Belgian company Besix delivers another landmark museum in the Middle East
The Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi opened its doors to the public for the first time on Wednesday. Co-built by the Belgian construction group Besix, the museum pays tribute to the founding father of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Its inauguration comes just a month after the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, another major project delivered by Besix.
Dedicated to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, the new museum is marked by five striking steel towers inspired by the wings of a falcon, with the tallest reaching 123 metres. Besix worked alongside the local contractor Trojan General Contracting, having been commissioned in 2021 to restart and complete the project after the previous contractor went bankrupt.
The complex comprises a main building, a landscaped hill with an open-air theatre, and more than 40,000 square metres of outdoor space narrating the country’s history.
“Structurally, the Zayed National Museum is one of the most complex projects that Besix has ever undertaken,” says project director David De Visscher. “It illustrates our expertise in realising projects that are both technically complex and architecturally ambitious. The design embraces sustainability by combining ancient techniques with modern technologies.”
The wing towers, for instance, are “a modern interpretation of traditional Emirati wind towers”: they enhance natural ventilation by allowing cooler air to enter at ground level while enabling warm air to escape through the tops.
Besix has been active in the UAE since 1966 and was involved in constructing the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. The company is also participating in the creation of the Guggenheim Museum in Abu Dhabi, which is scheduled to open in 2026.
The Zayed National Museum: A new iconic landmark for Abu Dhabi © PHOTO BELGA HANDOUT
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