DUBAI: The UAE’s Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi has been shortlisted in the Completed Buildings – Culture category at the 2026 World Architecture Festival, alongside 18 other projects from around the world.
The festival, which recognizes outstanding architectural achievements from across the globe, is set to take place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from Nov. 18 to 20.
Finalists present their projects to a panel of internationally renowned architects and industry experts as part of the festival’s live judging process.
The museum traces the history of the UAE. (Supplied)
The Completed Buildings – Culture category honors finished cultural venues including museums, galleries, libraries, theaters, concert halls and cinemas. To qualify, projects must have been completed between Jan. 1, 2025, and June 1, 2026.
Located on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island, at the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District, the national museum of the UAE opened its doors in December 2025.
It traces the history of the UAE, from the earliest evidence of human habitation to the civilizations that shaped its culture and identity, rooted in the vision and values of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan.
Designed by Foster + Partners, led by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Norman Foster, the museum’s distinctive architecture is inspired by falconry.
Its five lightweight steel towers function as thermal chimneys, drawing hot air upwards to support the building’s natural ventilation strategy, while glazed surfaces channel natural daylight into the galleries below. Each tower is individually adjustable to optimize environmental performance.
The museum’s galleries are located beneath a landscaped mound designed to reflect the UAE’s natural terrain. At its heart is Al-Liwan, a bright central atrium that serves as a gathering space for cultural events, including performances, talks, traditional dance and poetry.
