News DeskAbu Dhabi, UAE – Zayed National Museum is actively engaging with members of the community and government employees in an ongoing programme of educational events, workshops, digital engagement outreach and volunteering opportunities that enable citizens and residents to explore the rich history and culture of the United Arab Emirates, and the life of its Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. This programme, which has already engaged members of the community through several different activities, reflects the mission of the 2025 Year of Community initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, which aims to strengthen bonds within families and communities by preserving cultural heritage, fostering intergenerational connections, and creating inclusive spaces for collaboration and belonging.
An extensive programme of learning and community engagement activities has been designed to reach diverse community groups such as young audiences, students and senior citizens, as well as People of Determination and those living with dementia, providing opportunities to engage with our nation’s stories in ways most meaningful to them. The programmes are designed to be accessible and inclusive for a wide range of community members. A programme of engagement activities will also reach government stakeholders.
Dr. Peter Magee, Director of Zayed National Museum, said: “2025 has been named the UAE Year of Community and this is an initiative which resonates greatly with us at Zayed National Museum. Community has always been at the core of Zayed National Museum, and it is important to us that all members of the community are able to engage with, and participate in, the museum’s programmes. Our teams have worked tirelessly to ensure that the museum’s narrative and collection can be accessed by everyone in the community, whether within the walls of the museum when it opens, or through our ongoing community engagement activities. These activities have been executed through close collaboration with partners across the UAE highlighting our shared commitment to accessibility.”
Nassra Al Buainain, Acting Director of Learning & Public Engagement, Zayed National Museum, said: “Zayed National Museum aims to share and preserve the culture, heritage and history of the United Arab Emirates and engage those who live here to be active participants in our narrative. We are continuously working with all segments of our community to ensure that they have an influence on the programmes we are delivering. By extending our activities to the community we have been able to open the museum experience to all audiences, as well as working with schools and universities to engage youth across the nation.”
The ambition of the Zayed National Museum learning and community engagement programme corresponds with the mission and vision of the UAE Year of Community objective of providing numerous events and community-focused initiatives to strengthen community cohesion, uphold Emirati values, and ensure a thriving environment where everyone can contribute to progress.
As part of its ongoing community outreach, the museum’s University Roadshow is currently visiting major universities across the UAE, including Zayed University, Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, NYU Abu Dhabi, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates University, and the American University in the Emirates. The roadshow aims to share Zayed National Museum’s collection and narratives as well as provide information on opportunities for the public to volunteer or intern with the museum once it opens.
With the goal of engaging members from all sectors of the community, Zayed National Museum continues to partner with a broad range of organisations and groups to ensure that access to the museum’s narrative, and the history of the UAE, is accessible to all. These partnerships include: Al Amal Hospital, the Ministry of Community Empowerment, Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, the Department of Community Development and Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
A programme of government outreach has been designed to engage current and potential governmental stakeholders with the museum’s objects through storytelling and activations tailored to each entity’s points of interest.
Access programmes for senior citizens, People of Determination, national service recruits and any community groups who might face barriers accessing the museum, include off-site activations that introduce Zayed National Museum, in line with the museum’s mission to be accessible to all audiences. This direct engagement through access programme allows the museum to understand their needs and make sure that the institution is ready to welcome them when it opens. These programmes include art-making workshops, museum narrative presentations, writing workshops and open discussion sessions in collaboration with partners across the UAE.
Multaqa Zayed National Museum – Majalis Series features conversations and talks hosted in community forums, or Majalis, across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, and will extend across the UAE. Talks by prominent experts and curators will offer insight into the work of the museum and span a range of themes from the UAE’s maritime heritage to the legacy of Sheikh Zayed, underlining the museum’s vision for community engagement beyond the museum building.
Opportunities for youth include Story of a Museum, a nationwide schools programme that aims to develop creative and innovative thinking among school students of all ages through exploration of the museum’s stories and collections. Teachers and students will be able to engage in live sessions with the UAE’s history and culture. All programmes emphasise the values that Sheikh Zayed lead the country with, and still guide the nation to this day, and offer innovative ways for students to engage with the museum’s collections and spaces.
Additionally, the museum’s digital initiatives will include interactive digital audio guides with suggested self-facilitated tours. The tour scripts will be inspired by Sheikh Zayed’s values, placing the United Arab Emirates’ Founding Founder at the centre of audience engagement in the museum.
