The westernmost tip of the peninsula is a popular spot for photographers. Abu DhabiSaadiyat Cultural District has been transformed from a featureless expanse of sand to one of the most ambitious cultural projects in the world. It took almost 20 years. After years of construction, shrouded by dust clouds, the cultural quarter is now a reality. It has been ranked on the world’s most prestigious list. Condé Nast TravelerThe list of The Best Places to Go in 2026.
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi (NHA) and Zayed National Museum (ZNM) will open in just two weeks between November and December of 2025. Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Abu Dhabi – an architectural jumble made up of boxes, cones and other shapes – is also tantalizingly on its way to completion. Saadiyat Grove and the new Saadiyat Cultural District, which includes the opening of the Saadiyat Grove contemporary art gallery, will make the Saadiyat Cultural District the most desired address in the Emirate. Saadiyat Island, to the east. white sandy coastline The lining is already in place luxury resortsA boardwalk with a lively dining sceneThe’s and the a beach club.
This is our guide on the top things to do and see in Saadiyat Cultural district.
Saadiyat Cultural District – Things to do
The beach
Saadiyat Island is home to one of the most beautiful beachs in the UAEThe panhandle, with its gleaming white beaches, is home to many different kinds of wildlife. luxury hotel resortsThe boardwalk is also a great place to relax. restaurants Serving Mamsha Al Saadiyat is the cluster of apartment buildings to the east from the Cultural District. The best places to relax and enjoy a drink include Antonia, a traditional Italian trattoria serving generous trays with pizzas, pastas and crisp, cool salads. Beirut Sur Mer is a laid-back Lebanese restaurant known for its alternative take on classic dishes like crab moutabal.
Soul Beach is an attractive, private, half-mile stretch of sand, lined with sun loungers. Popular with families, it has gentle waves and is well-maintained. You can order beach service via a QR code and once the sun goes down, it’s well served by cafes The Mamsha Al Saadiyat street is lined with casual restaurants. Open 7am to 6pm.
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi
The 376.700-square-foot, newly opened building, was designed by Mecanoo Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi It is intended to evoke rock structures along an urban wadi. A theme that fits well with the displays of the museum which explore desert, mountain and coastal habitats. The first major museum of the region is dedicated to the exploration of the history and evolution. It calls it “the biggest story” starting from the Big Bang, 13.8 billions of years ago. The collection is arranged into three main sections, originating with the history of our solar system, starring a specimen from the seven-billion-year-old Murchison Meteorite and a piece of moon rock that you’re invited to touch. It’s then the dinosaurs that take center stage, as well as the evolution of human life. This is illustrated by stalking sauropods and dueling tyrannosaurs. There are also life-like models of dinosaurs and fossilized remains. Stan, the star of the museum’s social media campaign, is famously the owner of a set 67 million-year-old fossilized bones. The museum has a lot to offer, from the animal footprints in brass that guide you along the garden pathways, to the sauropods in the atrium.
