Louvre Abu Dhabi Director Manuel Rabaté appointed CEO and Director of Kiran Nadar Museum of Art

The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), the museum has appointed Manuel Rabaté as its new Chief Executive Officer and Director, as per official statement. He will assume charge in early spring 2026.

According to the statement, Rabaté brings over 25 years of leadership experience in the global museum sector and currently serves as Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, a position he has held since 2016. He played a key role in shaping the institution into a major international cultural destination following its opening in 2017, with a strong focus on global exhibitions, collection-building, education, and public engagement.

As per KNMA, Rabaté has been associated with the Louvre Abu Dhabi project since its early stages. He previously held senior leadership roles at Agence France-Muséums, including Chief Financial Officer, Secretary General, and Chief Executive Officer between 2008 and 2016, before supporting the museum’s institutional launch with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism. His earlier roles also include serving as Deputy Director of Cultural Development at the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, as well as teaching arts and cultural management at Paris-Dauphine University and Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. He has been honoured as a Knight of France’s National Order of Merit and the Order of Arts and Letters, the statement said.

KNMA stated that Rabaté’s appointment comes at a crucial phase as the museum prepares for the development of its upcoming landmark campus on National Highway 8 in Delhi. Envisioned as India’s largest integrated cultural centre, the new facility will span more than one million square feet and is designed to significantly expand the museum’s capacity for exhibitions, commissions, performances, and public programmes.

Founded in 2010, KNMA said it has established itself over the past 15 years as a leading institution for modern and contemporary art in India and South Asia. The museum has also expanded into performing arts in recent years, commissioning and presenting interdisciplinary and experimental works, while placing education and community engagement at the core of its mission.

Commenting on the appointment, Kiran Nadar, Founder and Chairperson of KNMA, said Rabaté’s experience and leadership would be instrumental as the museum prepares for its next phase of growth and expansion.

In his statement, Rabaté said he was honoured to join KNMA at a pivotal moment and looked forward to working with the museum’s team to build an institution that connects creativity, learning, and community engagement while supporting artists and future cultural leaders.

As per the statement, Rabaté will continue in his current role at Louvre Abu Dhabi until he formally takes charge at KNMA next year. The museum is supported by the Shiv Nadar Foundation and operates as a non-commercial, not-for-profit institution.