UAE’s Oldest Museum Set to Reopen After Transformative Renovation

The Al Ain Museum, the oldest museum in the United Arab Emirates, is poised to reopen following an extensive redevelopment. A key feature of the revitalized complex will be its focus on “living archaeology,” incorporating significant recent discoveries into the exhibition space.

Commissioned by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and designed by Dabbagh Architects, the project aims to integrate the museum deeply into its historical surroundings. Located adjacent to the Al Ain Oasis – a buffer zone of a UNESCO World Heritage site – the museum originally opened in 1971. It was the nation’s first institution dedicated to narrating the region’s history, spanning from the Stone Age to the foundation of the UAE.

The renewed exhibition will showcase important archaeological finds uncovered in recent years. Highlights include an ancient tomb approximately 2,000 years old, representing a rare example of pre-Islamic funerary architecture within the UAE. Additionally, a network of underground falaj irrigation channels dating back to the early Islamic period (8th-10th centuries CE) will be featured.

The redesigned experience is divided into two main components. One section, at ground level, will immerse visitors in active, “living” archaeological excavations. The other will offer a more traditional journey through both newly created and existing museum galleries.

Beyond the exhibition halls, the upgraded museum complex will include a library, an educational studio, a café, and dedicated facilities such as an artifact conservation laboratory and storage facilities. Construction is scheduled for completion in the coming months, with the official reopening date to be announced at a later time.

Source: The National