Photos of Zayed National Museum have been released ahead of its planned opening in December 2025.

The Zayed National Museum will act as the centrepiece of the Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, which is currently home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and will also house the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi by Frank Gehry, the National History Museum Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi.

Designed by Foster + Partners, Zayed National Museum will showcase the history and culture of the UAE. Its form has been inspired by a winged falcon in flight, and it features six permanent galleries, one temporary exhibition space and an outdoor gallery. The museum has also been designed as a monument and memorial to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding president of the UAE.

"Architecturally, the aim has been to combine a highly efficient, contemporary form with elements of traditional Arabic design and hospitality to create a museum that is sustainable, welcoming and culturally of its place," said Foster + Partners when the design was revealed.

"The galleries are housed within a mound, whose form is an abstraction of the topography of the Emirates."

The six permanent galleries will cover the beginnings of the UAE, evidence of its ancestors, the region’s wildlife and landscapes, the development of its coastal settlements, Emirati identity and past and present connections with the rest of the world.

As well as exhibiting items from its extensive collection – which include one of the oldest known natural pearls and examples of the UAE’s earliest coinage – the museum will host talks, workshops, performances and storytelling.

Danish studio BIG is designing a luxury housing block beside the Zayed National Museum.