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The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will open to the public on Nov. 22 in Saadiyat Cultural District, marking a significant cultural milestone for the emirate. As the largest museum of its kind in the region, it represents a new global destination for science, nature, and education, inviting visitors to explore the story of life on our planet and engage in conversations about its future. 

The 35,000-square-meter museum is an exciting addition to the UAE’s evolving cultural landscape. It takes visitors on an immersive journey through 13.8 billion years of natural history — from the Big Bang and the formation of our solar system to the evolution of life, including the rise and fall of dinosaurs and the extraordinary biodiversity of our planet. 

Among the highlights of the museum are three travelers from deep time. One is the famed specimen affectionately known as Stan, a nearly complete skeleton of a mighty Tyrannosaurus rex, an apex predator which ruled the Earth 67 million years ago. It is joined by the largest animal ever known, represented by a magnificent, 25-meter female blue whale specimen, offering extraordinary insight into evolution, marine biodiversity, and the planet’s ongoing story of life. Completing the trio is the Murchison Meteorite — an artefact that witnessed the formation of our planet and contains 7-billion-year-old grains formed even before our solar system.

Mohamed Khalifa Al-Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi, said: “The opening of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi marks a major milestone in our journey to shape the emirate’s cultural landscape. The museum offers an immersive look at the story of life on Earth, framed for the first time through an Arabian lens, with the fauna, flora, and geological history of the region forming a prominent part of the visitor journey. The museum’s research and educational institution support scientific knowledge and undertakes innovative scientific studies in zoology, palaeontology, marine biology, molecular research and earth sciences. By fostering engagement with the natural sciences, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi inspires future generations and contributes to a more sustainable future.”

Across the galleries, the natural history of the Arabian Peninsula forms a central part of the museum’s narrative, highlighting the region’s unique contribution to Earth’s story. Among the most remarkable discoveries found in Abu Dhabi is an extinct species of elephant known as Stegotetrabelodon emiratus. This ancient member of the Elephantidae family was distinguished by tusks in both its upper and lower jaws — a rare trait unseen in modern elephants — offering visitors a glimpse into the evolutionary journey of these creatures and reflecting the region’s rich natural heritage.

Designed by renowned architects Mecanoo, the museum’s building rises from the Saadiyat Island landscape like a natural formation. Its silhouette echoes natural rock formations, reflecting the museum’s mission to connect people with the natural world and inspire the next generation to question, discover, and take part in shaping a more sustainable future.

Inside, the museum features a series of permanent galleries and exhibitions that take visitors on a journey through time. The main galleries include: The Story of Earth, The Evolving World, Our World, Resilient Planet, and Earth’s Future, alongside side galleries such as The PalaeoLab, The Life Sciences Lab, Arabia’s Climate, Beyond the Horizon, and The Human Story. Visitors can also explore the Interactive Theatre, which offers immersive visual experiences that transport them through time.

To mark its opening, the museum will present two temporary international exhibitions: The March of the Triceratops, showcasing the world’s only touring Triceratops herd, and the 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year, one of the most prestigious global showcases of nature photography. Together, these exhibitions will launch the museum’s international program and pave the way for a new era of scientific and cultural collaboration at both local and global levels.

The museum joins a community of institutions including Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, reinforcing Saadiyat Cultural District as a global center for knowledge, creativity, and cultural exchange — a place where the past, present and future of humanity come together in one living story.

The most encouraging advancement is the growth of ����ֱ��’s information and communication technology sector, according to Salman Faqeeh, managing director, Cisco ����ֱ��.  

Last year, ICT spending in the Kingdom exceeded $10 billion, consolidating its position as the largest tech market in the MENA region, he said.  

"Another promising trend is a heightened focus on cybersecurity. ����ֱ��’s cybersecurity market is expected to reach a compound annual growth rate of 18.33% by 2029. The Kingdom is also rapidly advancing its vision for smart cities. The government has allocated $500 billion for its flagship smart city project Neom, which aims to integrate cutting-edge technologies such as AI, the Internet of Things, and renewable energy.  

"����ֱ�� is well on its way to becoming a global leader in innovation and technology adoption. At Cisco, we are at the forefront of supporting this journey by revolutionizing how infrastructure and data connect and protect organizations in the AI era," Faqeeh added.  

Amidst mounting complexity and expanding attack surfaces, cybersecurity is the bedrock of a prosperous digital economy. "At Cisco, we are taking a fundamental new approach to safeguarding the digital ecosystem, where security meets the network," he said.  

"Cisco AI Defense, our end-to-end AI security solution, protects every stage of AI development and deployment with unmatched visibility and control over networks," Faqeeh explained.  

Meanwhile, Cisco Hypershield, our groundbreaking security architecture, powers and protects the engine of the AI revolution – AI-scale data centers and clouds.    

Faqeeh said: "We are helping organizations across ����ֱ�� strengthen their cybersecurity posture with platform-based solutions like Security Cloud and Extended Detection and Response. A prime example is our work with stc to upgrade its Cyber Defense Center, which has resulted in increasing security cover by up to 95% and reducing incident response time from eight hours to one hour. 

"AI brings immense opportunities to healthcare, promising faster and more accurate diagnoses, personalized treatments, and predictive care that could transform patient outcomes. While AI boosts productivity, workers can focus on tasks better suited for human expertise, like patient care. In education, AI serves as a complementary tool that enhances the educational experience while preserving vital human elements of teaching and learning. And finally, smart cities would not exist without AI, as AI powers IoT, on which smart cities run, using smart devices to deliver a connected living experience." 

He added: "At Cisco, we are a trusted partner that helps organizations across diverse sectors accelerate their AI journeys within a responsible AI framework. Our collaborations with public and private sector entities are instrumental in building AI-ready infrastructure and fostering local innovation. We will continue to support ����ֱ��’s giga-projects by deploying smart building technologies and IoT solutions to create sustainable, connected urban environments.  

"In today's rapidly evolving threat landscape, relying solely on human-scale defense is no longer enough. We need AI to combat threats because we need to protect the ecosystem at machine scale, not just human scale. But the best defense won’t be artificial or human – it will be a collaboration between the two."   

According to our 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index, Faqeeh said, only 1% of organizations in ����ֱ�� have achieved the "mature" level of readiness required to effectively withstand today’s cybersecurity threats. "To tackle today’s cybersecurity challenges, enterprises must invest in AI-driven solutions, simplify security infrastructures, and enhance AI threat awareness. Prioritizing AI for threat detection, response, and recovery is essential, as is addressing talent shortages and mitigating risks from unmanaged devices and unregulated AI deployments, also known as shadow AI." 

Faqeeh further said: "Security leaders have the responsibility to contribute their expertise to developing homegrown talent in the markets where they operate. At Cisco, we are committed to fostering a diverse and digitally skilled workforce in ����ֱ��.  

"Since its inception in the Kingdom in partnership with King Abdulaziz University, the Cisco Networking Academy has trained over 479,000 learners in cybersecurity and other digital technology fields for free. Notably, 36% of the participants have been women – one of the highest percentages globally. We are on track to achieve our target of upskilling 500,000 learners in five years. 

"We have also joined forces with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology to establish the Cisco AI Institute that will train future AI leaders while driving AI innovation. In addition, we are providing Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert certifications in collaboration with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology."