The long-awaited Zayed National Museum has finally opened its doors in Abu Dhabi, drawing steady streams of visitors who have been waiting to see how the UAE would tell the story of its founding father and its own rapid rise. The museum stands in the centre of the Saadiyat Cultural District, a once-quiet stretch of land that is slowly becoming one of the most ambitious cultural projects anywhere in the world.
A Building That Says as Much as Its Exhibits
Before stepping inside, visitors are met with the museum’s dramatic silhouette — a series of tall, wing-like structures that seem to lift out of the desert. Designed by Foster + Partners, the building is impossible to ignore. The towers pay tribute to Sheikh Zayed’s lifelong connection to falconry, but they also serve a practical purpose, funnelling warm air upward to keep the interior cool. It is one of those rare structures that feels both rooted in tradition and completely contemporary.
The UAE’s Story Told With Care
Inside, the museum avoids the overly polished feel that some new cultural spaces fall into. Instead, it has a warmth to it — dimmer lights, open rooms, and a rhythm that encourages people to slow down rather than rush through.
The galleries move visitors through the region’s story in a way that feels personal rather than academic. Early tools, pottery fragments and archaeological finds sit next to film clips, handwritten notes, tribal artefacts and photographs of life long before the federation was formed. The sections dedicated to Sheikh Zayed are particularly moving, offering a look at his approach to leadership, his relationships with communities across the Emirates, and the environmental values he insisted on long before sustainability became a global conversation.
A Boost for the Cultural District
The opening is expected to bring new energy to the Saadiyat Cultural District, which already includes the Louvre Abu Dhabi and is preparing to welcome the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in the coming years. Together, these institutions represent a vision that Abu Dhabi has been quietly building for more than a decade — not just to display art and history, but to become a place where ideas, cultures and stories meet.
More Than a Museum
One of the things early visitors have remarked on is how the space feels lived-in despite being brand new. Small seating nooks, open courtyards, and landscaped areas encourage people to linger. Families walk slowly through the galleries; students take notes; older visitors pause in front of photographs that bring familiar memories flooding back.
The museum will host talks, workshops and public programmes throughout the year, and there is already interest from schools planning field trips for the coming term. For researchers, the museum’s archives and learning facilities provide a valuable resource for studying the region’s heritage.
Opening Programme: Deep Roots and Everlasting Legacy
- Runs until December 31, 2025
- Traditional performances: Razfa, Naashat, poetry recitals, Taghrooda music, Nahma seafaring chants, Nadba mountain call
- Hands-on workshops in traditional crafts and arts
- Immersive Gahwa experience in collaboration with Bait Al Gahwa
- Guided tours and cultural activities (booking required)
Visitor Amenities
The museum complements its cultural offerings with thoughtfully designed amenities:
Dining & Shopping Options
- Erth Restaurant
- Al Ghaf Café
- Garden Cafés for relaxed outdoor breaks
- Al Nagwa Boutique, featuring curated gifts, crafts, books, and keepsakes celebrating Emirati culture
Ticket Information
- Adults: AED 70
- Children under 18: Free
- Senior citizens: Free
- Students & teachers: AED 35
- Memberships available for Individuals, Teachers, and Students
A Landmark Moment for the UAE
For the country, the opening of the Zayed National Museum is more than a ceremonial milestone. It is a moment of reflection — a chance to look back at how far the nation has come in a remarkably short time, and to anchor that progress in the values Sheikh Zayed championed: unity, compassion, respect for nature and a belief in learning.
With its doors now open, the museum invites people from across the UAE and beyond to step inside, slow down, and take in the story of a nation still writing its next chapter.
