Abu Dhabi was ranked as one of the top cultural cities in the world
But when it comes to culture – the art, the theatre, the after-dark gallery raves and poetry slams in unexpected places – which cities are truly smashing it?
To get to the bottom of it, Time Out surveyed a whopping 18,500 locals across the globe to get the inside scoop on the culture scenes in their hometowns. They revealed how good – and how affordable – the art and culture offering is where they live. Then, to really narrow it down, Time Out asked the global network of Time Out editors and culture writers to weigh in on the best of the best.
The result? A list of the top 20 cultural powerhouses in the world right now, and yes – spoiler alert – Abu Dhabi made the cut.
Here's the official list of the best cultural spots across the globe:
Paris Florence Edinburgh Mexico city Sydney Barcelona Chicago Lisbon Hanoi Cape town Beijing Tbilisi Jakarta Delhi Medellin Amsterdam Marrakech Vienna Prague Abu Dhabi
Coming in at number 20, is Abu Dhabi and according to Mariana Cerqueira, Editor of Time Out Abu Dhabi, 'The culture scene in Abu Dhabi is levelling up – big time.'
She's not exaggerating. There's teamLab Phenomena, the dazzling new immersive experience from Japan's famed digital art collective, freshly opened on Saadiyat Island. The Louvre Abu Dhabi continues to wow with globally curated exhibitions – right now, it's 'Kings and Queens of Africa: Forms and Figures of Power,' a striking collaboration with Paris's Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac.
Then there's what's still to come: the long-anticipated openings of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, and the Natural History Museum are just around the corner, promising to cement the Saadiyat Cultural District as one of the most significant arts destinations in the world.
Want something a little edgier? Head to MiZa, a buzzing new neighbourhood where emerging artists and creators are bringing the energy. Stop by 421 Arts Campus for exhibitions, performances and creative workshops, and check out The Alley for art-forward pop-ups and vibey supper clubs.
And for a truly showstopping cultural celebration, locals picked the Sheikh Zayed Festival as their number one. We're talking Arab pop stars, folk dance shows, majestic fireworks, sporting competitions, and a drone show so massive it could probably be seen from space.
In the survey, 86 percent of Abu Dhabians rated their cultural scene as top-notch, and 67 percent applauded its affordability. It's a big win for a city that's putting serious investment – and serious imagination – into its creative future.
More in Abu Dhabi…
Everything happening in Abu Dhabi in 2025
From new openings to big events, this is shaping up to be quite a year
It's official: Abu Dhabi Comedy Season is returning for a second edition with some huge names
Wow, look at this line-up
The 2025 concert line-up in Abu Dhabi just keeps getting better and better
So many big names coming to the capital
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