus 94 serves the museum. Drivers can follow signs from Sheikh Khalifa Highway E12, and taxis have a dedicated drop-off point outside the visitor car park.
Louvre Abu Dhabi also advertises the Cultural Express, a free return shuttle from Dubai serving Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Watan. A water-taxi service operates from Marsa Mina at Abu Dhabi Port’s Cruise Terminal, with tickets sold separately through the operator.
Is the museum accessible?
Wheelchairs and strollers are available to borrow free of charge from the Loan Desk. The museum also provides accessible facilities and interpretation tools throughout the galleries. People of Determination receive free admission with one companion under the current ticket policy.
Official information
Information last verified on 2 October 2026.
Image: visitors beneath the dome at Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2018. Photograph by Tasos Lekkas, via Wikimedia Commons, released under CC0 1.0. The image has been resized by WordPress.