Etihad Museum

We first reported on the Dhs500 million museum that celebrates the UAE’s formation in April last year, but back then it was dubbed the Union Museum. It has now officially been named the Etihad Museum (which is apt, considering Etihad translates from Arabic to English to mean ‘unity’).

Inside the museum, visitors will be able to learn about the inspirational story of the founding of the United Arab Emirates.

The Etihad Museum – set to cover 2.5 hectares – will be located next to the Union House, where the signing of the treaty establishing the UAE took place in 1971.
The project will also involve restoring the Union House to its original state and replacing the existing and famous flagpole with a slightly taller 123-metre mast.

The Etihad Museum will be managed by Dubai Culture, the emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage.

The structure is designed in the shape of a manuscript, with seven columns built into the museum to resemble the pens used to sign the original declaration. It will consist of eight permanent pavilions.

Pavilion One: Will show a documentary film about the history of the UAE.

Pavilion Two: Will house a panoramic interactive map highlighting the era before the formation of the federation.

Pavilion Three: An interactive timeline that demonstrates key historical events before the union.

Pavilion Four: A visual showcase of the meeting between the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

Pavilion Five: An interactive guide to the formation of the union.

Pavilion Six: An homage to the important moments and challenges confronted the founding fathers before 1971.

Pavilion Seven: This will be dedicated to the UAE Constitution and will include the actual declaration itself.

Pavilion Eight: The final pavilion will be an open gallery celebrating the new born nation.