Saadiyat Cultural District is Getting Even Better: Two Major Museums Set to Open!
The Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi—already a world-class art hub thanks to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Manarat Al Saadiyat—is about to solidify its place as the Middle East’s premier cultural destination with the opening of two massive new attractions.
Get ready to mark your calendars!
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi (Opening Sat, Nov 22, 2025)
The highly anticipated Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi (NHMAD) will open its doors this November, taking visitors on an incredible 13.8-billion-year journey through the history of life on Earth.
- What to Expect: The 35,000-square-meter museum is covered in living greenery and designed to resemble natural rock formations.
- Must-See Highlights: Don’t miss ‘Stan’, the immaculately preserved 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, the Murchison Meteorite (containing 7-billion-year-old stardust), and the massive 25-meter female blue whale specimen.
- Local Focus: The museum will also prominently feature the fauna, flora, and geological history of the Middle East.
National Museum (Opening Wed, Dec 3, 2025)
An architectural marvel shaped like a falcon’s wing, the Zayed National Museum will open in December to honor the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
- What to Expect: Its exhibitions will tell the powerful story of the UAE’s 300,000-year-old history through more than 1,500 priceless artifacts, spanning the Palaeolithic to the Islamic periods.
- Must-See Highlights: Key items include the 8,000-year-old Abu Dhabi Pearl and a 3,000-year-old copper axe head.
- Outdoors: Visitors can also stroll through the 600-meter Al Masar Garden, which features a working falaj irrigation system and sculptures charting the history of the UAE.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (Opening Date TBC)
Rounding out the cultural district, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is set to bring the world’s best modern and contemporary art to the capital. Designed by Frank Gehry, the spectacular structure will feature an international collection of over 970 artworks with a specific focus on West and South Asia and North Africa.
