Today the design and programme of the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi was officially unveiled by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. As the UAE's first major national cultural institution, the museum serves as a memorial to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, celebrating the rich history of the UAE and the cultural roots of this country. Set to complete in 2014, the building is designed by Prizker Prize winning architect, Lord Norman Foster of Foster + Partners.

The Zayed National Museum tells the story of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918- 2004), his unification of the United Arab Emirates, the long history of the region and its cultural connections across the world. The design of the museum is a central part of the exhibition itself, and not merely a structure to house its contents. Evoking the symbolism of falconry, the towers draw inspiration from the wings of a falcon, a powerful symbol and rich cultural heritage of the UAE. This design forms the centrepiece of the Saadiyat Island Cultural District, and is a set to become one of the most recognisable buildings in the arts world globally. Design of the five towers focused as much on function as it did on form. Working in formation to channel air through the museum, the aerodynamic structures are oriented to take advantage of prevailing breezes, reducing the energy required to mechanically regulate interior temperatures. The wings act as an extraction system and solar thermal chimney: heat builds up in the glazed tip, creating a cycle that drags used air up and out through the façade, aided by negative pressure on the surface, which promotes air flow. The supporting steel frames of the wings sit above expressed concrete columns, and internally the museum spaces are housed within suspended pods, enclosed within solid and glazed elements. Entry to the galleries is from a striking ground floor lobby which is dug into the man-made hill and dramatically illuminated from above.

A statement by Norman Foster:
"A monument and memorial to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding president of the UAE, Zayed National Museum is intended as a symbol of a progressive nation, showcasing the history, culture and recent social and economic transformation of the Emirates. Architecturally, the aim has been to combine a highly efficient, contemporary form with elements of traditional Arabic design and hospitality to create a museum that is sustainable, welcoming and of its place. Celebrating Sheikh Zayed’s legacy and love of nature, the museum is set within a landscaped garden, based on a timeline of his life. The galleries are suspended within five tapering steel volumes, which rise from a man-made embankment. Working in formation to channel air through the museum, the aerodynamic forms suggest the feathers at the tip of a falcon’s wing and are oriented to take advantage of prevailing breezes. A gallery devoted to Falconry and Conservation further develops this theme and is linked to an outdoor arena for live displays. Balancing the lightweight steel structures with a more monumental interior experience, the galleries are anchored by a dramatic top-lit central lobby, which is dug into the earth to exploit its thermal properties and brings together shops, cafes, an auditorium and informal venues for performances of poetry and dance. Throughout, the treatment of light draws on a tradition of discreet, carefully positioned openings, which capture and direct the region’s intense sunlight to illuminate and animate interior spaces. Objects are displayed within niches and on stone plinths that rise seamlessly from the floor. The interior concept for the restaurant draws on the opulence and hospitality of the traditional tent, with carefully selected furnishings. The majlis, or VIP spaces, open onto a central courtyard, which offers guests a unique perspective – it is the only point in the building with a visual connection to the exterior of the wing forms."