Zayed National Museum to Open in Abu Dhabi on December 3 2025

📷WAM

Abu Dhabi, October 17 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the United Arab Emirates, will open to the public on December 3 2025 in the Saadiyat Cultural District, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi announced.

The museum will offer an immersive journey through the history of the UAE, combining archaeological artefacts, historic objects, audiovisual presentations, and sensory installations to trace the nation’s story from ancient times to the present.

The landmark institution honors the legacy of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, reflecting his lifelong commitment to heritage, education, identity, and belonging.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said the museum embodies the vision and values of Sheikh Zayed.

“As the national museum of the UAE, 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,” he said. “History and innovation come together within the museum, creating a space where dialogue, learning, and exchange can flourish. The inauguration marks a defining milestone in Abu Dhabi’s enduring cultural journey.”

Designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Lord Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the museum will guide visitors through the region’s history — from early human inhabitation and ancient trade routes to Emirati culture and traditions — while embedding Sheikh Zayed’s values throughout its narrative.

The experience begins at Al Masar Garden, a 600-meter outdoor gallery extending from the Saadiyat coast between Louvre Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi. Featuring native plants, a working falaj irrigation system, sculptures, and a timeline of Sheikh Zayed’s life, the garden connects nature with heritage.

The museum’s collection of more than 3,000 pieces, including 1,500 on display, explores the UAE’s evolution through five main galleries:

• Our Beginning, dedicated to Sheikh Zayed’s life and leadership;

• Through Our Nature, highlighting the country’s landscapes;

• To Our Ancestors, presenting 300,000 years of archaeology;

• Through Our Connections, showing early trade and the rise of Islam;

• By Our Coasts and To Our Roots, examining maritime heritage and inland traditions.

To mark the opening, the museum will host performances, workshops, and guided tours, alongside dining venues including Erth Restaurant, Al Ghaf Café, and the Garden Cafés.

Situated within Saadiyat Cultural District, Zayed National Museum joins Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, the upcoming Natural History Museum, and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in shaping the capital’s identity as a global hub for culture, knowledge, and innovation.