Yet another outstanding project has been announced in Abu Dhabi. We are already accustomed to exclusive and opulent things being launched in this extravagant corner of the world, and we are always excited to learn of new ones. The latest piece of news that caught our attention was about a new Louvre museum that is scheduled for opening in 2015.
Apparently a consortium led by Arabtec Holding has been appointed to complete this remarkable project with a budget of $654 million. The huge contract was given to Constructora San Jose SA of Spain, and Oger Abu Dhabi LLC, after two years of intense research and development. An additional $1.3 billion (yes, that much!) was paid for the right to use the “Louvre” name for 30 years.
This exorbitant sum also ensures support from the world-famous museum in Paris, in the form of expertise and even works of art for exhibitions. As for the impressive contemporary design of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, it was conceived by fabled French architect Jean Nouvel. Unsurprisingly, the project stirred a lot of discussion and criticism in the French world of arts.
