Inside Zayed National Museum, Abu Dhabi’s New Cultural Landmark

On Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island, a dramatic new landmark open doors this December: The Zayed National Museum. Designed by the celebrated architecture firm Foster + Partners, the museum is conceived as both a monument and a memorial to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding president of the United Arab Emirates. With its soaring steel towers inspired by the wings of a falcon in flight, the structure promises to be as much a feat of architecture and sustainability as it is a cultural repository.

Lord Norman Foster, the Pritzker Prize-winning architect at the helm of the project, drew inspiration from falconry, desert landscapes, and the region’s topography to create a contemporary design that embodies heritage while pushing the boundaries of innovation. Rising out of a landscaped mound, the museum’s faceted panels echo the geology of the UAE, while five sculpted steel towers double as solar thermal chimneys—an ingenious reference to traditional cooling systems reimagined for a modern era.

“The architecture represents far more than just a home for the museum’s collection—it embodies a physical expression of Sheikh Zayed’s vision and his profound connection to the land, culture, and people of the Emirates,” says Dr. Peter Magee, director of Zayed National Museum.

Leading to the entrance is the Al Masar Garden, a 600-metre-long outdoor gallery that narrates Sheikh Zayed’s life story through sculptures, native flora, and a working falaj irrigation channel—an homage to the ingenuity of earlier generations who coaxed life from the desert. Inside, more than 3,000 objects, including around 1,500 on permanent display across six galleries, tell the story of the Emirates across 3,00,000 years of history.

The museum’s six permanent galleries take visitors on a thematic journey through the UAE’s history and identity. Our Beginning presents Sheikh Zayed’s life and leadership through his own words, belongings, and archival material; Through Our Nature explores the country’s Immersive multimedia, sensorial elements, and installations bring each gallery to life. “We are truly excited to welcome visitors to the museum this December and to see it come to life,” says Dr. Magee.

Among the highlights is the Magan Boat, a life-size Bronze Age vessel painstakingly reconstructed without a single nail or screw. It is the result of a research project executed in collaboration with Zayed University and New York oldest natural pearls, shedding new light on the history of pearling in the Arabian Gulf; and the Blue Qur’an, one of Islamic art’s finest manuscripts. Browse the museum’s shop, selling products made by local artisans and designers, for keepsakes to take home.

For Dr. Magee, the museum’s creation has been a formidable but rewarding endeavour: “With a project of this scale, there were obstacles along the way, but each diverse landscapes and how they sustained life over millennia; To Our Ancestors showcases archaeological treasures, from one of the world’s oldest pearls to a reconstructed Umm an-Nar tomb; Through Our Connections highlights the role of trade, technology, and faith in shaping a shared identity and spreading the Arabic language and Islam; By Our Coasts brings to life maritime traditions of pearling, fishing, and trade; and To Our Roots reflects on inland life and customs that anchor Emirati identity.

University Abu Dhabi. “The project brought together an international team of over 20 specialists from five countries, including curators, professors, archaeologists, students from the UAE, shipwrights from Kerala and other specialists from Italy, USA and the UK,” explains Dr. Magee. “The life-size replica of a Bronze Age boat was reconstructed using information from a clay tablet and will be housed within Zayed National Museum.”

Visitors can also see the Abu Dhabi Pearl, one of the world’s challenge pushed us to innovate in ways worthy of the vision. Delivering the museum to the highest standards was something everyone felt deeply about, from sourcing the finest materials to achieving structural feats such as a 16-hour continuous pour of white concrete.” The result is a space that fuses design excellence, cultural authenticity, and sustainability, standing tall, quite literally, as the highest structure on Saadiyat Island’s Cultural District.