New museums in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District on track for completion in 2025

The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi has advised that four highly anticipated major museums - the Zayed National Museum, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi - in the Emirate’s Saadiyat Cultural District on track for completion in 2025.

When finished, the district on the western side of Saadiyat Island will include one of world’s greatest concentrations of museums and cultural venues.

Comprising more than seven museums and cultural institutions, all located in close proximity, Saadiyat Cultural District - which was first proposed back in 2006 - has been in the making for almost two decades.

Paying homage to the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who defined the country’s cultural agenda and unveiled the history of the UAE to the world through archaeological excavations and findings, the legacy began with the establishment of Al Ain Museum, the first museum in the UAE, which opened in 1971.

Today, this legacy continues to evolve under the guidance of the UAE’s leaders whose investment in culture is a commitment that has been at the core of our nation’s vision and ambitions.

Each institution within the Saadiyat Cultural District uniquely contributes to the overall vision and ambitions of being a centre of knowledge, innovation and creativity.

Opened in 2017, Louvre Abu Dhabi, the first universal museum in the Arab world, uses an innovative curatorial approach to showcase artworks from different cultures side by side. It tells stories of human creativity that transcend civilisations, geographies and times, fostering understanding across cultures.

Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the United Arab Emirates, will allow visitors to encounter an unparalleled collection of art and artefacts from the ancient and living cultures of the UAE and the region. It celebrates the nation’s rich history and culture, while also honouring the legacy of the country’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed.

The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is dedicated to building knowledge and providing experiences that cultivate awareness of our planet’s extraordinary evolution. By igniting a lifelong passion for the natural world, the museum and research institute empower a new generation of advocates to help shape our planet’s future. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be a pre-eminent platform for contemporary art and culture, presenting significant artistic achievements of our time. It contributes to an inclusive and expansive view of art history that emphasises the convergence of local, regional and international sources of creative inspiration.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be a pre-eminent museum for contemporary art and culture that will present the most important artistic achievements of our time.

TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi offers an immersive experience that reveals the diversity of the natural world and reflects, through a creative journey, a philosophical dimension of global phenomena.

Each of the Saadiyat Cultural District’s institutions will also include programs for learning and education.

In a recent interview with The Art Newspaper, Mohamed Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, advised “the museums’ overall narrative will create an unparalleled global public sphere - a place where people can come together, openly exchange opinions and build a common understanding.”

Image: Concepts for the Saadiyat Cultural District's five major museums, (clockwise from left): Zayed National Museum, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Credit: Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi.