Abu Dhabi offers 3-day free entry across museums and cultural sites
On International Museum Day, all Abu Dhabi museums and cultural institutions will offer free entry with the addition of hands-on workshops, live performances and guided tours throughout the emirate.
The initiative takes place under the theme of 'Museums Uniting a Divided World' this year, emphasizing how museums can help unite communities, grow conversations and build cultural respect.
The full list of attractions will be available to residents and visitors throughout Abu Dhabi, with sights in the Saadiyat Cultural District, Al Ain and Delma Island. According to Abu Dhabi Culture's website, entry is free from 16 to 18 May.
Here's what you can expect at libraries and cultural venues on International Museum Day:
1. Natural History Museum
Saadiyat Cultural District
16 — 18 May | Free Entry
Over at the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, visitors can explore all that nature has to offer with science-based and creative workshops. Below are some of the activities that our visitors can participate in:
Construct a Mini Exhibit: Become a curator and assemble your own miniature show. Taking on the role of a curator, you can even create your own little exhibition.
Sun Printing: Harness the power of sunlight to make beautiful, unique prints with natural material.
Light Lab: Participants use transparent materials to create a combination of colour and light that offers multiple visual experiences.
Wiggly creatures workshop: Use craft materials to create active, gestureful guys with a nod towards the natural world.
2. Louvre Abu Dhabi
Saadiyat Cultural District
16-18 May | Free Entry
There are also free seminar tours in the permanent galleries and the Picasso Exhibition. There is a surcharge for Architecture Experience and Art in Scents olfactory tours that only run on Saturdays.
Topics: 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 4:30 PM
And they also hold Children Workshops free, from 11 am to 3 pm.
3. Zayed National Museum
Saadiyat Cultural District
16-18 May | 10 AM-8 PM | Free Entry
The event will include stories, culture and heritage of the UAE represented by performances, workshops and special programs for all ages that visitors can learn about during the weekend. Activities such as Majlis of Stories, traditional performances, bracelet making and a family scavenger hunt.
Visitors have been warned to book tickets in advance via their website.
4. Cultural Foundation
Al Hosn Site
18 May| 4-6 PM | Free Entry
Children are invited to take part in a guided, interactive walk through the main roles that bring the Cultural Foundation to life.
5. Al Maqta'a Museum
Abu Dhabi
18 May | 10 AM-3 PM | Free Entry
Al Maqta’a Museum is calling upon university students to join it for an immersive day in a learning experience around career paths in the Culture space by spending a day on-site at the museum to learn about how it works internally and engage with practical aspects of a neighbouring professional sector.
The programme includes:
An interactive, hands-on experience
A discussion session and Q&A
Certificates of participation
Volunteer hours
6. Al Ain Museum
Al Ain
16-18 May | 9 AM-7 PM | Free Entry
Visitors will be able to explore a whole day of public activation with guided tours and discovery ideas for all ages and family programmes.
7. Al Ain Culture Sites
Qasr Al Muwaiji | Al Jahili Fort | Al Ain Oasis | Al Qattara Arts Centre | Bait Mohammad Bin Khalifa
18 May | Free Entry
Follow a cohesive, well-organized programme of conservation and preservation with multiple locations. Insights into the Cultural Sites of Al Ain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as the Historic Buildings from Original Function to Restoration to Transformation.
8. Delma Museum
18 May | Delma Island
On International Museum Day, Delma Museum is organising the event 'Cultural Pathway to the Future', which focuses on reactivating the Young Tour Guides programme.
9. Qasr Al Hosn
Al Hosn Site
17 May | 9 AM – 6 PM | Free Entry
The Children's Takeover: Budding museum professionals (10+) can dress-up as cultural tour guides, ticketing clerks, photographers and gift shop attendants.
10. Manarat Al Saadiyat
Saadiyat Cultural District
18 May | 6 – 8 PM | Free Entry
A revitalization of Saadiyat Cultural District as a living cultural track, with an immersive guided video-walk experience by Emirati content creator Zayed Al Haddar
11. Abu Dhabi Libraries
Khalifa Park Library | Al Wathba Library | Al Bahia Library | Zayed Central Library (Al Ain) | Al Marfaa Library
16-18 May | 3-7 PM | Free Entry
Join the designers of Abu Dhabi's cultural institutions for an interactive programme that blends storytelling, creative art-making and hands-on exploration — from creating your own museum to uncovering the stories behind Abu Dhabi's landmarks. Ages (6 – 14)
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