Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi to Open on November 22 - Assalamu alaikum
Assalamu alaikum - The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will open its doors to the public on November 22.
The museum already stands out in Saadiyat Cultural District, covering 35,000 square metres and becoming the largest institution of its kind in the region.
Designed by the architecture firm Mecanoo, the building’s exterior is inspired by rock formations - a deliberate choice to connect visitors with the natural world even before they step inside.
Inside, the museum will house some of the planet’s rarest specimens. Its galleries tell a 13.8 billion-year story, from the beginnings of the universe through Earth’s history and onward to ideas about possible futures.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, said the opening is a major milestone in shaping the emirate’s cultural scene. He added that the museum presents the story of life on Earth through an Arabian perspective, with regional fauna, flora, and geology playing a central role.
Al Mubarak noted the museum aims to encourage interest in the natural sciences, inspire future generations, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Highlights include the skeleton of Stan, a world-famous 11.7-metre Tyrannosaurus rex - one of the best-preserved fossils of its kind - and a 25-metre female blue whale specimen that explores marine biodiversity and evolution.
The collection also features the Murchison meteorite, which fell in Australia in 1969 and contains extraterrestrial organic compounds and pre-solar grains older than our solar system.
From local discoveries, visitors will see Stegotetrabelodon emiratus, an extinct elephant relative found in the area, known for tusks in both upper and lower jaws - a glimpse into the region’s deep evolutionary past.
The museum’s permanent galleries include The Story of Earth, The Evolving World, Our World, Resilient Planet and Earth’s Future, alongside side galleries like The PalaeoLab, The Life Sciences Lab, Arabia’s Climate, Beyond the Horizon and The Human Story.
There’s also an Interactive Theatre for immersive time-travel experiences.
At opening, two temporary international exhibitions will be on display: The March of the Triceratops, featuring the only touring Triceratops herd, and the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, showcasing global wildlife photography. These exhibitions begin a rolling international programme of scientific and cultural partnerships.
While the museum has a global outlook, its storytelling centers on the natural history of the region. After covering major events in Earth’s past, the journey focuses on the evolution of the Arabian Peninsula.
For example, the Late Miocene Abu Dhabi gallery recreates the emirate several million years ago, with life-sized models of animals that once lived here - freshwater fish, crocodiles, turtles and even hippos that were smaller than African species. It will also include material from the Mleisa Elephant Trackway, tracks left by a herd in the Al Dhafra region seven million years ago.
The institution joins a worldwide community of natural history museums dedicated to public education. Its research teams will study zoology, palaeontology, marine biology, molecular research (DNA and proteomics), and earth and planetary sciences, aiming to advance knowledge of the past and support innovation.
Even before opening, the museum has contributed to research: in partnership with the University of Manchester, it helped reveal how the internal structure of 150-million-year-old pterosaur wing bones could inspire lighter, stronger aircraft components using modern 3D metal printing.
A few brief local notes: Play:Date is a UAE-founded tech company launched on UAE Mother’s Day in March 2017 by Shamim Kassibawi, based in Dubai and operating in the UAE and US. It has about 20 employees and is at seed stage, backed by the three founders (two silent) and one VC fund.
On property advice: Islay Robinson, CEO of mortgage broker Enness Global, says the market hasn’t collapsed and parts of the global property market (including London and the UAE) remain attractive for investment. Keep in mind Covid-19 risks - properties with outdoor space, gardens and private entrances are more sought after, while high-rise flats have fallen out of favor. Be ready to move quickly when you find the right property, keep finances in order, take advantage of low lending rates, and maintain a long-term perspective. Also watch currency movements, as favourable exchange rates can boost foreign buyer demand.
May this new museum be a source of knowledge and inspiration for our communities - wa fi amanillah.
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