What is Zayed National Museum?

Situated in the heart of the Saadiyat Island Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum will tell the story of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father and first president of the UAE, celebrating his life and work. In addition to this, the museum aims to shine a light on the history, culture, social and economic transformation of the Emirates, examining its relationships with the Middle East and the world.

Why Visit Zayed National Museum?

With permanent galleries displaying the best of national collections alongside loans from world-famous museums, Zayed National Museum fosters the dynamic character of an ultra-modern UAE. Over here, visitors are offered a unique experience that thoroughly engages the mind, probing it for questions and encouraging discourse, while building on the essence of the Founding Father’s personality and vision.

The Galleries of Zayed National Museum

The core gallery of the museum is ‘Sheikh Zayed: Life and Times’ which follows the Sheikh’s journey in the unification of the UAE. Visitors will be introduced to an original narrative through photographs, national treasures, key documents, and personal effects belonging to the late ruler.

The ‘Falconry and Conservation Gallery’ celebrates Sheikh Zayed’s passion for falconry alongside the natural world and its conservation.

‘Land and Water Gallery’ will explore the natural resources of the UAE, its cultivation, and trade.

The ‘People and Heritage Gallery’ showcases the traditional values of the UAE, which reflect its political and cultural life today. These values emphasize the importance of human relationships, warm hospitality, and living in harmony with nature.

‘History and Society Gallery’ uses archeological evidence and historical records to charter the course of human settlement in the area, from the Stone Age to the creation of the modern state by Sheikh Zayed.

The ‘Science and Learning Gallery’ will focus on Sheikh Zayed’s passion for education which transformed a traditional society into a modern one where literacy and numeracy are available to all. This space also explores various Arabic disciplines of language, literature, navigation, and medicine, and the influence they have had on the world.

The ‘Faith and Islam Gallery’ sheds light on the role of faith in Sheikh Zayed’s life, which ultimately drove his humanitarianism and vision for the future of the nation.

Zayed National Museum Architecture & Design

Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, Zayed National Museum resembles the wings of a falcon, effortlessly combining contemporary with traditional Arabic design and hospitality. The result is a stunning example of efficient and sustainable architecture. Set within a landscaped garden, the museum celebrates Sheikh Zayed‘s legacy and love of nature and falconry.

The towers in the museum are made of lightweight steel structures sculpted aerodynamically to work like the feathers of a bird’s wing. The galleries are anchored by a dramatic top-lit central lobby, which is dug into the earth in order to be able to exploit its thermal properties. The wing-shaped towers act as thermal chimneys, drawing cool air into the museum while air vents at the top make use of the negative pressure to draw the hot air out. All in all, the building is designed to minimize energy usage by incorporating natural ventilation, and the meticulous treatment of light and shade throughout the structure lends a touch of life to the monumental interiors. Objects are displayed within niches and on stone plinths that rise harmoniously from the floor.

Zayed National Museum Services

The museum comprises five principal galleries housed within five towers and three exhibition spaces. Additional facilities such as a theatre, a large auditorium lined with Emirati textiles, shops, café, VIP areas, conference rooms, a library, and a fine-dining restaurant also form part of the museum. The museum contains a variety of performance spaces. The lobby, for instance, will act as an informal venue for poetry readings, music, and dance.