General News, The Leader - 08 November, 2017

Mohammed bin Rashid, Mohamed bin Zayed, President Macron open Louvre Abu Dhabi

Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President of France Emmanuel Macron opened this evening the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Afghanistan President Mohammed Ashraf Ghani and a host of diplomates and international delegations attended the opening.

Louvre Abu Dhabi is the first museum to bear the Louvre name outside France.
Speaking at the launch, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid welcomed the guests to the museum, calling it “the dome of enlightenment in a region where the people of dark thoughts are attempting to bring back the ages of backwardness and ignorance.

His Highness said: “Louvre Abu Dhabi is an architectural masterpiece, a cultural icon and an artistic platform that combines East with the West. It symbolizes our ability to build bridges of communication, in a world that they want it to be a scene for clash of civilizations.”

He added: “It also reflects our ability to fight darkness with light, ignorance with arts, apathy with creativity, extremism with artistic beauty, created by human minds thousands years ago.”

He stressed that the museum was a “melting point for intellect and humanity and a place for tolerance and interaction”.

In his speech, President Macron expressed his happiness for his friendship with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, calling him a brother and a close friend.

Macron also thanked Sheikh Mohamed for inviting him to the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
"The birth of this global cultural landmark in Abu Dhabi is a response to those who seek to destroy the humanity. This marvelous museum displays the different eras of civilization," he said.

The French President said he was impressed with the examples the UAE has been giving to the world.

"The UAE is a crossroads connecting East and the West a melting pot for various cultures and a closest friend to Europe. It has skillfully maintained a delicate balance in its relations with the European, African and Asian continents," he added.

Macron also praised the wise UAE policy and its positions, while located in a volatile region.

"The UAE gives us a success story in many faces. The country also succeeded in facing many challenges, including the climate change."

Addressing His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, he said: "Allow me Your Highness to tell you that France will always be at your side in confronting all challenges and will continuously support you."

President Macron expressed his pleasure and the happiness of the French government and people over the birth of this colossal cultural and civilizational project in the UAE. ''It means a lot to France as well as to the UAE - our strategic and cultural partner.'' The French head of state reiterated his country's support for the resolutions taken by UAE, which he called ''brave''.

''This museum is a fruit of a longstanding co-operation between our countries which saw light in 2007,'' Macron said.

''It is a fruit of a wise and insightful vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, which he inspired from the wisdom and vision of his father, the late Sheikh Zayed,'' he added.

The French President affirmed that the UAE and France wanted - through the launch of the Louvre Abu Dhabi - to send a joint world powerful message about their rich culture.

Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla attended the grand opening. Also present were Dubai Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras al-Khaimah His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, FNC Speaker Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, His Highness Sheikh Surour bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Lt. General His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Diab bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation His Highness Sheikh Omar bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care & Special Needs His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairman of Transport Department and Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Minister of Tolerance His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.

Dr. Awad bin Saleh Al-Awad, Saudi Minister of Culture and Information, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Omani Minister of Heritage and Culture, Anas Al-Saleh, Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, HRH Prince Talal bin Mohamed, the Jordanian King's special adviser, Abulfaz Karaev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Culture, M.J. Akbar, Indian Minister of State and a number of senior officials and state guests attended the opening.

Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the museum contains 23 permanent galleries, special exhibition spaces, a children’s museum, an auditorium, restaurants, retail outlets and a research center. Surrounded by the sea, the buildings are connected by waterfront promenades beneath the museum’s stunning dome.