ABU DHABI, UAE, Oct. 20, 2025: Zayed National Museum, the official national museum of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will open to the public on December 3, 2025, in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District, the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi confirmed this week. The opening coincides with the UAE’s 54th National Day. Developed to honor the legacy of the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the museum is designed to present the historical, cultural and social development of the Emirates from its earliest human settlements to the present day.
The museum will feature more than 3,000 artefacts, including archaeological finds, historic objects and multimedia installations, with approximately 1,500 pieces on public display. The institution’s architecture is designed by Foster + Partners, led by British architect Lord Norman Foster. The structure features five steel towers inspired by falcon wings, integrated with passive cooling and sustainable design technologies. Located between the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum is the latest addition to the expanding Saadiyat Cultural District.
At the entrance, visitors will pass through Al Masar Garden, a 600-meter landscaped walkway featuring native plant species, a traditional falaj irrigation system, sculptures, and a visual timeline of Sheikh Zayed’s life and the nation’s history. The outdoor gallery connects the coastal edge of Saadiyat Island to the museum’s entrance and incorporates desert, oasis and urban ecological environments. Inside, the museum is organized into six permanent galleries. The first, titled “Our Beginning,” presents the life and leadership of Sheikh Zayed through archival footage, personal belongings, photographs and recorded speeches.
Museum to enhance Abu Dhabi’s global cultural profile
This section traces his early life in Al Ain, his central role in unifying the Emirates, and the foundational principles that guided the country’s formation. The gallery “Through Our Nature” highlights the UAE’s diverse natural landscapes, including deserts, mountains, oases and coastlines. Using specimens and interactive displays, the exhibit explores how environmental conditions shaped settlement patterns and survival strategies over time.
“To Our Ancestors” focuses on the archaeological record, displaying discoveries that show human habitation in the region for more than 300,000 years. Highlights include a replica of the Hili Grand Tomb and one of the world’s oldest known pearls, offering insight into early societies of the Arabian Peninsula. The museum continues with “Through Our Connections,” examining the development of trade, culture and technology in the Emirates from the Iron Age to the 12th century.
The gallery covers the introduction of writing, the Arabic language, and Islam, marking the region’s growing integration with neighboring civilizations. “By Our Coasts” explores maritime heritage and the influence of seafaring on cultural identity over the last 500 years. Exhibits trace the role of navigators such as Ahmad Ibn Majid, the pearl diving industry and the UAE’s historical position in global trade routes.
Fine dining and cafes to enhance visitor experience
The final gallery, “To Our Roots,” investigates traditional inland life before oil development, with displays on domestic architecture, social customs, and economic practices in pre-modern Emirati communities. To mark the opening, the museum will host a public program that includes performances, workshops and guided tours.
Dining options at the venue will include the Emirati fine-dining restaurant Erth, as well as Al Ghaf Cafe and Garden Cafes. Zayed National Museum will be part of a network of major cultural institutions in Saadiyat Cultural District, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and the forthcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi. The area has been developed to serve as a hub for cultural preservation, education and global dialogue. – By Content Syndication Services.