Why national museums matter more than ever

As we mark International Museum Day under the theme “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities,” I am reminded of the increasingly dynamic role national museums must play in today’s fast-evolving world. In the United Arab Emirates - where we can trace more than 300,000 years of human history, and where advancement and progress are at the heart of everything we do - this role is especially vital.

A national museum is far more than a repository of artefacts. It is a living institution and a platform for cultural connection. As our cities grow, our populations diversify, and our ways of engaging with culture shift, national museums must adapt without losing sight of their core mission: to preserve, interpret and share the richness of the past.

In the UAE, where traditions run deep and innovation is moving at a breathtaking pace, museums stand at a powerful crossroads. They are uniquely positioned to help communities navigate change, offering not only context and continuity, but also imagination and inspiration. Whether through digital transformation, new exhibition models, or deeper community partnerships, we must reimagine how our institutions serve the public.

At Zayed National Museum we benefit from the vision of the UAE founding father Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan whose enduring values remain the driving force behind the establishment of a national museum that serves the people of this community. As a landmark cultural institution, Zayed National Museum honours his commitment to education, identity and progress.

Throughout this process we have asked ourselves: How can our collections speak to a new generation? How do we reach audiences who may not have the opportunity to walk through our galleries? How can we become more open, more inclusive and more responsive to the needs of the society around us?

At Zayed National Museum, we are working to meet our community with purpose. From community engagement to partnerships with groups like Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination, schools and universities, we are creating new pathways of connection and relevance. We see the museum as a civic space, a vibrant hub where culture, education, and daily life connect.

National museums must also play a significant role in the furthering of our understanding of the history and heritage that they represent. By nurturing and supporting research, we can ensure that the museum narrative expands and develops in line with the introduction of new and innovative research techniques. At Zayed National Museum our mission to become a world-class research institution has already led us to some amazing discoveries; for example, a team of researchers revealed previously unseen text on a page from the Blue Quran. We have also brought history to life through the reconstruction of the Bronze Age “Magan Boat” which was achieved through a partnership with local educational and research institutions.

In the fast-paced and ever-changing world that we live in, it is important that national museums adapt and develop in line with the needs of the societies they belong to. To tell the story of a place, we must be able to connect with our audiences in ways that are most meaningful to them. As a legacy of Sheikh Zayed’s vision, Zayed National Museum stands not only as a guardian of the past, but as a living space for future generations to connect with the story of the United Arab Emirates and shape its next chapter.

Dr Peter Magee is Director, Zayed National Museum