Free entry to 8 UAE museums and cultural sites on International Museum Day

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 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 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 li