THE Zayed National Museum’s design will be inspired by the soaring falcon, while lush green gardens and clever architecture will also make it sustainable and friendly to the environment.

The design was officially unveiled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and HM Queen Elizabeth II of England, during the latter’s visit to the country last month.
This is the UAE’s first national museum that will also serve as a memorial to the founding president of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, featuring his life and achievements.

The museum will be located alongside the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Louvre Abu Dhabi amongst the iconic Saadiyat Island Cultural District’s institutions.

Set amongst lush gardens, the design features five soaring pavilions, representing the feathers of a falcon’s wing, reaching a height of 124 m, towering over the glittering waters of the Arabian Gulf.

An artist’s impression of the project.

Commenting on the project, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, said: “The Zayed National Museum is destined to become an inspiring permanent reminder of the vision handed down to us from the father of our nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to unite all Emiratis and build a strong and prosperous nation. As a fitting memorial and a national institution, the museum will serve as a symbol of our historic cultural roots and of the many achievements of our country, providing us with an incentive to continue building our country with the same will and determination.”

Scheduled for completion in 2014, the museum also stands as a symbol of the modernity of the UAE, and its rapid progress over the past 40 years. It will showcase Sheikh Zayed’s life and the lasting influence of his reforms. His concept of a modernised nation determined by strong guiding principles of education, culture, faith and the protection of the environment made him one of the world’s most respected leaders.

Designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect, Lord Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the museum is being developed by Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the master developer of Saadiyat Island.

The museum utilises sophisticated architectural techniques with a special focus on environmental sustainability, which was an essential element of Sheikh Zayed’s vision. It emerges from a landscaped oasis, which celebrates Sheikh Zayed’s legacy of ‘greening the desert’. 

The design draws inspiration from falconry  with five towers reminiscent of the wing tips of the birds.

The design also serves to deliver environmental advantages, as the buildings are positioned to channel air through the museum, reducing the energy demands required to cool the complex.

The towers are also designed to take advantage of the region’s constant sunshine, with carefully positioned openings drawing light in to illuminate the interior spaces in a creative manner.

The British Museum is providing expert advice and counsel on the development of the museum and help realise its vision  in translating the values of Sheikh Zayed in an interpretive plan that will enhance the core messages of a national museum.

The museum includes a main gallery focusing on the life and times of Sheikh Zayed,  a library with high-tech globally-linked research facilities, as well as a  gallery devoted to falconry and conservation.