The Zayed National Museum is being constructed in honor of Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates, and is scheduled to open in December of this year. Lord Norman Foster, a Pritzker Prize-winning architect from Foster + Partners, created the museum's design, which is at the forefront of sustainable architecture and represents the UAE's past.
Inspired by the wing of a falcon in flight, five steel structures rise above the museum. Falconry is regarded as an essential aspect of Emirati culture The museum upholds the principles Sheikh Zayed stood for, such as humanitarianism and the preservation of Emirati culture and heritage, by building on his vision through immersive exhibitions, ongoing research, and public and community programs.
Visitors will explore six permanent galleries spread across two floors that cover 300,000 years of human history. The museum's collection includes artifacts from all throughout the United Arab Emirates, including donations pertaining to the country's history In addition to local and foreign loans.
Among the museum's features will be the Abu Dhabi Pearl, one of the oldest natural pearls in the world, which will provide fresh insight into the Arabian Gulf's pearling history. A replica of an ancient Magan boat and the Blue Quran, one of the best manuscripts in Islamic art, are the products of the museum's initial research collaboration with New York University Abu Dhabi and Zayed University.
People of all ages and locations will be able to connect through the museum's accessible and inclusive experiences.
Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Age artifacts, many of which were discovered by archaeological teams more than fifty years ago, are part of the museum's collection.
