Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island
Dinosaurs, fossils and a meteorite in five galleries covering 13.8 billion years of the story of Earth.
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AED 70 (≈ $19)ticket
Open dailyopening hours
27 minwalk to the beach
25 minfrom the airport
In short
The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat opened on 22 November 2025 in the Cultural District, between the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum. Its five permanent galleries cover 13.8 billion years of natural history.
Dinosaurs are a large part of the display, which is why people often call it the "dinosaur museum." A herd of sauropods stands in the atrium, and the galleries include a nearly complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton known as Stan. Beyond the dinosaurs, the galleries cover the wider story of Earth and life on it.
The building is by the Dutch firm Mecanoo. Its 35,000 m² are inspired by columns of cooled basalt lava, and the entrance and all galleries are on one level, without stairs, so strollers and wheelchairs can go everywhere. Plan on about two hours.
Tickets & prices
- AdultAED 70 (≈ $19)
- StudentAED 32.5 (≈ $9)
- Under 18Free
as of October 2026
Entry is also free for visitors with disabilities and one companion, and for UAE residents aged 60 and over. There is no combined ticket with the other Saadiyat museums.
Opening hours
Mon–Thu 10:00–18:30 · Fri–Sun 10:00–20:30
The museum is open 10:00–18:30 on weekdays and 10:00–20:30 at weekends. Hours can change on public holidays and during Ramadan.
as of September 2026
What to see
- The sauropod herd: A herd of long-necked sauropods stands in the atrium.
- Stan the T. rex: A nearly complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, about 67 million years old, known by its nickname, Stan.
- Two T. rex and a Triceratops: A scene of two tyrannosaurs fighting over a Triceratops carcass.
- The Murchison meteorite: A fragment of a meteorite that contains grains about 7 billion years old, older than the solar system.
- Dino Play: An interactive zone for children under six, where they can feed a baby Spinosaurus and climb a Diplodocus "tree."
Tips
- With small children. Head to Dino Play if you have under-sixes; it's built for them. The step-free layout makes the whole museum easy with a stroller.
- Allow two hours. That covers the five permanent galleries at a steady pace. With children who stop at every skeleton, plan longer.
- Combine it. The Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum are a few minutes away, so two museums in a day is realistic.
- Weekend evenings. The museum stays open later at weekends, which helps in the hot months: spend the morning outdoors and the afternoon inside.
Getting there
From the airport
About 25 min by taxi, roughly AED 75 (≈ $20).
From the Louvre Abu Dhabi
A few minutes by taxi within the Cultural District; the museum is on Jacques Chirac Street.
From downtown Abu Dhabi
About 15 min by taxi.
