Zayed National Museum

Explore a visionary's legacy through art, history, and nature's embrace.

Experience a thoughtful blend of tradition, culture, and modern innovation at Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the United Arab Emirates. Located within the vibrant Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, the museum draws its inspiration from the life and values of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE.

The building was created by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, who designed five striking steel towers inspired by the wings of a falcon in flight. The museum combines long-established Emirati building principles with advanced sustainable technologies suited to the local environment.

Visitors begin their journey along Al Masar Garden, a six-hundred-meter outdoor gallery filled with native and drought-tolerant plants. This landscape presents a curated timeline of key moments from Sheikh Zayed's life, set within desert, oasis, and urban settings.

Inside the museum, six permanent galleries guide visitors through the story of the UAE. The galleries explore the earliest human activity in the region, ancient trade networks, coastal and inland traditions, the natural environments that shaped daily life, and the legacy of Sheikh Zayed himself.

The museum holds more than three thousand objects, with over fifteen hundred items on display across two floors. Each gallery offers a deeper understanding of the history, culture, and achievements that have shaped the Emirates.

Highlights

• Discover the soaring design by Foster + Partners, inspired by the falcon, the UAE’s national symbol. • Explore over 3,000 objects, including rare artefacts spanning 300,000 years of regional history. • Stroll through Al Masar Garden, a 600-metre landscape of native, drought-tolerant species. • Enjoy interactive programs, talks and family activities celebrating the UAE’s living heritage.

Galleries

• Our Beginning: Explores the story, principles, and enduring impact of Sheikh Zayed’s life and leadership. • Through Our Nature: Looks at how the UAE’s landscapes and natural resources developed over time and influenced the ways people lived. • To Our Ancestors: Showcases traces of human presence stretching back 300,000 years, highlighting early cultural interactions and trade. • Through Our Connections: Investigates the region’s historical role as a meeting point of civilisations and the spread of Islam across the area. • By Our Coasts: Follows the traditions of coastal communities, from pearling and fishing to maritime travel and commerce. • To Our Roots: Celebrates the heritage of inland desert, oasis, and mountain communities, emphasising traditions preserved through generations.

Inclusions

• Admission to all permanent galleries • Access to Al Masar Garden outdoor gallery • Entry to all public spaces, seating areas, and accessible routes • Complimentary use of visual story guides and sensory maps • Access to learning and public engagement areas when open to the public

Exclusions

• Food and beverages at Erth Restaurant, Al Ghaf Café, and Garden Cafes. • Retail purchases.

Cultural Express – Complimentary Shuttle Service

1. Weekend Bus Schedule: First Departure2 buses | 3 days | Weekend | 09:05 departure from Dubai Dubai to Abu DhabiThe bus departs from City Seasons Tower Hotel Dubai at 09:05 and follows these stops: • City Seasons Tower Hotel Dubai: Departure at 09:05. • City Max Hotel Bur Dubai: Arrival at 09:10, departure at 09:15. • Mercure Dubai Barsha: Arrival at 09:45, departure at 09:50. • Abrahamic Family House: Currently closed. No arrival or departure times available. • Zayed National Museum: Arrival at 11:40, departure at 11:45. • Louvre Abu Dhabi: Arrival at 11:48, departure at 11:53. • Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi / Team Lab Phenomena: Arrival at 11:58, departure at 12:03. • Mamsha Beach: Arrival at 12:10, departure at 12:15. • Kai Beach: Final stop, arrival at 12:30. Abu Dhabi to DubaiThe return bus departs from Kai Beach at 18:05 and follows these stops: • Kai Beach: Departure at 18:05. • Mamsha Beach: Arrival at 18:15, departure at 18:20. • Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi / Team Lab Phenomena: Arrival at 18:30, departure at 18:35. • Louvre Abu Dhabi: Arrival at 18:40, departure at 18:45. • Zayed National Museum: Arrival at 18:50, departure at 18:55. • Abrahamic Family House: Currently closed. No arrival or departure times available. • Mercure Dubai Barsha: Arrival at 20:45, departure at 20:50. • City Max Hotel Bur Dubai: Arrival at 21:25, departure at 21:30. • City Seasons Tower Hotel Dubai: Final stop, arrival at 21:40. 2. Weekend Bus Schedule: Second Departure2 buses | 3 days | Weekend | 11:05 departure from Dubai Dubai to Abu DhabiThe bus departs from City Seasons Tower Hotel Dubai at 11:05 and follows these stops: • City Seasons Tower Hotel Dubai: Departure at 11:05. • City Max Hotel Bur Dubai: Arrival at 11:10, departure at 11:15. • Mercu

Important things to know before you visit

Age Policy: • Open to all ages; children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult Dress Code: • Clothing should cover shoulders and knees, respecting UAE cultural norms Accessibility: • Emirati Sign Language tours • Quiet Mornings and sensory-friendly hours • Calm Room, sensory kits, accessible routes and seating • Visual story guides and sensory maps Food & Beverage: • Erth Restaurant (fine dining, 10:00 AM–10:00 PM) • Al Ghaf Café (9:00 AM–8:00 PM) • Garden Cafés in Al Masar Garden Cloakroom: • Storage available for bags, luggage and personal items

Cancellation policy

This experience/attraction has a non-cancellable / non-changeable cancellation policy: Once booked, the ticket cannot be cancelled or modified.

Address

Al Saadiyat Island, Cultural District Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates