Zayed National Museum Opens in Abu Dhabi, Highlighting UAE's Asian Connections

The Zayed National Museum opened in Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Cultural District on 3 December 2025, presenting the UAE's history through the lens of interconnectedness with Asia and beyond. Guided by the legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the museum explores trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange across the Indian Ocean. Its 'Through Our Connections' and 'By Our Coasts' galleries examine maritime networks from the Bronze Age onward, featuring archaeological finds such as Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai ceramics. Notable objects include Ming Dynasty imperial ceramic dish fragments from the Xuande period (1426–35), discovered in Julfar (Ras Al Khaimah), believed to be diplomatic gifts. The museum references early Arab traders in China from the 600s, Chinese traveller Du Huan's accounts in the 700s, and Admiral Zheng He's voyages (1409–1433). The ninth-century Belitung shipwreck, carrying Chinese ceramics and star anise, illustrates everyday cultural exchange. Sheikh Zayed and his brother Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan invited Danish archaeologists to excavate Umm an-Nar Island and Al Ain, uncovering societies over 5000 years old. The museum's Research Fund, launched in 2023, supports global research in archaeology, heritage, and cultural history.