Abu Dhabi’s long-awaited Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the UAE, will open to the public on December 3 2025 in the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District.
The landmark institution will chronicle the UAE’s history from ancient times to the present day through 3,000 artefacts, immersive storytelling and multi-sensory experiences.
The museum pays tribute to the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his lifelong commitment to cultural heritage, education and identity.
Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi
Visitors will explore how his vision continues to shape the nation’s values of knowledge, openness and belonging.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “As the national museum of the UAE, sitting at the heart of Saadiyat Cultural District, Zayed National Museum presents the story of our land, our people, and our heritage in a way that is alive, evolving, and open to all.
“The museum reflects the vision and values of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose belief in culture, education, and knowledge continues to guide us.
“History and innovation come together within the museum, creating a space where dialogue, learning, and exchange can flourish… The inauguration of Zayed National Museum is a defining milestone in the enduring cultural journey of Abu Dhabi.”
Designed by Lord Norman Foster
Created by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the museum leads visitors along a pathway tracing early human habitation, regional trade routes and the development of Emirati culture.
Sheikh Zayed’s values are embedded throughout the narrative.
Visitors will begin at Al Masar Garden, a 600m outdoor gallery stretching from the Saadiyat coast—between Louvre Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi—to the museum entrance.
The garden features native flora, a working falaj irrigation system, sculptures, and a timeline charting Sheikh Zayed’s life and the UAE’s formation.
Inside, more than 1,500 artefacts will go on display. The museum’s permanent galleries follow a chronological journey:
- Our Beginning: The life and leadership of Sheikh Zayed, told through recordings of his voice, personal belongings and archive footage
- Through Our Nature: The UAE’s diverse landscapes and their impact on life across mountains, deserts, oases and seas
- To Our Ancestors: Archaeological discoveries spanning 300,000 years of human presence, from one of the world’s oldest pearls to a recreation of the Hili Grand Tomb
- Through Our Connections: Trade, technology and faith from the Iron Age to the 1100s CE, including the rise of the Arabic language and Islam
- By Our Coasts: Five centuries of maritime heritage, from navigator Ibn Majid to pearl-diving and global exchange
- To Our Roots: Inland traditions, customs and economic life that define Emirati identity
Opening programme
To celebrate the inauguration, the museum will host performances, workshops, tours and activities, alongside dining experiences at Erth, Al Ghaf Cafe and The Garden Cafés.
Zayed National Museum joins world-class institutions including Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and forthcoming landmarks Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Together they form the Saadiyat Cultural District, a centre for dialogue, creativity and cultural exchange positioning Abu Dhabi as a global platform where heritage and innovation converge.
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