Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi is emerging as the cultural hub of the United Arab Emirates, with ambitious plans that include world-class museums, two of which are being built by BESIX Middle East. Alongside the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, our colleagues in Abu Dhabi are building the Zayed National Museum, which will pay tribute to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the nation’s founding father.
Developed by the Abu Dhabi Culture and Tourism Department, the Zayed National Museum will highlight Sheikh Zayed’s life, legacy, and the history of the UAE through interactive exhibits, multimedia presentations, and historical artifacts. What sets this museum apart is its architectural design. Conceived by renowned architect Lord Norman Foster, the museum blends an efficient, contemporary form with traditional Arabic design elements to create a space that is sustainable, welcoming, and culturally significant.
A striking design feature is the narrow glass atriums that evoke the wing tips of the falcon, a national symbol and emblem of Emirati heritage. The steel lightweight structures rising from these atriums are scultped aerodynamically to act as solar thermal towers and range from 83 metres to 123 metres in height. The museum’s galleries reflect Sheikh Zayed’s values in education, conservation, sustainability and culture, and are nested within a mound that mimics the natural topography of the UAE. This is all surrounded by the Timeline Garden, featuring 40,250 m² of landscaping with fountains and kiosks.
Building this extraordinary museum is a complex endeavour, skillfully executed by our colleagues in the Middle East and their local partner Trojan General Contracting. As shown in the pictures, works on this marvel are progressing well, slowly revealing its ultimate design. We can’t wait to see the final result!
