The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will open to the public on November 22, 2025 in Saadiyat Cultural District.
The 35,000-square-metre facility is the largest museum of its kind in the region.
The museum takes visitors through 13.8 billion years of natural history, from the Big Bang and the formation of the solar system to the evolution of life on Earth.
Stan the T-Rex and Murchison Meteorite among ighlights at Abu Dhabi’s Natural History Museum
The museum will display three specimens. Stan, a nearly complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton from 67 million years ago, will be featured. A 25-metre female blue whale specimen will be exhibited.
The Murchison Meteorite, which contains 7-billion-year-old grains formed before the Solar System, completes the collection.
“The opening of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi marks a major milestone in our journey to shape the emirateโs cultural landscape. The museum offers an immersive look at the story of life on Earth, framed for the first time through an Arabian lens, with the fauna, flora, and geological history of the region forming a prominent part of the visitor journey. The museumโs research and educational institution supports scientific knowledge and undertakes innovative scientific studies in zoology, palaeontology, marine biology, molecular research and earth sciences. By fostering engagement with the natural sciences, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi inspires future generations and contributes to a more sustainable future,” Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism โ Abu Dhabi said in a statement.
The natural history of the Arabian Peninsula forms a central part of the museum’s narrative. The museum will display an extinct species of elephant known as Stegotetrabelodon emiratus, discovered in Abu Dhabi.
This member of the Elephantidae family had tusks in both its upper and lower jaws, a trait not seen in modern elephants.
Architects Mecanoo designed the museum building, which rises from the Saadiyat Island landscape. Its silhouette echoes rock formations found in nature.
35,000-square-metre Natural History Museum to feature galleries, interactive experiences
The museum features permanent galleries including The Story of Earth, The Evolving World, Our World, Resilient Planet, and Earth’s Future.
Side galleries include The PalaeoLab, The Life Sciences Lab, Arabia’s Climate, Beyond the Horizon, and The Human Story. An Interactive Theatre offers experiences that transport visitors through time.
Two temporary exhibitions will mark the opening. The March of the Triceratops showcases the world’s only touring Triceratops herd. The 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year, a showcase of nature photography, will also be presented.
The museum joins institutions including Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in Saadiyat Cultural District.
