UAE: Art Mecca...Abu Dhabi Louvre? Dubai Guggenheim?

Art lovers..get your tickets now, Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirate's (UAE) capital, is quickly becoming the new global 'hot spot' for culture, arts and entertainment. Determined to become the cultural capital of the Gulf Coast Countries (GCC), Abu Dhabi has sealed exceptional partnerships with both the Louvre and Guggenheim museums. Soon visitors will be welcomed to Saadiyat Island's Culture District by the absolutely gorgeous architectural marvels of American Frank Gehry , Frenchman Jean Nouvel, Japan's Tadao Ando and renowned Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid.

According to Roberto Lopardo, chairman of Visual Communication at American University in Dubai, the signs are encouraging,

"Art brands a city[...] great art and architecture communicate to the world that this is the "level of achievement that is supposed to happen here".

"Museums are what happens when you have luxury...having museums of quality is the beauty of living in a big city. Little towns don't offer museums." uaeinteract

Great art and luxury they have.... the deal announced today places France and the UAE in a 30 year cultural agreement. The $1.3 billion controversial agreement allows Abu Dhabi Louvre to borrow French masterpieces for a period of 6-18 months.

"The project is a unique example of international cultural cooperation. It reflects France's capabilities of implementing huge cultural schemes, as well as UAE's keenness to open to other cultures, specially the French heritage," Christine Albanel, Minister of Culture & Communication

Jean-Marie Bockel, French Secretary of State for Foreign Cooperation & Francophone Affairs described the partnership as "a boost to France's cultural policies and to the world's inter-cultural communication."

..but don't worry, if art isn't your passion you can always pass your time at the Maritime museum, get your Formula 1 Racing fix at Ferrari World, or enjoy your studies at the Paris-Sorbonne University of Abu Dhabi.

Get your tickets now...the desert is blooming.