The biggest new opening this season is the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi on 11 December 2026, and the biggest closure is the Museum of the Future in Dubai. Dubai's own news is the return of its outdoor season, with the Miracle Garden, Safari Park and Global Village open since 8 to 14 October, plus the Etihad Rail train to Abu Dhabi from 30 September. This guide lists only what we could verify, with dates and sources, says what is closed, and shows how a day in Abu Dhabi fits with our city tour from $45.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai — From $45 per person, 9 hours.
When does the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi open?
On 11 December 2026, according to the announcement by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, as listed by the Abu Dhabi Media Office. It is in the Saadiyat Cultural District. We did not find ticket prices or hours, so check the museum's own site.
This guide also answers:
- What new attractions opened in Dubai this season?
- Is the Museum of the Future open?
- Which new museums are open in Abu Dhabi?
Five things to know about this season
#1
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi announced the opening of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi on 11 December 2026, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. It is a contemporary art museum in the Saadiyat Cultural District, designed by Frank Gehry. We did not find ticket prices or opening hours, so check the museum's own site.
#2
Zayed National Museum
The National lists the Zayed National Museum as open, having opened on 3 December last year. It is recognisable by five steel towers shaped like falcon wings, and it sits in the same cultural district as the Louvre and the new Guggenheim. We did not find current ticket prices or hours, so check the museum's own site before you plan.
#3
Dubai's outdoor season
Dubai Miracle Garden opened Season 15 on 8 October 2026, Dubai Safari Park reopened on 12 October and Global Village opened Season 31 on 14 October, as reported by Khaleej Times and Gulf News. Entry runs from AED 25 at Global Village to AED 100 for a Miracle Garden adult ticket before VAT. Our winter attractions guide has the details.
#4
The Etihad Rail train to Abu Dhabi
Passenger trains between Dubai and Abu Dhabi have run since 30 September 2026. The ride takes about 57 minutes and a Comfort ticket booked online is AED 39. Neither station is in the city centre, so you still need a taxi at each end. Our Etihad Rail guide compares the train with the bus, a taxi and a tour.
#5
Closed: Museum of the Future
The museum's own website says it is temporarily closed as it prepares for its next chapter. It has been closed since 1 September 2026, with reopening reported for the first quarter of 2027, and it gives no reopening date. Our Museum of the Future guide has the status and alternatives, such as the Dubai Frame or a Burj Khalifa deck.
New attractions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: the short answer
The big opening is the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi on 11 December 2026, and the big closure is the Museum of the Future in Dubai. The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi announced the Guggenheim date, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. In Dubai, the news is mostly the return of the outdoor season in October, plus the Etihad Rail passenger train to Abu Dhabi, which has run since 30 September.
This guide lists only items we could check against an official site or a major outlet, as of 2 November 2026. We left out rumours and anything without a date. If you spot a new opening elsewhere, check Visit Dubai or Visit Abu Dhabi before you plan around it.
The season at a glance
The table lists what is open, opening soon, closed or planned, with the source for each.
| Item | Status | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etihad Rail, Dubai to Abu Dhabi | Open | Since 30 September 2026 | Gulf News and Etihad Rail, via our train guide |
| Dubai Miracle Garden, Season 15 | Open | From 8 October 2026 | Khaleej Times, Gulf News, Emaar |
| Dubai Safari Park, Season 8 | Open | From 12 October 2026 | Khaleej Times, Gulf News |
| Global Village, Season 31 | Open | From 14 October 2026 | Khaleej Times |
| Guggenheim Abu Dhabi | Opens soon | 11 December 2026 | Abu Dhabi Media Office |
| Etihad Rail, Al Dhafra stations | Planned | 30 December 2026 | Announced, per our train guide |
| Etihad Rail, Sharjah station | Planned | 30 March 2027 | Announced, per our train guide |
| Museum of the Future | Closed | Reopening reported for Q1 2027 | Museum's website; our guide |
As of 2 November 2026. Planned dates can move.
Zayed National Museum and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi are not on this list because they opened last season: The National says the first opened on 3 December last year and lists the second as opened last autumn. They are still the newest big museums in the capital, and they are now open to visit.
Abu Dhabi: the Guggenheim and a cluster of newer museums
Saadiyat Island is where most of the capital's new culture is. The Abu Dhabi Media Office reports the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi opening on 11 December 2026, a Friday. The Zayed National Museum opened last December, and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi last autumn. The National also lists teamLab Phenomena and the Al Maqta'a Museum as opened last April. Our Saadiyat Island guide shows how they sit together, with the Louvre next door.
For the two biggest names, our own guides give the detail: the Zayed National Museum guide and the Guggenheim opening guide.
A realistic day holds one big museum and something else. Opening weeks can be the busiest, so if you want the Guggenheim, leave the first weekend alone and check its ticket system for timed entry.
Our Abu Dhabi tour and the new museums
Our Abu Dhabi city tour is a sightseeing loop, not a museum tour. It covers the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the BAPS Mandir, the Corniche, Heritage Village and a photo stop at Ferrari World. It takes 9 hours with an 8:00 AM hotel pickup, and it is from $45 per person shared, or $245 for a private car for up to 7 people. The $45 shared tour covers the free-entry sites, so museum tickets are not part of it.
If a new museum is the reason for your day, ask us on WhatsApp whether the private car, which has a flexible schedule, can fit it. A museum visit needs 2-3 hours of its own, so it replaces other stops.
Formula Rossa at Ferrari World is currently under maintenance, so do not plan your Yas Island day around that ride. Our Ferrari World guide lists the other rides.
Dubai: the season restarts, and one big closure
Dubai's news is the outdoor season. Dubai Miracle Garden opened Season 15 on 8 October, Dubai Safari Park reopened on 12 October and Global Village opened Season 31 on 14 October. Entry runs from AED 25 at Global Village to AED 100 for an adult at the Miracle Garden, as reported. Our winter attractions guide has prices, hours and a plan for each.
The closure is the Museum of the Future, which has been temporarily closed since 1 September 2026, with reopening reported for the first quarter of 2027. Its own website says only that it is closed as it prepares for its next chapter, and gives no date. Do not book a ticket or a tour that depends on it. Our Museum of the Future guide tracks the status, and Museum of the Future or Dubai Frame helps you pick the alternative.
For a view of the city while it is closed, a Burj Khalifa observation deck ticket, from $55 for Levels 124 and 125, is the usual substitute. It is a timed-entry ticket, so we book your slot and send the e-tickets on WhatsApp.
The train: what is new between the two cities
Etihad Rail's Dubai to Abu Dhabi service started on 30 September 2026. The journey takes about 57 minutes between Al Yalayis Station in Jumeirah Golf Estates and Mohammed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi, and a Comfort ticket booked online is AED 39. The catch is that both stations are outside the centres, so you still need a taxi at each end.
Etihad Rail has also announced Al Dhafra stations for 30 December 2026 and a Sharjah station for 30 March 2027. Announced dates can move, so treat them as plans. Our Etihad Rail guide has fares and how to book.
What we left out, and what is not confirmed
Some things you may read about are not on our list because we could not verify a date or status from an official site or a major outlet. These are the open questions as of 2 November 2026:
- Ticket prices and opening hours for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
- The Museum of the Future reopening date, beyond the reported first quarter of 2027
- The Dubai Museum of Art: The National lists its opening date as to be announced, so it is not open
- Any new Dubai attraction opening in the coming weeks that has not been dated by an official source
- When Formula Rossa at Ferrari World returns
If you want a plan that adapts as things open, the free SB AI planner lays out your days on a map, and you can message us on WhatsApp for tours on your dates.
FAQ
When does the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi open?
On 11 December 2026, according to the announcement by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, as listed by the Abu Dhabi Media Office. It is in the Saadiyat Cultural District. We did not find ticket prices or hours, so check the museum's own site.
What new attractions opened in Dubai this season?
Dubai Miracle Garden opened Season 15 on 8 October 2026, Dubai Safari Park reopened on 12 October and Global Village opened Season 31 on 14 October. The Etihad Rail train to Abu Dhabi has also run since 30 September. We found no verified brand-new Dubai attraction opening.
Is the Museum of the Future open?
No. It has been temporarily closed since 1 September 2026, and its website says it is preparing for its next chapter. Reopening is reported for the first quarter of 2027, with no date. Do not plan a visit until it announces one.
Which new museums are open in Abu Dhabi?
The Zayed National Museum, opened on 3 December last year, and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, opened last autumn, according to The National. teamLab Phenomena opened last April. The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi opens on 11 December 2026.
Does the Abu Dhabi city tour visit the new museums?
No. The tour from $45 covers the Grand Mosque, the BAPS Mandir, the Corniche, Heritage Village and Ferrari World photo stop, and museum tickets are not included. Ask us on WhatsApp whether the private car, $245 for up to 7, can fit a museum.
Is Formula Rossa at Ferrari World open?
It is under maintenance at the moment, so do not plan a day around it. Ferrari World has other rides, and our guide lists them with the height rules. Check the park's website for the current status before you buy tickets.
Can I take the train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
Yes, since 30 September 2026. It takes about 57 minutes and a Comfort ticket booked online is AED 39. Both stations are outside the city centres, so you need a taxi at each end. Our Etihad Rail guide compares it with the bus and a tour.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai
It is the classic capital day in one organised loop: the mosque before the midday heat and crowds, the newly opened BAPS Mandir, the skyline from the Corniche, Bedouin history at Heritage Village and a photo op at Ferrari World. Transport, a licensed guide, mosque registration assistance and bottled water are included; the $45 shared tour covers all free-entry sites, and a private VIP car for up to 7 people is $245.
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Area
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Format
- Full-day guided city tour (shared or private)
- Best for
- families, seniors and first-time visitors who want the capital's landmarks in one day
From $45 per person No prepayment
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Burj Khalifa Observation Deck
It is a ticket, not a guided tour: you pick the date and time slot, we book it and send the e-tickets on WhatsApp, and you make your own way to The Dubai Mall. Levels 124 and 125 suit most visitors; SKY adds Level 148 at 555 m with priority access, a multilingual host and refreshments. On request we also book Sky Views Observatory, The View at The Palm and Dubai Frame.
- Duration
- 1.5-2 hours
- Area
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- Format
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- Best for
- first-time visitors, couples and families who want Dubai from the observation decks of the 828-metre Burj Khalifa
From $55 per person Full prepayment
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Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai
It is the slow-travel version of the classic safari: more time on the dunes, sunset without the crowds and a full evening programme at a premium camp with air-conditioned tents, unlimited drinks and a large BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Everything is arranged from the hotel door — a licensed English-speaking driver, the 4x4, the camp and the shows.
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Area
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- Format
- Full-day desert safari
- Best for
- families, couples and first-time desert visitors who want the full evening programme
From $45 per person No prepayment
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Photos: The grey lattice dome of Louvre Abu Dhabi rising over the white entrance pavilions and plaza — Francesco Bini, CC BY-SA 4.0, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi — Florian Kriechbaumer, CC BY-SA 4.0, Dubai's outdoor season — Slayym, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).