Louvre Abu Dhabi: everything you need to know from tickets to opening hours

After 10 years of waiting, the big day is nearly here. From ticket prices to opening hours, here's everything you need to know about Louvre Abu Dhabi's opening on Saturday, November 11. Opening hours: Louvre Abu Dhabi will be open from 10am to 8pm from Saturdays to Wednesdays, and from 10am to 10pm on Thursdays and Fridays. The museum will be closed on Mondays after the opening week. Ticket prices: Regular tickets cost Dh60, while visitors between the ages of 13 and 22 can enter for Dh30. Tickets bought online or at the door cost the same. Free access will be granted for Louvre Abu Dhabi members; children under 13 years; journalists; members of the International Council of Museums / International Council on Monuments and Sites; and disabled visitors accompanied by one companion. Tickets for launch day: Online tickets have sold out for November 11. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door, but priority will be given to those who have purchased online. Museum authorities are also advising people who have not got tickets for opening day to come in the days after the launch. Louvre Abu Dhabi location: The museum is located on Saadiyat Island. If you're coming from Abu Dhabi take the Sheikh Khalifa Bridge and follow the signs pointing to the museum. From Dubai, take the Yas / Saadiyat exit from Sheikh Zayed Road. Parking and taxis: There will be parking available, including a valet option, adjacent to the museum from 10am on Saturday. There are also slots for taxis. A public bus service also serves the museum: the 94 runs from the city to the museum and it begins on November 11. Stewards will be on hand to guide people as they arrive. Artworks and exhibits: From November 11, visitors will be able to view about 600 exhibits, half of which will be from the museum's permanent collection. Artworks on display will include a self-portrait by Vincent Van Gogh; Children Wrestling by Paul Gauguin; and La Belle Ferronnière by Leonardo da Vinci. Many are on display in Abu Dhabi for the first time. Special launch-day events: The long-awaited opening will be marked by four days of entertainment, including, in order, performances by world music stars Matthieu Chedid, aka -M-, Fatoumata Diawara, Ibrahim Maalouf and Totó la Momposina at 9pm each evening, along with local art performances, displays, workshops and family activities. Those who visit on Saturday can expect to see a traditional ayyala dance at 10am as well as the Awa Troupe of Sangha from Mali, who will put on a parade with dogon masks and drummers, at 3pm. An Etihad fly past of the iconic dome will take place at 4pm. Performances by -M- on November 11 and Maalouf on November 13 have been sold out. Food and beverage options: A cafe will be open from November 11, which requires a ticket to gain entry. A restaurant is set to open in the coming months. Time check: The time it takes to go around the museum varies from person to person, but it should take about an hour and a half to walk around the 12 galleries. There will also be interactive multimedia guides available. Guided tours: During the opening week, guided tours will take place every 15 minutes for 45 minutes to give people an idea of what's on offer across the museum. Activities for families and children: A dedicated children's museum will be open from November 11. This will house family-focused exhibitions and interactive workshops, and is designed for children between the ages of 6 and 12. There are also a number of workshops and a family tour called My First Visit to Louvre Abu Dhabi. Souvenirs: A souvenir shop will be open from November 11, where people can purchase items relating to Louvre Abu Dhabi and its exhibits. Coat / luggage check: A coat and luggage check will be available inside the museum. Membership club: Membership gives exclusive access, including exhibition previews as well as entry to partner museums around the world. Members will also receive a 15 per cent discount at the museum cafe. You can choose between two 12-month packages: Membership +1, costing Dh450, allows a member plus one guest; while Membership +5, costing Dh1,500, allows up to five named guests. Temporary exhibitions: Louvre Abu Dhabi will host four temporary exhibitions a year. The first, From One Louvre to Another , begins on December 21. ___________________ Read more: ___________________

Louvre Abu Dhabi: everything you need to know from tickets to opening hours

From artworks to how long it takes to walk around, here's everything you need to know ahead of the big launch on Saturday, November 11