NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery continues Ala Younis Past of a Temporal Universe through Sunday, January 18, 2026, with the exhibition running from Tuesday, September 23, 2025. On Monday, January 5, 2026 the gallery stays closed, while on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 it welcomes visitors from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM. For quick coordination, call the Art Gallery on +971 2 628 8000, and use NYUAD Campus, Saadiyat Island, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAE for navigation. Entry is free for visitors.
Gallery hours for Monday and Tuesday visits
Because the gallery closes every Monday, January 5, 2026 will not work even if you are already on Saadiyat Island. However, Tuesday, January 6, 2026 follows regular hours, so you can plan a relaxed afternoon or an early-evening visit without racing museum closing bells. Also, arriving before 7:15 PM usually gives you enough time to see the show at a steady pace. Monday access is not available.
What the exhibition focuses on
Past of a Temporal Universe brings together works that trace Ala Younis’s practice across roughly two decades, and it leans into research, memory, and the way stories travel through archives. You will notice how the show moves between politics, social history, urban development, and popular imagery, while still keeping the experience visually engaging. Moreover, the presentation often rewards a second look, because details connect across rooms rather than staying isolated in one corner. Give yourself at least 60 to 90 minutes.
About Ala Younis and her approach
Ala Younis works as an artist, researcher, and curator, and she often builds projects from overlooked records and lived narratives. Additionally, her training in architecture and visual cultures shapes how she thinks about cities, institutions, and the stories people inherit. In this exhibition, you may encounter archival installations alongside textiles, murals, mosaics, and drawings, so the show never feels locked into a single medium. Meanwhile, the curatorial framing highlights connections across Arab geographies and the informal archives that sit beside official history. This is a slow-looking exhibition.
Visit styles that fit different schedules
If you want the calmest experience, arrive soon after 12:00 PM on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 and start with the exhibition before the later crowd appears. Alternatively, you can plan a late-afternoon culture break, because the 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM window leaves room for workday visitors and evening plans. Also, families often do better with a shorter, focused route, while solo visitors tend to enjoy reading and lingering without compromise (family-friendly, suitable for couples, suitable for solo). A focused route feels better than trying to see everything.
Getting to NYUAD and managing parking
NYUAD sits on Saadiyat Island, so most drivers approach via the main Saadiyat routes and then follow campus signs toward the Art Gallery area. However, Saadiyat traffic can tighten during popular cultural hours, especially when nearby venues also run busy programming. From Dubai, leaving around late morning or mid-afternoon usually keeps the drive smoother, while Sharjah and Ajman visitors should add extra buffer because delays can stack across emirate boundaries. If you prefer not to drive, taxis offer a straightforward drop-off option on Saadiyat, and they reduce the stress of searching for the right campus entry point. Allow extra time for Saadiyat Island traffic.
Entry checks and on-site comfort
Because the Art Gallery is located on a university campus, you may pass through a security checkpoint, so carrying a photo ID helps the visit start smoothly. Also, plan light, comfortable clothing, since you will move between indoor galleries and outdoor walkways around campus. If anyone in your group needs step-free access or specific assistance, calling ahead often makes the experience easier from the first minute. Bring a valid photo ID.
Pairing the exhibition with nearby culture
Saadiyat makes it easy to build a full day around art, because several major cultural stops sit close by, and short drives between venues often take only a few minutes. Therefore, you can treat NYUAD Art Gallery as a focused contemporary art stop, then continue with a bigger museum visit or a relaxed coffee break nearby. If you already plan an evening in downtown Abu Dhabi, you can also use this exhibition as a quieter afternoon anchor before the city gets busier at night. Plan your route before you leave home.
WARNINGS AND TIPS CLOSING PARAGRAPH
For Monday, January 5, 2026 in Abu Dhabi, forecasts point to mostly sunny weather around 23°C with a low near 18°C, and for Tuesday, January 6, 2026 conditions look sunny around 24°C with a low near 18°C, so a light layer usually feels right after sunset. Because no rain shows on the forecast right now, you should not face wet walkways or muddy conditions, although coastal breezes can still feel cool at night. Traffic on Saadiyat can build in the late afternoon, so aim to arrive earlier than 6:30 PM and keep extra time for parking and campus entry. Public transport can work via Abu Dhabi buses to Saadiyat, while taxis remain the easiest last-mile option for most visitors. Entry is free at approximately AED 0, so you do not need a ticket seller, although on-site policies can change for special programs. Visit on Tuesday, because the gallery is closed on Monday. For quick confirmations, call +971 2 628 8000, and in the same practical spirit shared by the editor team at www.few.ae, it helps to recheck your timing before you start the drive.
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