The Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), officially opened to the public on December 3, 2025. The museum sits at the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District, located just off Abu Dhabi’s coast on Saadiyat Island. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the 95,000 SM facility features six permanent galleries, temporary exhibition space, and Al Masar Garden, an outdoor gallery featuring native plantings, sculptures, and a falaj irrigation system.

In the galleries, visitors can learn about the history and culture of the UAE through multimedia installations and immersive exhibits that showcase 1,500 artifacts from the museum’s permanent collection. The collection features objects ranging from the earliest evidence of human activity in the region to contemporary photos, medical devices, and handicrafts, placing special emphasis on the life and work of the UAE’s founding father and first president Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. A large auditorium lined with Emirati textiles provides space for presentations, films, and other gatherings.

The museum’s architecture combines contemporary design with elements of traditional Emirati culture. Towers shaped like wings capture fresh air at low levels, pass it through buried cooling pipes, and draw it through the galleries using the thermal stack effect. The design creates a sustainable and naturally ventilated environment for visitors.

The new museum is the latest addition to Abu Dhabi’s burgeoning Saadiyat Cultural District, which is home to several world-class cultural institutions such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Berklee Abu Dhabi.

On behalf of the Abu Dhabi Department Of Culture And Tourism, Hill International provided project management and cost consultancy services for the delivery of the museum. Our team coordinated between the many disciplines involved in designing and building the museum, helping ensure alignment with our client’s vision and international best practices for museum projects. Hill was also responsible for developing and monitoring schedules and budgets, implementing quality control, and managing construction activities, including the installation of exhibitions and other furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

“Delivering a project of this scale has been a defining moment for our team in the region,” says President, MENA Region Waleed Abdel-Fattah. “The museum reflects the UAE’s rich heritage and ambition, and we are honored to have played a part in its realization.”

Learn more about the new museum here: https://zayednationalmuseum.ae/en/.