The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island is 25 percent complete, Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism department (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Miral have announced.
Located in the Saadiyat Cultural District and due for completion in 2025, the new museum will be the largest of its kind in the region. UAE-based construction group ALEC was appointed as the main contractor earlier this year.
Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, undersecretary at DCT Abu Dhabi, said the institution “will bring a new dimension of educational discovery to the Abu Dhabi community”.
“With work now underway on this pioneering institution, the realisation of our vision for the Saadiyat Cultural District moves one step closer,” he added.
New museum’s construction progress
“When completed, Saadiyat will offer the highest concentration of cultural experiences in the world, cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as an innovative global destination of choice.”
Visitors will take a 14-billion-year journey through time and space, learning about the evolution of our planet and the natural world.
The museum’s centrepiece will be a $32 million Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. The 67-million-year-old fossil is nicknamed ‘Stan’.
“Through our partnership with DCT Abu Dhabi, we have been able to make strong progress on the development of this iconic cultural landmark,” said Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Miral CEO.
The facility “will provide visitors with an enriching cultural experience to help position Saadiyat as the destination of choice and Abu Dhabi as a centre for culture, arts, and creativity”, he added
“It also supports achieving Saadiyat Vision 2025, which aims to grow domestic, regional, and global visitor numbers, supporting the development of Abu Dhabi’s tourism ecosystem.”
The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will join the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, as well as the upcoming Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Japanese art collective teamLab has also revealed the design for teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, a permanent venue for immersive art on Saadiyat Island.
Images: Miral / DCT Abu Dhabi
