The Louvre Abu Dhabi will put Leonardo da Vinci's painting "Salvator Mundi" on display from Sept. 18.
In this Oct. 24, 2017 file photo, an employee poses with Leonardo da Vinci's "Salvator Mundi" on display at Christie's auction rooms in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism made the announcement in a statement Wednesday about the Renaissance oil painting of Christ, whose name in Latin means "Savior of the World." The painting depicts a blue-robed Jesus holding a crystal orb and gazing directly at the viewer.
In this Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017 file photo, bidding representatives react after Leonardo da Vinci's "Salvator Mundi" sold for dollars 450 million at Christie's, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)
The painting sold for $450 million during a record-breaking auction in New York at Christie's in November.
Western diplomats say a Saudi royal acting as a proxy for Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was the buyer. The Saudi Embassy in Washington says the Saudi royal purchased the painting on behalf of the museum in Abu Dhabi, which opened just days before the auction.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Several flights to Dubai were cancelled and diverted Thursday, airport authorities announced, as heavy rains hit the United Arab Emirates for the second time in a month.
An airport authority spokesperson said five inbound flights were diverted overnight, while nine arriving and four departing flights were cancelled.
In April, heavy thunderstorms dumped the heaviest rains ever recorded in the UAE in a span of hours, flooding portions of major highways and Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel and a hub for the long-haul carrier Emirates. The airport ended up needing 22 tankers with vacuum pumps to get water off its grounds.
Authorities warned residents to stay home ahead of Thursday’s rain, announcing that they should work remotely, and that schools will hold classes online.
Although Thursday’s rain did not cause major problems or flooding, authorities still issued warnings on Wednesday and took precautions.
The flooding two weeks ago quickly overwhelmed the UAE’s drainage systems, flooded out neighborhoods, business districts and even portions of the 12-lane Sheikh Zayed Highway, which links Dubai and the neighboring emirate of Abu Dhabi. Many residents lost their belongings when their homes flooded, and many cars were destroyed.
FILE - An abandoned vehicle stands in floodwater caused by heavy rain with the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, seen on the background, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on April 18, 2024. Dubai Airports announced on Thursday, May 2, the cancelation and diversion of flights due to unsettled weather conditions in the United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Christopher Pike, File)
