DUBAI: The newly-opened Louvre Abu Dhabi on Tuesday welcomed the president of Nepal, who is currently on an official visit to the UAE, to tour the museum with her delegation.
President Bidhya Devi Bhandari was welcomed by Saif Ghobash, director General of the Department of Culture & Tourism in Abu Dhabi and Manuel Rabaté, director of Louvre Abu Dhabi who led her on a tour of the museum’s highlights.
The group paid particular attention to a statue of Maitreya, a Buddha from the Malla dynasty in Nepal dating back to 1100–1200, a statue of Gudea, prince of Lagash from Musée du Louvre, the Winged dragon, a statue of Dancing Shiva and Fountain of Light by renowned Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei.
Visitors to the museum, which opened on Nov. 11, can walk through promenades overlooking the sea underneath the impressive 180-meter dome, comprised of 7,850 unique metal stars set in a complex geometric pattern. Sunlight filters through the meshwork — which, at 7,500 tons, weighs almost as much as the Eiffel Tower — to create speckled shadows on the museum floor, worthy of an exhibit in and of itself.
The space boasts 6,000 square meters of galleries, exhibitions, a Children’s Museum for visitors aged six to 12, a research center, a restaurant, a boutique and a café, making it perfect for a family day out.
Highlights currently on show include a prehistoric stone tool dating back to 350,000 BCE, a milestone indicating the distance from Makkah in Kufic inscriptions, and a funerary stele from Makkah dating back to 700–900 CE from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.
Nepal’s president tours Louvre Abu Dhabi with her delegation
Nepal’s president tours Louvre Abu Dhabi with her delegation
Riyadh celebrates Sudanese heritage in cultural week finale
- Visitors experience sounds of dalooka, rababa in lively spectacle
- Global Harmony 2 initiative has offered an integrated cultural experience highlighting 14 cultures
RIYADH: The Sudanese Culture Week continues in Riyadh until Dec. 20, attracting visitors from a variety of nationalities to diverse cultural performances, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Ministry of Media has organized the events as part of the Global Harmony 2 initiative, in cooperation with the General Entertainment Authority and the Quality of Life Program.
Held at Al-Suwaidi Park, one of Riyadh Season’s zones, the week began with a celebratory parade featuring traditional Sudanese music which included the sounds of the dalooka and the rababa. A traditional Sudanese bridal procession was the subject of a tableau that also engaged visitors.
Sudanese Culture Week also includes musical concerts, entertainment sections, and cultural pavilions, with participation from Sudanese singers and influencers presenting activities that reflect the cultural diversity of the country’s regions and communities.
The event’s stage hosted the opening concerts, which were attended by thousands who enjoyed rababa performances and popular Sudanese songs.
Citizens and residents explored Sudanese culture through its folk arts, traditional music, and customs.
The celebration marks the final week of the Global Harmony 2 initiative’s cultural events. These have built on the program’s success in promoting cultural exchange and showcasing the cultures of communities residing in the Kingdom, reflecting the values of coexistence and cultural openness.
Over more than 40 days the Global Harmony 2 initiative has offered an integrated cultural experience highlighting 14 cultures.
Indian Culture Week was the first in a series featuring countries from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world.
Other weeks have placed the spotlight on regions such as the Philippines, Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Bangladesh, Yemen, Uganda, and Ethiopia, providing traditional arts and music, cuisine, and social activities.
The initiative has included more than 100 artists and creators presenting artistic and musical performances, along with areas showcasing traditional cuisine, clothing, handicrafts, and family-friendly interactive activities.
It has received wide acclaim for highlighting the lives of residents in the Kingdom and the services provided to them.
