Zayed National Museum Opens on Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island

In December, the Zayed National Museum was inaugurated on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, honoring the UAE's founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The architectural design by Foster + Partners includes wing-like elements reminiscent of falconry. Spanning 300,000 years of human history in the UAE, the museum comprises six permanent galleries. Notable exhibits feature the Magan Boat, an 18-meter replica of a Bronze Age ship that navigated the Arabian Gulf, along with Sheikh Zayed's personal Polaroid camera and a 1966 Chrysler. The Al Masar Garden, a 600-meter outdoor gallery, incorporates a traditional falaj irrigation system. Sustainability initiatives include geothermal cooling and operable panels for natural airflow. In an interview with ArtAsiaPacific, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism, emphasized the museum's goal to intertwine tradition with modernity, showcasing Emirati history as an ongoing story from ancient times to today.