Sheikh Zayed National Museum to Open in Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat District

The Sheikh Zayed National Museum, designed by Norman Foster, will soon open in Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Cultural District. Dedicated to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918-2004), founder of the United Arab Emirates, the museum explores the nation's cultural, historical, and social evolution under his presidency. Its galleries include Land and Water, People and Heritage, History and Society, Science and Learning, and Faith and Islam. The opening exhibition, 'Hajj: Memories of a Journey,' begins September 19 at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, featuring artifacts, historical photographs, and commissioned installations about the pilgrimage to Mecca. The museum's construction faced controversy over labor conditions. The Saadiyat Cultural District also hosts the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a Performing Arts Center by Zaha Hadid, a Maritime Museum by Tadao Ando, and the pending Guggenheim Abu Dhabi by Frank Gehry.