The priceless collection has been flown over in several shipments from the Mus'e National Picasso in the French capital and will be exhibited from 27 May to 4 September at Gallery One in the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Des Vertannes, Etihad Crystal Cargo's executive vice president, said: 'Etihad Crystal Cargo regularly handles highly sensitive, perishable and fragile items but this collection of Picasso masterpieces has to be one of the most exciting ever and we are very proud to have played a pivotal part in bringing this historic exhibition to Abu Dhabi.'
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the selection of works will be the first major Picasso exhibition ever mounted in the Middle East.
A total of 186 works will be shown, including paintings, sculptures and works on paper, beginning with Picasso's Blue Period Self-Portrait of 1901 and concluding with Portrait of the Young Painter (1972), made only months before his death.
