Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will offer free entry from 16 to 18 May 2026.
The programme includes hands-on science workshops for all ages.
Highlights include Stan the T. rex and the Murchison Meteorite.
The Saadiyat Cultural District museum is marking the occasion with family workshops, scientist-led talks and hands-on activities.
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is celebrating International Museum Day with three days of free entry, giving residents and visitors the chance to explore one of the capital’s newest cultural landmarks without spending a dirham. Running from Saturday, 16 May to Monday, 18 May 2026, the programme will feature interactive workshops, creative science sessions and behind-the-scenes experiences designed for visitors of all ages.
Located in Saadiyat Cultural District, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is the largest museum of its kind in the region and a major addition to the UAE’s growing cultural landscape. The museum takes visitors on a journey through 13.8 billion years of natural history, from the origins of the universe to the future of planet Earth. Its significance lies in the way it tells the story of life through an Arabian lens, placing the region’s geological history, prehistoric landscapes and biodiversity at the centre of the visitor experience.
From 16 to 17 May 2026, visitors can take part in drop-in workshops that make science accessible, visual and fun. Sun Printing uses natural materials and sunlight to create one-of-a-kind artworks, while Light Lab: Colour & Shadow explores how light interacts with layered materials through visual experiments. Constellation Light Lab brings astronomy into the mix, and younger guests can join Shadow Safari and the Wiggly Creatures Workshop, which combine storytelling, performance and craft.
On Monday, 18 May 2026, the focus moves behind the scenes. The Build a Mini Exhibit workshop invites participants to step into the role of curator by selecting specimens and creating their own displays. The Meet the Scientists Series will also give visitors the chance to speak with the museum’s in-house researchers and specialists, offering insight into the work that goes into studying, preserving and presenting a world-class natural history collection.
There is plenty to see beyond the special programme. Highlights include Stan, the famous Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton; the Murchison Meteorite, which contains material older than the solar system; and exhibitions that explore dinosaurs, ancient ecosystems, deserts, oceans, and the story of prehistoric Abu Dhabi. Visitors can also learn how the emirate once formed part of a lush savannah millions of years ago, with fossils from across the UAE helping to show how dramatically the landscape has changed over time.
Where: Natural History Museum, Al Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
When: Open daily from 10am to 6:30pm
Contact: www.nhmad.ae