The UAE will officially open Zayed National Museum in the capital, Abu Dhabi, on December 3, 2025, as part of its celebrations of the 54th National Day, to serve as the country's national museum and one of the most prominent cultural landmarks in the region, in the heart of the Cultural District on Saadiyat Island.
The museum represents a prominent addition to the Emirati and global cultural scene, taking its visitors on an interactive journey through the human history of the UAE from ancient times to the present, through a mix of archaeological artifacts, historical objects, audiovisual experiences and contemporary works of art, according to a press release issued by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
The museum was designed by British architect Lord Norman Foster, winner of the Pritzker Prize, to resemble a falcon's wings in flight, embodying the UAE's ambition and its connection to its natural environment and national culture.
The museum covers more than 300,000 years of human history in the region, spanning the Stone, Bronze, Iron and Islamic ages up to modern history, and houses more than 3,000 archaeological and historical objects, about 1,500 of which are displayed in the permanent galleries.
Al Masar Garden and the Visitor Experience
The visitor experience begins at Al Masar Garden, which extends 600 meters between Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Natural History Museum, which is expected to open soon.
The garden features native plants representing desert, oasis and urban environments, along with a traditional falaj irrigation system and artistic sculptures that tell the life story of Sheikh Zayed and the history of the UAE in an interactive visual style.
A Global Cultural Destination
Zayed National Museum will offer an annual program of exhibitions, public events and live performances, aimed at enhancing community engagement and encouraging new generations to explore the history of the UAE from a global human perspective. The opening of the museum embodies the UAE's commitment to strengthening the role of culture in national development and cementing its position as a global destination for the arts and dialogue between civilizations.
For his part, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, explained that the opening of Zayed National Museum represents an important cultural moment in the UAE's journey, and embodies decades of vision and belief in the transformative power of knowledge, heritage and storytelling, according to the Emirates News Agency.
He added that the museum gives visitors the opportunity to learn about the country's history through modern and interactive methods, and stressed that it will be the most important reference for the history and culture of the UAE, providing members of the community with a platform to connect with their heritage in a tangible and contemporary way.
Al Mubarak explained that each museum in the Saadiyat Cultural District has its own character, but Zayed National Museum stands out as the expression of the legacy of the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and for its focus on people, education and national belonging, noting that Sheikh Zayed's values of humility, service to the nation and preservation of heritage form the core of the museum's identity.
