ZAYED NATIONAL MUSEUM THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

07 Nov, 2019

Construction is underway on Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the United Arab Emirates, which will narrate the story of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding Father of the UAE and highlight the history of the region and its cultural connections with countries around the world.

Zayed National Museum, developed by the Department of Culture and Tourism-Abu Dhabi, will be of great significance to the people of the United Arab Emirates and the region, and have major international resonance. Its permanent galleries will display the best of national collections alongside loans from leading world museums, and a programme of special exhibitions will make it a vibrant part of the national, regional, and international cultural scene. The museum will be inclusive and educational and a must see for Emiratis, UAE residents and overseas visitors.

Zayed National Museum will honour Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s strongly held values, which encompass a passionate belief in education, the environment, history, heritage and culture, all underpinned by his humanitarianism and deeply held faith.

Lord Norman Foster, winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize and one of the most prolific architects of his generation, conceived the design of the museum after his practice, Foster + Partners, won a worldwide pitch. Zayed National Museum’s distinctive towers (‘Wings’) were inspired by Sheikh Zayed’s passion for falconry and the rich tradition of this heritage practice in the Gulf. The Wings were sculpted aerodynamically to act as solar thermal towers – a contemporary reference to the traditional climatically responsive architecture of the region - and range in height from 83 to 123 metres.

The atrium of Zayed National Museum provides a welcoming space for all. It is here that the museum announces itself as a national institution, a cultural destination and a centre for learning.

The two galleries on the ground floor represent the heart of the museum. The extraordinary life of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the foundations of the UAE are narrated in the main gallery, while the Landscapes and Life gallery shows how the nation’s landscapes and rich natural resources were
formed.

On the first floor of the museum, four pod-shaped galleries take the visitor on a journey through the history of the country, from the arrival of the first people and emergence of oases to the vibrant contemporary culture of the present-day UAE.

These four pods are suspended over the dramatic top-lit central atrium and form the base of each wing. Visitors can ascend the external 30 metre high mound, inspired by the topography of the UAE, and walk amongst the base of the wings for a unique view of the Saadiyat Cultural District. A 400-metre landscaped narrative garden exploring key moments in the life of Sheikh Zayed connects the museum with the sea and other sites of the Cultural District.

Zayed National Museum will offer visitors a unique experience that engages the mind, raises questions and encourages dynamic and interactive dialogue while delving into the Founding Father’s personality and vision. The collection has been developed to deliver an integrated learning experience for visitors of all ages and educational backgrounds, while taking into account the needs of People of Determination. The museum’s unique narrative will be enriched through engaging, innovative and non-traditional communication methods.

The museum will give special attention to public education, with an educational programme currently being developed in alignment with the UAE's school curriculum. Zayed National Museum will also function as a centre for archaeological and heritage research.