UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan officially opened the Zayed National Museum in the presence of Supreme Council members and rulers of the emirates, marking a significant addition to Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District. The opening came one day after the UAE’s 54th Eid Al Etihad celebrations.
The museum tells the story of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founding father, while exploring the land and its people from ancient times to the present day. It offers an immersive experience combining cutting-edge technology with soundscapes, visual narratives, artefacts and historical objects. The museum is a tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed’s legacy, highlighting his leadership, vision and lasting humanitarian principles. It links the UAE’s historic past with its current achievements and future aspirations, acting as an entry point for visitors to discover and appreciate the nation’s culture, heritage and traditions.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, described it as “a museum of the history of the United Arab Emirates as a country and as a land.” He explained that the museum collaborated with cultural institutions, archaeological bodies and museums, with Emirati families also contributing heirlooms and lived experiences.
The collection includes over 3,000 items, with 1,500 on display, each contributing to the story of the UAE and its people. Key exhibits include the Abu Dhabi Pearl, believed to be among the oldest natural pearls in the world, rare folios from the Blue Quran, and an 18-metre reconstruction of a Bronze Age Magan boat positioned in the central atrium.
The museum features six permanent galleries spread over two floors, covering themes from early human presence in the region dating back 300,000 years to the country’s modern development. Galleries include To Our Ancestors, which traces Middle Eastern history from 300,000 years ago to the Bronze Age, and Through Our Connections, which covers developments from the Iron Age to the spread of Islam.
The museum joins other cultural institutions in the district including Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The opening marks a significant milestone in Abu Dhabi’s cultural development and reinforces the UAE’s commitment to preserving its heritage while looking toward the future.