Abu Dhabi: Natural History Museum to open on November 22 with 67 million-year-old T-rex
This winter is looking to be quite an exciting one in Abu Dhabi as the Capital will soon become home to not just one, but two museums – a major cultural accomplishment for the emirate.
The museum The city has just announced plans for a new Natural History Museum, set to open on November 22, 2025 in Saadiyat's buzzing Cultural District.
The opening date for the highly anticipated Zayed National Museum in the same district was also recently announced as December 3, 2025.
Among the museum’s highlights are three travellers from deep time.
One is the iconic specimen known as 'Stan' - an almost complete skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex, one of the most fearsome creatures to have ever roamed this planet, 67 million years ago.
It is accompanied by the largest known animal, a impressive 25-meter-long female blue whale specimen which provides a context for evolution, marine biodiversity and our planet’s dynamic story of life.
Completing the triplet is a piece of space rock, the Murchison Meteorite — an object that saw our planet being born and includes seven-billion-year-old grains that pre-date even our own solar system.
Arabian Peninsula's gems
Throughout the galleries, the natural history of the Arabian Peninsula is a key component of the museum’s story and is central to its significance in telling Earth’s tale.
One of the most notable discoveries identified in Abu Dhabi is a type of extinct elephant, named Stegotetrabelodon emiratus. This prehistoric member of the Elephantidae family had tusks in its upper and lower jaws — an unusual characteristic that no modern elephant shares.
The museum has a number of permanent galleries and exhibitions that lead you through the ages on the inside. The primary galleries consist of: The Story of Earth, The Evolving World, Our World, Resilient Planet and Earth's Future with side galleries such as The PalaeoLab, Life Sciences Lab, Arabia's Climate, Beyond the Horizon and The Human Story.
Guests will also enjoy the Interactive Theatre, new for 2004, featuring special effects that take them back in time to view history firsthand.
Opening acts
For its opening, the museum will welcome two temporary international exhibitions – The March of the Triceratops, featuring a herd of touring Triceratops like nowhere else in the world, and the 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year – one of the most prestigious global wildlife photography exhibits.
Announcing the news, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi said: “The opening of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to transform the cultural landscape of the emirate.
An immersive journey telling the story of life on earth conceived for the first time through an Arabian narrative, with the region’s fauna, flora and natural history providing a compelling part of the historiographical storyline.
“The museum’s research and learning centre is dedicated to scientific discovery, sustainable biodiversity and understanding science in the field of zoology, palaeontology, marine biology molecular research and earth sciences.” Encouraging an interest in the natural sciences, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will engage future generations through its mission to promote understanding of the world and contribute towards a more sustainable future," he added.
The museum adds to a neighborhood of institutions that includes the Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena in Abu Dhabi and the forthcoming Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
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