The narrative spans 13.8 billion years, from the Big Bang to the rise of biodiversity across land and sea.
Saadiyat Cultural District is now home to a new museum and scientific research centre, showcasing natural history spanning 13.8 billion years. Covering an area of over 35,000 square metres, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is the largest of its kind in the region.
Inside, the narrative begins in the atrium amidst a herd of sauropods before spanning 13.8 billion years, from the Big Bang and the formation of the solar system to the rise of biodiversity across land and sea. Star exhibits include Stan, the famed Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton that ruled Earth 67 million years ago. Elsewhere, a 25-metre-long female blue whale specimen illustrates the evolution of the largest animal ever to live.
These exhibits are anchored by an extraordinary Murchison Meteorite specimen, which famously crash-landed in Australia more than 40 years ago and has since revealed new information about the early solar system. Containing a huge range of organic ‘stardust’ compounds as well as pre-solar grains that formed over seven billion years ago – long before our current solar system existed – the meteorite provides ancient insight into the very building blocks of life. Elsewhere, visitors can touch one of the largest pieces of the moon currently on Earth, discovered in Libya and weighing a whopping 42 kilograms.
The natural history of the Arabian Peninsula sits at the heart of the museum’s storyline. Among the headline discoveries is Stegotetrabelodon emiratus, an extinct relative of modern elephants distinguished by tusks in both upper and lower jaws. Local natural assets, including fauna, flora, and the region’s geological history, are also set to be part of the visitor journey.
Designed by architecture studio Mecanoo, the building rises from Saadiyat Island like a sculpted landform, its silhouette recalling natural rock formations. Inside, permanent galleries trace a clear arc through time: The Story of Earth, The Evolving World, Our World, Resilient Planet and Earth’s Future. Side galleries such as The PalaeoLab, The Life Sciences Lab, Arabia’s Climate, Beyond the Horizon and The Human Story deepen the experience, while an Interactive Theatre delivers cinematic journeys through deep time.
To celebrate the opening, two international exhibitions will headline the programme. The March of the Triceratops brings the world’s only touring Triceratops herd to Abu Dhabi. The 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year showcases the planet’s most compelling images of the natural world. Together, they launch a global programme of scientific and cultural collaboration.
H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi,said: “The opening of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi marks a major milestone in our journey to shape the emirate’s cultural landscape. The museum offers an immersive look at the story of life on Earth, framed for the first time through an Arabian lens, with the fauna, flora, and geological history of the region forming a prominent part of the visitor journey. The museum’s research and educational institution supports scientific knowledge and undertakes innovative scientific studies in zoology, palaeontology, marine biology, molecular research and earth sciences. By fostering engagement with the natural sciences, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi inspires future generations and contributes to a more sustainable future.”
The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will welcome visitors from 10am to 6:30pm on weekdays with extended operating hours until 8:30pm on weekends. A range of ticketing options is available and includes adults for AED 70 and UAE university students for AED 32.5 (with a valid ID). Children under 18, people of determination, and UAE-based seniors aged 60+ can access the museum for free.
The museum joins a growing cultural community on Saadiyat, including Louvre Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, as well as the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum.
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