Dubai: The Etihad Museum was inaugurated on Friday by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, along with Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates.
The museum, spread over 26,000 square metres, is located adjacent to the Union House where the declaration to establish the independent state of the United Arab Emirates and bring into effect a temporary constitution was signed in 1971. The inauguration coincides with the 45th UAE National Day.
The inauguration was attended by Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi of Sharjah; Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuami of Ajman, Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi of Fujairah, Shaikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mualla of Umm Al Quwain and Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi of Ras Al Khaimah.
Their Highnesses toured the museum where they were briefed about its different sections by chairman of the museum’s Advisory Committee Mohammad Ahmad Al Murr. The museum was built underground and is connected with Dar Al Dhiyafa.
They also visited the renovated ‘Al Dhiyafa Palace’.
Design and facilities
The entrance of the new museum is designed in the shape of a manuscript with seven columns that simulate the pen used to sign the declaration. The museum includes permanent and temporary halls, a theatre, an educational area, a recreational area, administrative offices and car parking. It comprises eight permanent galleries in addition to a temporary gallery to exhibit items from international museums.
The museum offers experience-driven exhibitions, interactive programmes and educational presentations that explore the events that culminated in the formation of the Union of the emirates in 1971, with a key emphasis on the period between 1968 and 1974.
The museum tells the story of the Union’s creation from the perspective of the country’s leaders and aims to educate visitors about the nation’s constitution, particularly the rights, privileges and responsibilities that it bestows upon the people of the UAE.
The museum’s collection includes objects and documents related to the events of the formation of the UAE nation. The logo of the museum is inspired by the oval shape of the Union House.
Highlights
‘The Journey to Union’ gallery features exclusive photos displayed for the first time that were contributed by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, as part of the ‘Let’s Preserve the Legacy’ campaign.
Museum Theatre: It displays films and audio exhibits.
Founding Fathers gallery: Features photographs of UAE’s founding fathers, their belongings and an interactive screen that provides historical information about their biography and their family tree.
Stamp and Postal history gallery: It displays stamps dating to the period between 1909 and 1971.
The Road to the Union exhibition: Highlights key dates that led to the Union.
Planting the Union exhibition: Has a holographic movie that depicts the meeting between the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The movie is narrated by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid.
There are also galleries titled ‘Change and Independence’, ‘Unification of the Emirates’, ‘The Constitution’, and ‘The UAE: One Nation … Common Future’.
