Massless Suns and Dark Suns will be one of the first exhibitions when teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi opens. Photo: DCT Abu Dhabi
Massless Suns and Dark Suns will be one of the first exhibitions when teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi opens. Photo: DCT Abu Dhabi
Massless Suns and Dark Suns will be one of the first exhibitions when teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi opens. Photo: DCT Abu Dhabi
Massless Suns and Dark Suns will be one of the first exhibitions when teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi opens. Photo: DCT Abu Dhabi

TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi opening date, ticket prices and more


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TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, the attraction led by Japan's renowned technology-driven art collective, will open in Saadiyat Cultural District on April 18.

It will blend art, science and technology through exhibitions, engaging the sight, sound and touch of its visitors across 17,000 square metres, the company says. It will feature original and ever-changing art with installations “designed to flow” with the amoebic architecture, teamLab adds, ensuring that no two visits will be the same.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, says he hopes teamLab's permanent home will "inspire new generations of innovators, thinkers and creators from Abu Dhabi and beyond".

“Once opened, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi will offer an immersive journey that sparks infinite curiosity and imagination in all who visit," he adds. "At the intersection of art, technology and nature, it will create a world of limitless wonder and creativity."

TeamLab's founder Toshiyuki Inoko says: “The artworks in teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi do not exist independently, but are created by the environment which produces the various phenomena that cause the artworks to exist."

Saadiyat Cultural District's latest landmark will join several others due to be completed this year, including Zayed National Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi.

Saadiyat Cultural District is already home to Louvre Abu Dhabi, Manarat Al Saadiyat and the Abrahamic Family House, which are open to the public.

Levitation Void will be one of the exhibitions at teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. Photo: DCT Abu Dhabi
Levitation Void will be one of the exhibitions at teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. Photo: DCT Abu Dhabi

Founded in Tokyo in 2001, teamLab has become famous for its embrace of digital technology and the importance that it places on the symbiotic relationship between art and the viewer. It has held many successful exhibitions around the world, including in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with news of its permanent home in Saadiyat Island announced in 2022.

The space's unique architecture was conceptualised by teamLab and realised by Abu Dhabi-based MZ Architects.

Two exhibitions, Massless Suns and Dark Suns and Levitation Void, will be on show when it opens. Tickets will cost Dh50 for ages four to 12; Dh115 for ages 13 to 17; and Dh150 for adults (ages 18 and above). They are available to book online

  • A sneak peek at teamLab Phenomena is being offered as part of an exhibition at Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. All photos: Victor Besa / The National, unless otherwise specified
    A sneak peek at teamLab Phenomena is being offered as part of an exhibition at Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. All photos: Victor Besa / The National, unless otherwise specified
  • teamLab Phenomena is scheduled to open in 2024. Photo: DCT - Abu Dhabi
    teamLab Phenomena is scheduled to open in 2024. Photo: DCT - Abu Dhabi
  • The Waves of Light experience aims to instil a feeling of unity and references the interconnectedness of the globe’s oceans.
    The Waves of Light experience aims to instil a feeling of unity and references the interconnectedness of the globe’s oceans.
  • The Resonating Microcosms - Solidified Light Color experience experiments with the concepts of colour and sound through large translucent ovoids.
    The Resonating Microcosms - Solidified Light Color experience experiments with the concepts of colour and sound through large translucent ovoids.
  • Dozens of these egg-shaped structures are arranged in an expansive mirrored room, giving the feeling of an infinitely replicating area.
    Dozens of these egg-shaped structures are arranged in an expansive mirrored room, giving the feeling of an infinitely replicating area.
  • As visitors move through the ovoids, they change light and trigger a sound.
    As visitors move through the ovoids, they change light and trigger a sound.
  • When ovoids are moved in unison, a digital chime resonates across the space. In contrast, when people are still, the ovoids flicker slowly and emit a more subdued sound.
    When ovoids are moved in unison, a digital chime resonates across the space. In contrast, when people are still, the ovoids flicker slowly and emit a more subdued sound.
  • Waves of Light leads to a presentation offering a glimpse at what to expect from the space.
    Waves of Light leads to a presentation offering a glimpse at what to expect from the space.
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The Abu Dhabi Awards explained:

What are the awards? They honour anyone who has made a contribution to life in Abu Dhabi.

Are they open to only Emiratis? The awards are open to anyone, regardless of age or nationality, living anywhere in the world.

When do nominations close? The process concludes on December 31.

How do I nominate someone? Through the website.

When is the ceremony? The awards event will take place early next year.

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Company profile

Name: Dukkantek 

Started: January 2021 

Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani 

Based: UAE 

Number of employees: 140 

Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service) 

Investment: $5.2 million 

Funding stage: Seed round 

Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office  

The five pillars of Islam

500 People from Gaza enter France

115 Special programme for artists

25   Evacuation of injured and sick

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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
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The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont

Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950

Engine 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox Eight-speed automatic

Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km

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Updated: February 25, 2025, 10:10 AM