Located in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District, the museum offers an inspiring journey through 13.8 billion years of history spanning the creation of our universe and the story of life on Earth. It also serves as a centre for research and discovery, with onsite facilities that will undertake scientific research and contribute to global knowledge production.
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is the largest institution of its kind in the Middle East. It features extraordinary exhibits and interactive experiences which bring nature’s greatest stories to life, including awe-inspiring glimpses into the age of dinosaurs. The world’s first-ever display of a sauropod dinosaur herd can be found in the museum’s atrium, with five different species of these long-necked giants standing majestically to greet visitors as they enter.
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi has a special focus on the natural history of the Emirates and the wider region. Galleries take visitors back in time to seven million years ago, when the climate was very different, giving life to a green and lush savannah-like landscape roamed by now-extinct animals, including a giant elephant with four tusks, which is also on display for visitors to discover.
Deeper into the galleries, another world-first awaits: a display featuring Tyrannosaurus rexes locked in battle over the carcass of a Triceratops, which is the first time two fossil T. rexes have been exhibited in such a dynamic scene. They include 67-million-year-old “Stan”, one of the best-preserved examples of a T. rex ever discovered, bringing this prehistoric scene vividly to life. Visitors can observe fossil evidence of this ancient battle, including bite marks on the Triceratops.
Beyond the visitor experience, education and research are at the heart of the museum’s mission. In addition to showcasing the wonders of the natural world, it will advance scientific understanding, support interdisciplinary research, and inspire future generations to explore, protect, and learn from our planet.
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi embraces climate awareness and sustainable conservation. Guided by the UAE’s deep commitment to environmental education, the museum also serves as an institution for educational engagement and biodiversity research about our shared future. Central to this purpose is youth. The museum seeks to educate and empower young citizens to become future scientists, researchers, and conservation leaders, inspired to pursue careers in natural history and environmental responsibility.
The museum will also host ongoing public programming, education workshops, and communityled initiatives designed to make natural history accessible to everyone. As a space where scientific knowledge meets cultural insight, the museum invites every visitor to move beyond observation, to think critically, act responsibly, and be part of the solutions shaping tomorrow’s world.
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi joins a growing community of world-class institutions on Saadiyat Island, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Together, these institutions define the Saadiyat Cultural District as a global destination for culture, creativity, and cross-disciplinary exchange, a place where art, science, and heritage are brought together to shape future generations.
