Zayed National Museum

History

The museum had been designed by Foster + Partners with five solar thermal towers that is supposed to act as chimneys to draw cool air through the building. The towers are shaped like falcon wings to commemorate Zayed's love of falconry.

In 2009, the Zayed National Museum signed a ten-year contract with the British Museum. The British Museum would assist with curation and loan about 500 of its treasures to the Zayed National Museum. According to The New York Times, the British Museum thinks that it is unlikely that any items would be loaned under the current contract, which ended in 2019. In June 2018, a new partnership was announced between the British Museum and Zayed National Museum. In July 2019, the archaeologist Dr. Peter Magee was appointed Director.

Its opening had been delayed many times. Scheduled to be complete in 2012, the opening was delayed to 2013, and later 2021.

As of November 2021, the museum was still under construction, with anticipated opening in 2025, to coincide with the opening of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, this delayed to 2026.

It opened on 3 Dec 2025 where UAE President inaugurated Zayed National Museum in presence of Rulers of Emirates as part of 54th Eid Al Etihad celebrations. The inauguration took place as part of the UAE’s celebrations marking the 54th Eid Al Etihad. Following its inauguration, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, together with the Rulers of the Emirates and senior sheikhs, toured the Zayed National Museum’s galleries. Inside, they explored exhibits ranging from documents and archaeological artefacts to personal belongings of the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The displays also feature audio recordings, photographs, and archival footage that capture defining moments in the nation’s history.

The museum houses more than 3,000 artefacts, with 1,500 currently on display, each narrating the story of the UAE and its people. Alongside its permanent collection, the museum offers a space for temporary exhibitions and Al Masar Garden — a 600‑metre open‑air gallery showcasing the landscapes and stories that shaped the country. Inside the museum, there are two boats; an 18 m long Bronze Age replica created through traditional techniques and materials. This boat was extensively documented and sailed as part of an archaeological experiment. The other boat is part of a museum display and has a tunnel inside the hull. There is also a 1966 Chrysler Newport black sedan, fully restored, in which Sheikh Zayed drove in deserts. The rest of the museum holds archaeological artefacts from the UAE along with ephemera and gifts to Sheikh Zayed.

Six permanent galleries anchor the museum’s narrative:

• Our Beginning: Sheikh Zayed’s life, vision, and the unification of the Emirates.
• Through Our Nature: The UAE’s diverse environments and sustainable traditions.
• To Our Ancestors: Archaeological finds reflecting millennia of human presence.
• Through Our Connections: Early communities, science, and shared knowledge.
• By Our Coasts: Maritime traditions and seafaring heritage.
• To Our Roots: Emirati identity, customs, and traditional livelihoods.

To celebrate its opening, the museum launched a vibrant cultural programme with live performances, workshops, guided tours, and creative activities.

Architecture

The museum’s design suggests that it keeps pace with the latest developments and modernity in architecture. It was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Norman Foster. The museum’s land area is 66,000 square metres, and consists of five towers that resemble the shape and design of a falcon’s wings, inspired by their place in the cultural heritage of the United Arab Emirates. The height of these wings ranges between 83 and 123 metres. The museum has a large main lobby to welcome visitors, and two galleries on the ground floor that represent the heart of the museum. On the first floor, there are four galleries in the form of a hanging hill, each of which forms the base of one of the wings, in addition to an external hill 30 metres high, inspired by the terrain of the Emirates. Visitors can climb it and walk between the bases of the wings and get a direct view of the cultural area on Saadiyat Island.

References

References

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2. (2010-11-25). "Zayed National Museum, Abu Dhabi Building - e-architect". e-architect.
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4. (July 25, 2009). "British Museum to help launch Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi". eTurboNews.
5. (21 June 2018). "British Museum rekindles relationship with Zayed National Museum after loan deal ended last year".
6. Somers Cocks, Anna. (2021-04-08). "Abu Dhabi's next mega museum is back on track—now with a director".
7. (2019-11-19). "Zayed National Museum set to open in 2021 following nine-year delay". Arabian Business.
8. (10 July 2025). "Zayed National Museum to open in December 2025 in Saadiyat Cultural District".
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10. (2023-09-28). "تعرف على متحف زايد الوطني".
11. "ZAYED NATIONAL MUSEUM THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES".