The winter season in Abu Dhabi is set to become even more thrilling as the Capital prepares to unveil not one, but two new museums, marking a significant cultural achievement for the emirate.
The city has just announced the opening of the Natural History Museum, which will welcome visitors on November 22, 2025, in the vibrant Saadiyat Cultural District.
The eagerly awaited Zayed National Museum in the same area will also open its doors on December 3, 2025.
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The Natural History Museum, with its design resembling a natural formation emerging from the island’s waters, spans 35,000 square meters. It offers an immersive exploration of 13.8 billion years of natural history, from the Big Bang and the solar system’s formation to life’s evolution, including the rise and decline of dinosaurs and Earth’s biodiversity.
Designed by the acclaimed architects Mecanoo, the museum’s structure mirrors natural rock formations, aligning with its mission to “connect people with the natural world and inspire future generations to question, discover, and engage in creating a sustainable future.”
Key Attractions
The museum features three remarkable specimens from deep time.
The first is the renowned ‘Stan,’ a nearly complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, an apex predator from 67 million years ago.
Joining it is the largest known animal, represented by a magnificent 25-meter female blue whale specimen, offering insights into evolution, marine biodiversity, and Earth’s ongoing life story.
Rounding out the trio is the Murchison Meteorite, an artifact that witnessed our planet’s formation and contains seven-billion-year-old grains predating our solar system.
Arabian Peninsula’s Treasures
The museum’s narrative prominently features the natural history of the Arabian Peninsula, showcasing the region’s contribution to Earth’s story.
Notable discoveries in Abu Dhabi include the extinct elephant species Stegotetrabelodon emiratus, a unique member of the Elephantidae family with tusks on both its upper and lower jaws.
Inside, visitors can explore a series of permanent galleries and exhibitions that take them through time. Main galleries include The Story of Earth, The Evolving World, Our World, Resilient Planet, and Earth’s Future, alongside side galleries like The PalaeoLab, The Life Sciences Lab, Arabia’s Climate, Beyond the Horizon, and The Human Story.
Visitors can also experience the Interactive Theatre, offering immersive visual journeys through time.
Grand Opening Events
To celebrate its opening, the museum will host two temporary international exhibitions — The March of the Triceratops, featuring the world’s only touring Triceratops herd, and the 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year, a prestigious global nature photography exhibit.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, stated: “The opening of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is a major milestone in shaping the emirate’s cultural landscape. The museum provides an immersive perspective on Earth’s life story, uniquely framed through an Arabian lens, with the region’s fauna, flora, and geological history playing a significant role in the visitor experience.”
“The museum’s research and educational institution supports scientific knowledge and conducts pioneering studies in zoology, paleontology, marine biology, molecular research, and earth sciences. By promoting engagement with natural sciences, the museum inspires future generations and contributes to a more sustainable future,” he added.
The museum joins a community of institutions including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
