UAE National Day 2025: 7 museums to visit on Eid Al Etihad to learn the country’s history
December 2, 2025 Dubai
Eid Al Etihad 2025: Discover the UAE’s Story Through Its Museums
This National Day long weekend, explore seven key museums across the UAE that bring the nation’s history, heritage, and founding journey to life—from ancient civilisations to modern nationhood.
Dubai: Eid Al Etihad, the UAE’s National Day, is a moment to celebrate unity, identity, and progress. It is also an ideal opportunity to step back in time and understand how the country’s story unfolded—from early human settlements and maritime trade to the historic union of the seven emirates in 1971. Across the UAE, national museums offer immersive, thoughtfully curated experiences that reveal the people, events, and environments that shaped the nation.
Whether you are a resident planning a meaningful long-weekend outing or a visitor eager to understand the country beyond its skyscrapers, these museums provide powerful insights into the UAE’s heritage.
Here is a guide to seven museums worth visiting during Eid Al Etihad 2025.
1. Etihad Museum, Dubai
Located in Jumeirah, the Etihad Museum focuses on the pivotal years surrounding the formation of the United Arab Emirates. Through photographs, films, official documents, and interactive installations, the museum narrates the journey from dialogue to union between 1968 and 1974.
Built next to Union House—where the Constitution was signed in 1971—the museum’s striking architecture symbolises nationhood. Designed by Moriyama and Teshima Architects, its roof reflects the shape of the Constitution, supported by seven columns representing the pens used by the rulers to sign it. Beyond its galleries, the museum also houses a library, education centre, and exhibition spaces, making it a must-visit on National Day.
2. Al Shindagha Museum, Dubai
Stretching along Dubai Creek, the Al Shindagha Museum explores how the city evolved from a creekside settlement into a global centre. Its flagship exhibition, Dubai Creek: Birth of a City, uses multimedia storytelling to show how the creek shaped trade, family life, and culture.
The museum complex also includes the Saruq Al-Hadid Museum, which displays thousands of archaeological finds discovered in the Rub Al Khali desert, including tools, jewellery, and pottery dating back millennia. Interactive experiences, such as a 3D archaeological dig, make the museum engaging for both adults and children.
3. Al Ain Museum, Abu Dhabi
The Al Ain Museum holds a special place in the nation’s cultural landscape. Established in 1969 by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, it is the UAE’s oldest museum.
Reopened in October 2025 after major redevelopment, the museum offers an in-depth look at human life in the region from the Palaeolithic era through pre-Islamic and modern periods. With 1,800 artefacts on display, the galleries reveal how early communities adapted to desert life, built falaj irrigation systems, and formed lasting settlements around Al Ain’s oases.
4. Sharjah Heritage Museum, Sharjah
Housed in a restored 18th-century pearl merchant’s home, the Sharjah Heritage Museum focuses on everyday Emirati life. Its six galleries cover landscapes, livelihoods, celebrations, customs, and oral traditions.
The museum highlights how life differed across coastal, mountain, and farming communities, shaping crafts, marriage traditions, hospitality, and knowledge systems. With bilingual exhibits, folk tales, and interactive elements for children, it is especially suitable for family visits during the holiday.
5. National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah is among the oldest continuously inhabited regions in the world, and the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah reflects this deep past. The museum’s collections trace local civilisations back to around 5000 BC, highlighting archaeology, trade routes, and traditional lifestyles.
Housed in a historic fort, the museum provides an accessible yet powerful introduction to the emirate’s long-standing role in regional history.
6. Ajman Museum, Ajman
Set inside an 18th-century fortress, the Ajman Museum offers insights into life before the federation. Once the ruler’s residence until 1970, the building itself is a highlight of traditional architecture.
Inside, visitors can explore exhibits on the pearl trade, ancient irrigation methods, weapons, manuscripts, and dhow construction. A standout section showcases an excavated burial site from Al Muwaihat with pottery and jewellery dating back to 3000 BC.
7. Zayed National Museum, Abu Dhabi (Opening December 3, 2025)
Opening just after Eid Al Etihad, the Zayed National Museum will be a landmark addition to the Saadiyat Cultural District. Designed by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the museum honours the life and vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
With over 1,500 artefacts on display, the museum traces 300,000 years of human history in the region. The visitor journey begins in Al Masar Garden—an outdoor gallery featuring desert, oasis, and urban landscapes—before moving into galleries that explore nature, ancestors, and the rise of the modern UAE.
A meaningful way to mark National Day
Visiting these museums during Eid Al Etihad offers more than a leisure activity—it is a way to connect with the UAE’s shared memory and understand how heritage, resilience, and leadership shaped the nation. As celebrations fill streets and landmarks, these cultural spaces provide quiet, powerful reflections on the journey that continues to define the UAE today.
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