Zayed National Museum Set to Open in December 2025 as UAE’s Beacon of Heritage
ABU DHABI, 10th July 2025 – In a momentous milestone for the United Arab Emirates, the Zayed National Museum is set to open its doors in December 2025 at the heart of Saadiyat Cultural District Abu Dhabi. As one of the world’s foremost concentrations of cultural institutions, this landmark museum will honor the Founding Father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his steadfast commitment to education, identity, and belonging.
Through immersive exhibitions, active research, and engaging public programming, the museum enshrines the values held dear by Sheikh Zayed, including humanitarianism and the preservation of legacy. The museum’s collection boasts artefacts from across the UAE, incorporating significant donations that embody the nation’s rich heritage, alongside prominent domestic and international loans.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, highlighted the significance of the opening:
“The cultural legacy of the UAE has been nurtured over decades, from the establishment of its earliest cultural institutions to today’s expansive vision for cultural exchange and knowledge. Saadiyat Cultural District represents the next chapter in this national journey, curating world-class institutions that honour the past and engage the future.
As the national museum of the UAE, Zayed National Museum is the legacy of our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It is a tribute to his boundless belief in people, in their ability to learn, to uphold the values of unity, compassion and national pride. This museum is more than a place of preservation; it is a promise to future generations, a beacon of our identity, and a space where our story is told not just through objects, but through emotion, memory and vision. This institution will carry our story forward for generations to come.”
Sheikh Zayed’s enduring belief that understanding the past is vital for shaping the future inspired the formation of the country’s first museum in Al Ain in 1971, and the Cultural Foundation in 1981. Today, the Zayed National Museum’s collection spans items from the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Ages, many unearthed by archaeological teams over five decades. Treasures such as the world’s oldest falaj irrigation system and Bronze Age copper mining sites illuminate the ingenuity and resilience of the UAE’s earliest communities while reflecting Sheikh Zayed’s dedication to reviving national history.
Among its numerous highlights, visitors can expect to see the Abu Dhabi Pearl – one of the world’s oldest natural pearls, illuminating the history of pearling in the Arabian Gulf. The museum will also showcase the renowned Blue Qur’an, considered a masterpiece of Islamic art, and a recreation of an ancient Magan Boat, the first result of collaborative research with Zayed University and New York University Abu Dhabi.
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Norman Foster (Foster + Partners), the museum’s architecture captures the UAE’s heritage. The structure features five steel towers inspired by the wings of a falcon in flight, paying homage to falconry, a defining component of Emirati culture, while placing sustainability at its core.
The Zayed National Museum promises an inclusive and accessible experience, uniting generations and cultures. Its galleries, learning programs, and innovative research initiatives create opportunities for global perspectives and UAE’s contemporary identity to converse. The museum is dedicated to inspiring young people, engaging People of Determination and senior citizens, while also championing international scholarship—positioning itself as a dynamic platform for cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
Aligned with Saadiyat Cultural District’s mission to foster dialogue and promote cultural equity, the museum will present collections and stories that celebrate the region’s rich past and Abu Dhabi’s status as a crossroads of civilizations. The Zayed National Museum will join esteemed institutions like the Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, the upcoming Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, cementing Abu Dhabi’s role as a global fulcrum for culture, ideas, and innovation.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
