The Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the United Arab Emirates, is scheduled to open in December 2025 in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District.
The institution honours the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates, recognising his dedication to education, identity, and a sense of belonging. Through immersive exhibitions, ongoing research, and engaging public programming, the museum advances Sheikh Zayed’s vision by promoting the values he stood for.
The museum features six permanent galleries over two floors, covering 300,000 years of human history, along with a temporary exhibition gallery. Its collection includes artefacts from across the UAE, reflecting the country’s rich heritage through donations, as well as domestic and international loans.
Honouring a cultural legacy
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the department of culture and tourism in Abu Dhabi says:
“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.
“As the national museum of the United Arab Emirates, Zayed National Museum is the legacy of our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It is a tribute to his boundless belief in people, in their ability to learn, to uphold the values of unity, compassion and national pride.”
“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.”
Sheikh Zayed firmly believed that understanding the past was crucial for shaping the nation for future generations. His dedication to exploring the UAE’s ancient heritage and recognising the diverse influences on Emirati culture resulted in establishing the country’s first museum in Al Ain in 1971, and later, the opening of the Cultural Foundation in 1981.
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Museum highlights
The museum’s collection features notable artefacts from the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Ages, many uncovered by archaeological teams over the past fifty years. These finds include the world’s oldest falaj irrigation system and evidence of Bronze Age copper mining.
Museum highlights will feature the Abu Dhabi Pearl, one of the oldest natural pearls, offering new insights into the pearling history of the Arabian Gulf; the Blue Qur’an, considered one of Islamic art’s finest manuscripts; and a reconstructed ancient Magan Boat, created through the museum’s first research collaboration with Zayed University and New York University Abu Dhabi.
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the museum’s design reflects UAE heritage and sustainable principles. Five steel structures rise like a falcon’s wing, inspired by falconry, a key part of Emirati culture.
The museum will provide an inclusive, accessible experience connecting generations and locations. Through galleries, learning programmes, and research, it will bring global perspectives into dialogue with the UAE’s heritage and identity. Zayed National Museum will serve as a dynamic platform for cultural exchange and understanding.
Zayed National Museum in Saadiyat Cultural District aims to foster dialogue and cultural equity by showcasing collections celebrating the region’s heritage and Abu Dhabi’s role as a crossroads of civilisations. It will be among renowned institutions like Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, the upcoming Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, highlighting Abu Dhabi’s status as a global hub for culture, ideas, and innovation.
In May, Disney announced plans for a theme park resort in Abu Dhabi. The resort on Yas Island, which will be developed, built and operated by Miral, will be Disney’s most advanced and interactive to date. Miral’s group CEO has said that Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be “authentically Emirati in style, but fully Disney in experience”.
