Dubai: If you’re a history buff, this weekend is for you. As the UAE, along with the rest of the world, marks the International Museum Day on May 18, you have the chance to access some of the biggest museums in the country for free, from May 16-18.

This year, eight major museums and cultural sites across Abu Dhabi and Dubai are participating with offers such as free access, discounted tickets and special programmes.

Here’s all you need to know about where to go, how to get there and what to expect.

What is International Museum Day?

Museums across the world mark International Museum Day on May 18 to highlight the role museums play in boosting cultural exchange, mutual cooperation and peace among people.

This year’s theme is ‘Museums uniting a divided world’, and in the UAE, you get the chance to visit these museums for free from May 16-18:

1. Louvre Abu Dhabi

Louvre Abu Dhabi Photo credit Experience Abu Dhabi

Dates: May 16 to 18

One of the UAE’s most iconic museums, entry to Louvre Abu Dhabi typically costs Dh70 for adults. However, for these three days, you will get the chance to experience the museum’s striking architecture – designed by acclaimed French architect Jean Nouvel – and visit the 23 permanent galleries, with free guided tours. These are some of the other experiences that will be offered during the three days:

Picasso exhibition access

Children’s workshops

Live scientific conservation demonstrations

Free screenings of The Pulse of Time, a 40-minute film by Louvre Abu Dhabi on the stories of masterpieces in the museum’s collection and loaned works.

VR and self-guided digital experiences

Adult painting workshops under the iconic Louvre dome

Opening hours

10am to 8pm

How to get there

The museum is located in Saadiyat Cultural District on Saadiyat Island, and can be accessed through the E12 highway (Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Road). If you’re coming from Abu Dhabi, you can connect to the highway from the Corniche or Mina Port.

If you’re coming from Dubai, take the E11 highway and take the Saadiyat Island/Yas Island exit on to E12 and drive along Yas Highway to the Cultural District on Saadiyat Island. Follow road signs from the highway to Louvre Abu Dhabi.

There is also a free ‘Cultural Express’ shuttle bus that takes you from Dubai to the cultural district, with buses leaving at 9am from Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, City Seasons Towers Hotel in Bur Dubai and CityMax Hotel in Bur Dubai. This will give you a chance to explore the museum through the day and return by 7.30pm, when the shuttle bus reaches back to Dubai.

2. Qasr Al Hosn

Qasr Al Hosn Photo credit Abu Dhabi Culture

Dates: May 17 to 18

Built in 1790, Qasr Al Hosn is Abu Dhabi’s oldest surviving structure and one of the city’s most historically important landmarks. The site once served as a watchtower and home of the ruling Al Nahyan family, and is now a key National Archive Centre.

At Qasr Al Hosn, you can explore historical artefacts, archival records showing the history and growth of the UAE and traditional architecture.

Opening hours

Sunday to Thursday: 9am to 7pm

How to get there

Qasr Al Hosn is centrally located on Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street in Abu Dhabi, which can be accessed from the Corniche Street.

3. Zayed National Museum

Located in the Saadiyat Cultural District, the museum celebrates the life and legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and also traces 300,000 years of UAE history — from ancient civilisations to this day.

At the museum, you can visit six permanent galleries, enjoy immersive storytelling experiences and participate in Emirati cultural programmes.

One of the key highlights of the museum is a 300,000-year-old stone tool, which was discovered in Al Ain, near Jebel Hafeet.

Opening hours

10am to 8pm

How to get there

The museum is located next to Louvre Abu Dhabi. If you’re driving to the museum, you need to take the E12 highway to get to Saadiyat Island. From the direction of Abu Dhabi, you can connect to the highway from the Corniche or Mina Port. If you’re coming from Dubai, take the E11 highway and then the Saadiyat Island/Yas Island exit on to E12 and drive along Yas Highway to the Cultural District on Saadiyat Island. Follow road signs from the highway to the Zayed National Museum.

From Dubai, you can also take the free ‘Cultural Express’ shuttle bus that takes you from Dubai to the cultural district, with buses leaving at 9am from Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, City Seasons Towers Hotel in Bur Dubai and CityMax Hotel in Bur Dubai. This bus makes its way back from Abu Dhabi at 5.30pm, and reaches the stations at Dubai by 7.30pm.

4. Al Ain Museum

Founded in 1969, this is the UAE’s first purpose-built museum, established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and remains one of the country’s most important archaeological and heritage museums.

The museum houses artefacts from the palaeolithic and Iron Age, and for the International Museum Day, they are offering free educational workshops, interactive activities like a trealsure hunt and story telling sessions.

Opening hours

Daily: 9am to 7pm

How to get there

If you’re driving to Al Ain, the museum is situated near Al Jahili Fort and Al Ain Oasis, part of the Cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Al Ain. It takes anywhere between 90 minutes to two hours to reach Al Ain from Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Sharjah, and once you enter the city you will be able to see signs for the Al Ain heritage site. The museum is located on Al Mut-haf Street.

5. Delma Museum.

Delma Museum Photo credit Abu Dhabi Media Office

Located on the Delma Island, about 30 kilometres off the coast of Abu Dhabi, this museum was once the home of legendary pearl merchant Mohammed bin Jasim Al Muraikhi, and is a great way to dive into the UAE’s pearling past. At the museum, you will be able to see pearling equipment, stone anchors, archaeological discoveries and traditional date syrup-making equipment.

Opening hours

Friday to Sunday: 2pm to 10pm

How to get there

You’ll need to take a ferry to Delma Island, which departs at 10am and 4pm from Al Dhanna marine station in Abu Dhabi. Ticket costs Dh20, with children under 12 riding for free.

6. Al Maqta’a Museum

Al Maqtaa Museum Photo credit Experience Abu Dhabi

The museum is housed within Al Maqta'a Fort, which has a rich history as the former Customs House built in the 1950s. This fort was used to monitor entry to Abu Dhabi Island when the first causeway was built linking it to the mainland.

Today, at the museum, you will be able to see vintage police cars, historic police uniforms, interactive exhibits and family-friendly outdoor attractions.

Opening hours

Saturday to Thursday: 9am to 5pm

Friday: 2pm to 8pm

How to get there

The museum is located between the E10 and E22 highways, and very close to the two key bridges on these highways – Al Maqta’a bridge and Sheikh Zayed Bridge. In order to get to the museum, you can take either of the two highways and follow signs for the museum.

7. Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi

Triceratops Photo credit Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi

One of Abu Dhabi’s newest cultural attractions, the Natural History museum is a great place to see some T-rex and triceratops skeletons and travel through 13.8 billion years of natural history through the museum’s immersive and interactive exhibitions.

Opening hours

Friday to Sunday: 10am to 8.30pm

How to get there

The museum is located in the Saadiyat Cultural District alongside Louvre Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum. If you’re driving to the museum, you need to take the E12 highway to get to Saadiyat Island. From the direction of Abu Dhabi, you can connect to the highway from the Corniche or Mina Port. If you’re coming from Dubai, take the E11 highway and then the Saadiyat Island/Yas Island exit on to E12 and drive along Yas Highway to the Cultural District on Saadiyat Island. Follow road signs from the highway to the Natural History Museum.

8. Expo City Dubai and Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion

Terra Pavilion Photo credit Expo City Dubai

From May 16-18, you can also get a free entry to the Expo2020 museum, which offers an immersive journey through the history, development, and legacy of the World Expo.

Entry to the Vision pavilion is also free. The Vision Pavilion celebrates the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Here you will be able to witness the transformative journey of Dubai and enjoy immersive movie productions.

Expo 2020 is also offering discounted tickets for the Terra Pavilion for the three days, with entry at AED 20.

Opening hours

Monday to Thursday: 8am to 5pm

Friday: 8am to 12.30pm

How to get there

If you’re driving to the museum, you can take the E311 highway or the E77 Expo Road and follow signs for Expo City Dubai.

You can also easily reach the location by taking the Dubai Metro, and get off at the Expo 2020 station on the Red Line.

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