Etihad Museum

This is a wonderful museum telling about the history of the UAE. It was opened on December 2, 2016 — the UAE Independence Day. The museum's exposition is divided into 8 halls. Here you can get acquainted with documentaries, photographs, artifacts, and a detailed chronology of the formation and development of the UAE in the period from 1968 to 1974.

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Overview of Etihad Museum

Etihad means 'Union' or 'Federation' in Arabic.

The Union Museum was built next to the Union house. The Declaration of Independence and the UAE Constitution were signed in 1971 in the house. Museum visitors can take part in a free tour of the building.

Etihad Museum Building

Etihad Museum building

The building project was developed by the Canadian architectural company Moriyama & Teshima Architects. The roof of the museum building symbolizes a piece of paper on which the constitution was written. The seven golden columns in the lobby symbolize the feathers with which it was signed.

The museum building is connected to the historical Union house by an open square made of white stone. Moving along it, you may find yourself in a recreated guest house where the founders of the state stayed during negotiations.

What to see

A painting by artist Abdul Qader Al Rais depicting the geography of the UAE.

The museum is very large and covers an area of 25,000 m2. Set aside at least one or two hours to visit and study the exhibits. The Etihad Museum has a library, an exhibition hall and a restaurant.

The following exhibitions are presented in the eight halls of the museum:

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Hall 1 — a cinema hall where you can watch a documentary about the history of the UAE in comfortable chairs

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Hall 2 — a panoramic interactive map, telling about the period before the formation of the UAE

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Hall 3 — here you can get acquainted with the chronology showing the key historical events before the unification in an interactive form

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Hall 4 — an exposition telling about the meeting of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan on the eve of December 1971

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Hall 5 — an interactive guide to the creation of the union

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Hall 6 — an exposition telling about the problems that the emirs had before 1971

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Hall 7 — an exhibition dedicated to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the UAE

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Hall 8 — an open gallery dedicated to the UAE