Looking for incredible new museums coming to Abu Dhabi? The Saadiyat Cultural District on Saadiyat Island is being transformed into a mega museum island. It already has the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and much more is on the way.
Everywhere we look it seems like there’s something new and wonderful arriving in the capital. From brilliant new restaurants and cool new things to do, to new developments at Yas Bay, Mamsha Al Saadiyat and Al Qana, the city is buzzing with all things new.
And it doesn’t seem like we’ll be slowing down anytime soon, with new museums coming to Abu Dhabi that we can’t wait to see. From a famous modern art establishment to a science-lover’s dream, here are the museums you can look forward to in the future.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi has been a buzzword in the UAE for many years now as one of the museums coming to Abu Dhabi. We’ve waited, we’ve wondered, we’ve stood staring longingly on the sands of Saadiyat Island, hoping for a clue to when it would arrive. Finally, it was recently announced that the completion date for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is set for 2025.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is the latest installment in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation’s international constellation of museums. It will be a huge institution in the region for global modern and contemporary art and programming.
The collection will be global, with a focus on West Asia, North Africa and South Asia (WANASA), and the curated items will foster an understanding of how different art perspectives have shaped the interconnected histories and cultures of our time.
Opening 2025. guggenheim.org/exhibition/site/guggenheim-abu-dhabi.
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi
Wondering about the major museums coming to Abu Dhabi? This one is a biggie. The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi has recently announced that it will be arriving in the capital in 2025. The project will bring some of the rarest natural specimens from billions of years ago to the capital, including “Stan”, a 67-million-year-old tyrannosaurus rex skeleton and the Murchison Meteorite, which is famous for its organic stardust compounds.
The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will also have a teaching institute and scientific research centre that will undertake studies in zoology, palaeontology, marine biology, molecular research and earth sciences.
The most scientific of all the museums coming to Abu Dhabi, The Natural History Museum will cover more than 35,000 sq m of Saadiyat Island’s glittering waters. Water and vegetation will also be key components of the museum’s façade. Previews of the design show greenery-topped, organic-shaped buildings that blend with the rocky shores of Saadiyat Island.
Next up, real-life Jurrasic Park? We’re kidding… unless?
Coming 2025. Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island.
teamLab Phenomena
DCT Abu Dhabi and Miral are bringing a whole new kind of art to Abu Dhabi with the brand new art space: teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. The “home of infinite curiosity,” will feature original and constantly changing art and technology created by Tokyo-based art collective, teamLab.
The space will be housed within what sounds like yet another architectural masterpiece on Saadiyat Island. The featured artworks will be created through an experimentation process, which is shaped by the environment in flux. It’s art that you can touch, see and walk right inside. The idea is that each experience is unique to each visitor and the art changes each time you visit.
If you want to get a sneak peak of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, be sure to check out the teamLab Phenomena pop-up at Mamsha Al Saadiyat. It’ll be there from Friday June 24 to Sunday July 17.
Opening 2024. tcaabudhabi.ae.
Zayed National Museum
If you’re looking for museums coming to Abu Dhabi that will help you understand the UAE’s heritage, you’re in the right place. The Zayed National Museum will tell the story of the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and explore the natural and human history of the United Arab Emirates.
Zayed National Museum celebrates the life and achievements of the founding father, encourages greater understanding of the history, culture and geography of the UAE; and examines its place in, and connections with, the Middle East and the wider world.
The museum was designed by UK architects Foster and Partners to resemble the wings of a falcon and features a cluster of towers – the biggest of which will be 123 metres high. The British Museum will loan a number of items to Zayed National Museum after signing a ten-year agreement to assist with curating the exhibition and to lend exhibits.
Opening soon. zayednationalmuseum.ae.
Want to explore the UAE’s best museums right now? We’ve got you covered with the 9 top museums in the UAE. Keep your eyeballs glued to this space for more updates.
