Our brief in Al Ain was to review and extend the museum for a new generation and encompass the recent archaeological excavations. Our approach has been to create a thematic narrative and holistic design language that unifies the site’s three different aspects: museum, historic fort and archaeological dig.

As a World Heritage Site, Al Ain contains layers of history that create its unique spirit of place. The museum itself was the first in the UAE. Commissioned by the country’s founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, it is a significant building in its own right. The city’s strategically important nineteenth century fort stands adjacent. The archaeological excavations complete the visit, revealing new evidence of pre-historic life in the area.

To convey Al Ain’s long but discontinuous history and unlock the stories of its complex archaeological remains, visitors are invited behind the scenes. They hear directly from Al Ain’s custodians about how they research, care for and share a site such as this. Taking a themed, rather than chronological approach, paired with a holistic graphic language unites Al Ain’s three distinct areas while celebrating its richly storied past.

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