The Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the UAE located in the Saadiyat Cultural District, will open to the public come December.
The museum – which will open on December 03, 2025 – will present the history of the UAE through an immersive journey that spans from ancient times to the present day. It will combine archaeological artefacts and historic objects with audiovisual and sensory experiences, as well as contemporary installations.
The institution honours the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his commitment to cultural heritage, education, identity and belonging.
Zayed National Museum to showcase 3,000 artefacts in Saadiyat Cultural District
“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, and where visitors of all generations can engage with our nation’s journey from its ancient roots to its aspirations for the future. In opening these doors, we reaffirm our commitment to culture as a source of knowledge, connection, and inspiration for generations to come. The inauguration of Zayed National Museum is a defining milestone in the enduring cultural journey of Abu Dhabi,” Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi said in a statement.
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the museum’s layout will guide visitors through a pathway that traces early human inhabitation, explores civilisations that lived and thrived over centuries, highlights trade connections, and examines the distinctive elements of Emirati culture and heritage.
Sheikh Zayed’s legacy and values are embedded throughout the museum narrative.
The visitor experience begins at Al Masar Garden, an outdoor gallery that introduces the landscapes that shaped life in the UAE.
Extending 600 metres from the Saadiyat coast, between Louvre Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, to the museum entrance, Al Masar Garden features native plants and trees representing desert, oasis and urban environments. It also includes a working falaj irrigation system, sculptures, multisensory installations, and a timeline charting Sheikh Zayed’s life and the history of the UAE.
The museum’s collection includes more than 3,000 pieces, with 1,500 set for display. The permanent galleries start with Our Beginning, dedicated to the life and leadership of Sheikh Zayed.
His story will be narrated through recordings of his voice, archive photographs and film footage, personal belongings, letters, donations and installations.
Visitors will explore the UAE’s foundational years and the influences that shaped Sheikh Zayed’s vision, from his early life in Al Ain Region to his role in unifying the Emirates.
Zayed National Museum: What to expect in December
The Through Our Nature gallery will use artistic dioramas, natural specimens and multimedia installations to explore the UAE’s diverse landscapes and the historical impact of geography on life in the country’s mountains, desert, oases and sea.
The To Our Ancestors gallery will display the results of archaeological excavations that revealed 300,000 years of human presence in the UAE. Exhibits will include one of the world’s oldest pearls and a recreation of the Hili Grand Tomb, providing insight into the region’s inhabitants up to the Bronze Age.
The Through Our Connections gallery will cover the period from the Iron Age 3,000 years ago to the 1100s CE, showing how new technologies, materials, knowledge and faith shaped an emerging shared identity, including the development of the Arabic language and the rise of Islam.
The By Our Coasts gallery will explore the UAE’s maritime heritage and history over the past five centuries, from the navigator Ibn Majid to the pearl diving era, highlighting the UAE’s role in commercial and cultural exchange.
The final gallery, To Our Roots, will examine Emirati identity through traditional lifestyles, customs and social and economic practices that defined inland communities.
To mark the opening, a programme of performances, workshops, tours and activities will be held. Visitors will also have access to food and beverage options including the Emirati restaurant Erth, Al Ghaf Cafe and the Garden Cafes.
Zayed National Museum will stand alongside several major cultural institutions, including Louvre Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, as well as the upcoming Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Located in Saadiyat Cultural District, it will contribute to spaces for dialogue, cultural exchange and discovery, supporting Abu Dhabi’s position as a global platform for creativity, heritage and innovation.
Tickets for the opening are now available on the Zayed National Museum website.
