Zayed National Museum in the United Arab Emirates has been named among the world’s most beautiful museums in the 2026 edition of the prestigious Prix Versailles awards, presented annually at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The distinction recognizes the museum’s remarkable architecture, cultural importance and sustainable design.
Located in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District, the museum was designed by Foster + Partners and honors the legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE. Its five soaring steel structures, inspired by the wings of a falcon in flight, have become a defining feature of the building. Beyond their visual impact, these towers also help cool the museum naturally by acting as thermal chimneys.
The museum explores more than 300,000 years of history and heritage in the UAE through galleries dedicated to archaeology, traditions, maritime culture and the nation’s development. Prix Versailles praised the institution for successfully blending innovation, environmental awareness and Emirati identity into a world-class cultural landmark.
