Louvre Abu Dhabi opens Spices and Wonders, a 1,000-year voyage across the Indian Ocean

Louvre Abu Dhabi has opened Spices and Wonders: Sailing the Indian Ocean, an exhibition that traces Indian Ocean trade from the Gulf outward. It brings together around 240 artworks and objects from 24 lenders, and runs until February 14, 2027. The museum’s exhibition page describes 1,000 years of maritime history and culture, charting routes that connected the civilisations of Africa, Asia and beyond. After Abu Dhabi, the show moves to the Guimet in Paris, where it runs from May 12 to September 6, 2027.

A Gulf-first view of the ocean

The National reports that visitors enter a dark gallery under a simulated star-filled sky, a nod to sailors who navigated by the heavens. From there, the route follows pearls, carnelian, gemstones, textiles and spices across the water. Curator Guilhem André says the aim is “telling the story from the region”, and the show treats the Arabian Gulf as a hub, not a stopover. The narrative also stops at the 17th century on purpose, so European powers appear as one player among many.

According to Gulf News, the exhibition is organised in six thematic sections. They run from early exchanges in the UAE and the Gulf to a contemporary view of the ocean as an interconnected system. It opens with a short film by Emirati poet and filmmaker Nujoom Al Ghanem on pearl-diving and trading networks, and closes with a sound-and-video installation by composer Sam Nester.

Pieces worth seeking out

For visitors from the GCC, the loan list is a draw in itself. Gulf News lists these highlights:

• An Ibn Majid manuscript. The 15th-century navigator is associated with Ras Al Khaimah, and the National Library of France has loaned the manuscript.
• An Indian dagger and scabbard from around 1615-1620. It comes from the Al Sabah Collection at Kuwait’s Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah.
• A Mamluk incense burner from Egypt, dated 1294-1340. It is on loan from the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha.
• An Al Murtasha-inspired jewellery set. Al Fardan Fine Jewellery presents it alongside precious pearls, tying the show to the UAE’s pearl-diving heritage.
• Louvre Abu Dhabi’s own pieces. Gulf News says the museum is contributing the most works from its collection to any exhibition since it opened. They include Vesconte Maggiolo’s world map from around 1531 and a gem-studded ivory casket from Kotte, Ceylon.

The National adds a Buddha sculpture from Gandhara, in present-day Pakistan, loaned by the Guimet. It shows how Greek and Roman artistic traditions shaped Buddhist sculpture. The ship models are the other centrepiece: six large vessels represent Arabian, South-East Asian, Chinese, Portuguese and Spanish traditions, and sit beside objects recovered from shipwrecks. Baptiste says advances in underwater archaeology since the 1990s have made that cargo evidence far richer.

Scent, sound and family programming

The spice section is not only visual. The experience features six raw fragrance materials and three perfume compositions inspired by historical recipes from the Arab world during the Ottoman era, China and India. Gulf News says Givaudan developed it with the museum, and that frankincense is among the materials. The museum’s Family Weekends, Drawing at the Museum, and Sketch and Talk sessions will feature dedicated exhibition editions, and the shop sells a trilingual catalogue. Gulf News also lists a UAE National Orchestra performance on November 15, plus film screenings and a children’s trail.

Planning a visit

The exhibition runs for four months, so there’s no rush, but the route through six sections, a scent station and several media pieces rewards an unhurried visit. We’d plan for a good part of an afternoon on Saadiyat Island.