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Zayed National Museum
Project overview
The Zayed National Museum, developed by the Abu Dhabi Culture and Tourism Department, pays tribute to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the nation's founding father. The construction of this extraordinary museum is a highly complex endeavour, and the project was taken over by Six Construct and local partner Trojan General Contracting in March 2021.
Designed by Lord Norman Foster, the Zayed National Museum is a technically complex structure that merges contemporary design with traditional Emirati architecture, featuring five steel wings inspired by falcon wingtips and four massive gallery pods reflecting Sheikh Zayed's values in education, conservation, sustainability, and culture. The project required high-level coordination, precision engineering, and innovative solutions to meet architectural and environmental standards.
Scope of works
Six Construct, in partnership with Trojan General Contracting, was responsible for the full delivery of the Zayed National Museum, a technically demanding and architecturally ambitious undertaking. The project consisted of three main components: the museum itself, featuring five soaring steel wings and four massive pods that house the exhibition galleries; the mound, which includes the central atrium and over two kilometers of pedestrian walkways; and the timeline garden, a landscaped area spanning 40,250 square meters, complete with fountains and kiosks.
Engineering precision & innovative solutions
Each element required meticulous planning and execution such as the erection of five vertical steel wings reaching up to 130 meters, fabricated from 13,000 tonnes of architectural exposed steel (AES S1/S3). These wings, designed to function as solar thermal chimneys, required precision welding and complex integration with curved glass façades.
The installation of four 500-tonne gallery pods was another major milestone, involving the use of one of the world’s largest cranes to position the pods within concrete ring beams and beneath the steel wing structures.
The museum’s envelope and internal systems were coordinated using Building Information Modelling (BIM), ensuring seamless collaboration across trades and accurate alignment of structural and architectural elements.
In addition to the main building, the project included the development of the Timeline Garden, featuring landscaped walkways, fountains, and kiosks, as well as the integration of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems to meet museum-grade performance standards
Key highlights
Five steel wings up to 130 meters tall, combining form and function
500-tonne pods installed with mega-crane precision
13,000 tonnes of AES-grade steel used
Full BIM integration for design and execution
2 km of walkways and 40,250 m² of landscaped gardens
Seamless collaboration across architecture, engineering, and construction teams
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