Abu Dhabi, UAE: Imagine you could step into history. Not just read about it, but walk through it, and witness moments that shaped some of the world’s most influential cultures. Now open to the public and running for 12 months, Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Quantum Dome Project reimagines history not as something to be studied at a distance, but as something to be felt, experienced, and lived.

Housed in the museum’s Lower Forum, Quantum Dome Project reflects Louvre Abu Dhabi’s bold commitment to making art and culture resonate in new and unexpected ways. The 25-minute VR journey uses wireless, full-body motion tracking to allow up to ten participants at the same time to move freely through vivid, walkable digital environments. No screens. No controllers. Just presence, curiosity, and connection.

Visitors will embark on a breathtaking time-travel mission inspired by science fiction, where past and future collide in an immersive journey through art and history. Guided by a cinematic narrative, they will be transported across centuries to rediscover a selection of iconic masterpieces from the Louvre Abu Dhabi collection. The experience brings to life the historical worlds behind three significant artefacts from the museum’s permanent collection, each carefully researched and digitally reimagined:

  1. The Portrait of Emperor Augustus | Imperial Rome, 1st century CE: Stroll beneath the colonnades of the Augustus Forum and encounter the scale, power, and symbolism of Roman imperial rule.
  2. A manuscript page from De Materia Medica | Medieval Baghdad, 13th century CE: Step into the library of the House of Wisdom, where scholars gathered to unlock the secrets of medicine, nature, and the cosmos.
  3. The ‘Four Mirror’ Armour | Mughal India, 17th–18th century CE: Glide across tranquil waters past the Jal Mahal, immersed in the refined world of the Mughal empire.

The experience will immerse participants in a radical new form of storytelling – one that is lived, not just observed. Moving freely through vast virtual historical landscapes, participants explore using their natural body movements, just as they would in real life. In addition, the journey is not an individual experience, but a shared one: participants see one another, interact, and advance together through a narrative that blends discovery, learning, and cutting-edge technology. In this collective exploration, education and immersion meet in an unforgettable adventure.

Grounded in real artefacts and cultural contexts, each virtual environment invites visitors to engage with the past as a lived, multi-sensory experience. Whether tracing the architectural majesty of ancient Rome, the intellectual vitality of Abbasid Baghdad, or the artistic grandeur of Mughal India, Quantum Dome Project allows history to unfold in real time around you.

Marine Botton, Interpretation and Creative Content Senior Officer at Louvre Abu Dhabi, said, "Quantum Dome Project is an extension of our mission to connect cultures and communities through meaningful and innovative experiences. As a museum rooted in storytelling and universality, we are proud to offer an experience where visitors can engage with history not as distant observers but as active participants. This project embodies Louvre Abu Dhabi’s commitment to using technology to creating powerful and accessible cultural initiatives bridging time and bringing human stories vividly to life in a shared experience.”

Developed with Small Creative Studio (France), Quantum Dome Project is available in Arabic, English, and French, and suitable for visitors aged eight and above. It’s designed to engage a wide range of audiences, including solo-visitors, families, students, tech lovers, and cultural explorers, through one shared journey. This pioneering experience goes beyond traditional museum visits. It’s a space for curiosity and connection, where art, history, and technology converge and where every step offers a new way of seeing the world.

Tickets start from AED 95 and can be booked via Louvreabudhabi.ae.

NOTES: Louvre Abu Dhabi is open Tuesday – Sunday from 10 am – 6:30 pm; closed on Mondays. Pre-purchased tickets are required to visit the museum. E-tickets can be reserved via the museum’s website.

Follow Louvre Abu Dhabi on social media: Facebook (Louvre Abu Dhabi), Twitter (@LouvreAbuDhabi) and Instagram (@LouvreAbuDhabi) #LouvreAbuDhabi.

For more information on Louvre Abu Dhabi’s acquisitions policies and principles, visit our website.

ABOUT LOUVRE ABU DHABI

Created by an exceptional agreement between the governments of Abu Dhabi and France, Louvre Abu Dhabi was designed by Jean Nouvel and opened on Saadiyat Island in November 2017. The museum is inspired by traditional Islamic architecture and its monumental dome creates a rain of light effect and a unique social space that brings people together.

Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrates the universal creativity of mankind and invites audiences to see humanity in a new light. Through its innovative curatorial approach, the museum focuses on building understanding across cultures: through stories of human creativity that transcend civilisations, geographies, and times.

The museum’s growing collection is unparalleled in the region and spans thousands of years of human history, including prehistoric tools, artefacts, religious texts, iconic paintings, and contemporary artworks. The permanent collection is supplemented by rotating loans from 19 French partner institutions, regional and international museums.

Louvre Abu Dhabi is a testing ground for new ideas in a globalised world and champions new generations of cultural leaders. Its international exhibitions, programming and Children’s Museum are inclusive platforms that connect communities and offer enjoyment for all.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND TOURISM – ABU DHABI

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies, and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the emirate’s people, heritage, and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives, and creative thought.

ABOUT SAADIYAT CULTURAL DISTRICT

Home to Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Manarat Al Saadiyat, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, Abrahamic Family House and the soon-to-open Zayed National Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Cultural District is one of the greatest concentrations of cultural institutions.

Saadiyat Cultural District is a global platform, emanating from a rich cultural heritage, celebrating traditions, and advancing equitable culture. It is an embodiment of empowerment, showcasing museums, collections, and narratives that supports the region’s heritage while promoting a diverse global cultural landscape.

Saadiyat Cultural District is a testament to Abu Dhabi's commitment to preserving heritage while embracing a forward-looking vision. The District invites the world to engage with diverse cultures, fostering dialogue exchange, and offers a global cultural space that supports the region and the global South.