Manarat Al Saadiyat, the arts center of the Cultural District
An arts center in Saadiyat's Cultural District with temporary exhibitions, art and photography studios, film screenings and events, including Frieze Abu Dhabi.
Daily 10:00–20:00opening hours
In short
Manarat Al Saadiyat is a cultural center in the Saadiyat Cultural District of Abu Dhabi, run by the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi). It focuses on contemporary art and popular culture: curated exhibitions, film, performances and workshops, with an emphasis on photography and multimedia. It has no permanent collection, so what you see depends on the program.
The building has three galleries for temporary exhibitions, a Photography Studio, an Art Studio, an outdoor terrace for events, a café and brasserie, a 250-seat auditorium and a 100-seat theater. On the map it stands about 2 km east of the Louvre Abu Dhabi and about 1 km from Mamsha Al Saadiyat.
Tickets & prices
Art Studio workshops are paid and need booking.
Workshops include pottery wheel, painting, textiles and ceramics; confirm the price and age group when you book. Frieze Abu Dhabi has its own tickets, and exhibitions and events set their own entry terms, so check each listing.
Opening hours
Daily 10:00–20:00
Manarat Al Saadiyat is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00. The Art Studio is open 10:00–20:00 (last entry 19:30). During Ramadan the center opens 10:00–22:00. Hours can change for events, so check the day before.
as of October 2026
What to see
- Three galleries for temporary exhibitions
- The Art Studio, with workshops for adults, teens and children
- The Photography Studio
- Cinema Space, with screenings in the auditorium
- An outdoor terrace used for events
- A café and brasserie
Tips
- Check the program first. The galleries host temporary shows only, so look up what's on before making the trip.
- Combine it with the museums. The Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, teamLab Phenomena and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi are a short taxi ride away. The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi opens on 11 December 2026.
- With children, book an Art Studio workshop for their age group in advance
Getting there
From the airport
A taxi to Saadiyat takes about 25 min.
From downtown Abu Dhabi
About 15 min by taxi.
From the Louvre Abu Dhabi
About 2 km, a short taxi ride.
