If you’ve been waiting for the opening date for The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, it’s finally here!
The latest addition to the Saadiyat Cultural District will open to the public on 22 November 2025, marking a significant cultural milestone for the emirate.
As the largest museum of its kind in the region, it represents a new global destination for science, nature, and education, inviting visitors to explore the story of life on our planet and engage in conversations about its future.
The museum joins a community of institutions, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. This underlines the commitment to establish Saadiyat Cultural District as a global centre for knowledge, creativity, and cultural exchange.
What you need to know about the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi
The 35,000-square-metre museum is an exciting addition to the UAE’s evolving cultural landscape. Expect an immersive journey through 13.8 billion years of natural history, from the Big Bang and the formation of our solar system to the evolution of life, including the rise and fall of dinosaurs and the extraordinary biodiversity of our planet.
To mark its opening, the museum will present two temporary international exhibitions: The March of the Triceratops, showcasing the world’s only touring Triceratops herd, and the 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year, one of the most prestigious global showcases of nature photography.
Inside, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will also host a series of permanent galleries and exhibitions that take visitors on a journey through time.
The main galleries include: The Story of Earth, The Evolving World, Our World, Resilient Planet, and Earth’s Future, alongside side galleries such as The PalaeoLab, The Life Sciences Lab, Arabia’s Climate, Beyond the Horizon, and The Human Story. Visitors can also explore the Interactive Theatre, which offers immersive visual experiences that transport them through time.
Among the highlights of the museum are the famed specimen affectionately known as Stan, a nearly complete skeleton of a mighty Tyrannosaurus rex, an apex predator which ruled the Earth 67 million years ago.
It is joined by the largest animal ever known, represented by a magnificent, 25-metre female blue whale specimen, offering extraordinary insight into evolution, marine biodiversity, and the planet’s ongoing story of life.
Completing the trio is the Murchison Meteorite – an artefact that witnessed the formation of our planet and contains 7-billion-year-old grains formed even before our Solar System.
Across the galleries, the natural history of the Arabian Peninsula forms a central part of the museum’s narrative, highlighting the region’s unique contribution to Earth’s story.
Among the most remarkable discoveries found in Abu Dhabi is an extinct species of elephant known as Stegotetrabelodon emiratus. This ancient member of the Elephantidae family was distinguished by tusks in both its upper and lower jaws — a rare trait unseen in modern elephants — offering visitors a glimpse into the evolutionary journey of these creatures and reflecting the region’s rich natural heritage.
Designed by renowned architects Mecanoo, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi building rises from the Saadiyat Island landscape like a natural formation. Its silhouette echoes natural rock formations, reflecting the museum’s mission to connect people with the natural world and inspire the next generation to question, discover, and take part in shaping a more sustainable future.
His Excellency 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.”
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