Shaping a national museum honoring the legacy of the UAE's founding father

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The Sheikh Zayed National Museum is the UAE’s national museum, conceived to honor the legacy of the country’s founding father, H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan. Designed as the cultural "crown jewel" of Saadiyat Island, which hosts leading new cultural institutions, including a Maritime Museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the museum combines local identity with universal narratives, presenting Sheikh Zayed’s story as both a memorial and platform for dialogue. The Museum includes a Presidential Library, an Exhibition Centre and a Falconry.
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We were engaged by Abu Dhabi Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) from 2006 until 2008 to focus on shaping a masterplan and curatorial framework anchored in core values such as environmental stewardship, leadership, tolerance, heritage, and education. These principles structure the five main galleries, orientation spaces, and family zones, enabling flexible storytelling that blends historical, contemporary, and visionary perspectives.

We conducted the architectural competition which resulted in the naming of London based architects Norman Foster+ Partners. Our Master Plan then served as the basis for the exhibition design competition.

We also developed a collection strategy combining national identity reinforcement with global relevance, sourcing artefacts through local partnerships and international exchanges, while embracing intangible heritage like oral histories, poetry, and falconry. This integrated approach situates Sheikh Zayed’s vision within wider intercultural networks, reinforcing the museum’s role as both a national landmark and a hub for global dialogue.

In 2018, we prolonged our support to the museum as they prepared for opening.

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