Abu Dhabi is adding another new museum to its kitty as it grows its cultural cachet with visitors and residents.
The Zayed National Museum will open its doors in December 2025 in the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi. The landmark institution honours the founding father of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his commitment to education, identity and belonging.
Through immersive exhibitions, active research and engaging public programming, the museum will build on Sheikh Zayed’s vision, upholding the values he stood for, including humanitarianism and preserving legacy. Visitors will explore six permanent galleries across two floors, spanning 300,000 years of human history, as well as a temporary exhibition gallery. The museum’s collection features artefacts from across the UAE, including donations that speak to the rich heritage of the country, in addition to domestic and international loans.
The museum includes Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age artefacts, uncovered by research teams across the UAE over 50 years ago. These artefacts tell a story of resilience and resourcefulness of the country’s first communities, from the world’s oldest falaj irrigation system to evidence of Bronze Age copper mining.
Museum highlights will include the Abu Dhabi Pearl, one of the world’s oldest natural pearls, shedding new light on the history of pearling in the Arabian Gulf; the Blue Qur’an, one of Islamic art’s finest manuscripts; and a recreation of an ancient Magan Boat, the outcome of the museum’s first research partnership with Zayed University and New York University Abu Dhabi.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, the Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said, “The cultural legacy of the UAE has been nurtured over decades, from the establishment of its earliest cultural institutions to today’s expansive vision for cultural exchange and knowledge. Saadiyat Cultural District represents the next chapter in this national journey, curating world-class institutions that honour the past and engage the future.
“This museum is more than a place of preservation; it is a promise to future generations, a beacon of our identity, and a space where our story is told not just through objects, but through emotion, memory and vision. This institution will carry our story forward for generations to come.”
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the museum’s design embodies the heritage of the UAE, which is at the forefront of its sustainable design. The five steel structures which rise above the museum are inspired by the wing of a falcon in flight, with falconry a practice that is an integral part of Emirati culture.
As part of Saadiyat Cultural District’s mission to foster dialogue and promote cultural equity, Zayed National Museum will present collections and narratives that celebrate the region’s rich heritage while engaging with diverse global perspectives. It will stand alongside several globally renowned cultural institutions within the district, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, the upcoming Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
(With inputs from a press release)
