Zayed National Museum – Sound Scenography – 2025

The Story of a Nation | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi is the national museum of the United Arab Emirates, presenting the country’s history, cultural heritage, and natural environment in an immersive way.

The iconic building, with its steel wings rising up to 124 meters high, is inspired by the falcon—one of the central symbols of Emirati identity. The permanent exhibition spans six galleries across 5,762 m² and guides visitors from prehistory to the present day. Atmospheric spaces featuring soundscapes, films, interactive elements, and large-scale LED installations create a close connection between architecture, technology, and storytelling. The galleries explore, among other themes, the life and legacy of Sheikh Zayed, the diverse landscapes and cultures of the UAE, archaeological discoveries dating back up to 300,000 years, trade and cultural exchange, and the country’s maritime heritage. The museum is complemented by the Al Masar Garden, an open-air gallery showcasing native plants from desert, oasis, and urban environments.

For the exterior of the building, a distinctive sonic concept was developed in close collaboration with Squint Opera and Hind Bin Demaithan Al Qemzi. The two walkways leading up to the rooftop are accompanied by 27 sounding totems, each featuring a unique soundscape composition. These compositions combine carefully curated field recordings of the surrounding acoustic environment with a dedicated overtone, interpreted by Emirati oud player Ahmed Al Mansori. As visitors ascend, the sound subtly evolves, creating a cumulative sonic journey that connects landscape, architecture, and cultural memory. At the summit, on The Platform, the building itself becomes an instrument. Swiss percussionist Gregor Hilbe was invited to interact with the five steel wings of the museum, improvising based on five traditional Emirati rhythms. These recordings were transformed into an expansive ambient composition, spatially distributed through 130 loudspeakers integrated within the wings. The result is an immersive sound installation that celebrates both the architectural monumentality of the structure and the rhythmic heritage of the United Arab Emirates.

Idee und Klang Audio Design was responsible for the complete sound design of the museum, covering more than 100 exhibits as spatial sound installations, media stations, and interactive experiences. The result is a contemporary museum environment in which history and culture are not only seen, but also heard, felt, and actively experienced.

Credits

Museum: Zayed National Museum
Client: Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi
Architecture: Foster + Partners
Scenography, Curation: Zayed National Museum
Interacitves and Media Production: Squint Opera
Technical Planning: Squint Opera
Sound Scenography: Idee und Klang Audio Design
Installation + Technical Planning: XYZ, Acciona, Empty, Dominion
Photos: Zayed National Museum