We've spent years finding the UAE's finest. Now you can find them in seconds.
We've spent years finding the UAE's finest. Now you can find them in seconds.
Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts: Classical horsemanship on Al Jubail Island
The world's fifth school of classical horsemanship – and the first outside Europe – now calls Abu Dhabi home. Set within the mangroves of Al Jubail Island, this 18,000-square-metre campus unites equestrian performances, accredited education, cultural galleries and lifestyle experiences. At its centre are 40 purebred stallions, predominantly pure Spanish breed, trained in the ancient Arab tradition of Furusiyya, where discipline, artistry and the bond between horse and rider become a living art form.
ADREA functions both as cultural destination and elite academy. Weekly performances take place in a climate-controlled 1,200-seat arena, while the campus hosts one of the world's most extensive equestrian libraries, a Furusiyya Gallery with 173 rare artefacts, and the UAE's first bespoke saddle-making atelier. Beyond the stables, four restaurants overlook training arenas, complemented by a boutique café, fitness facilities, paddle courts, a pool and retail spaces. The Junior Academy welcomes children aged 4 to 16, including Children of Determination, while the Riding School offers certified training from foundational courses to advanced degrees.
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi: World-class museum in Saadiyat Cultural District
The region's largest museum now anchors Saadiyat Cultural District alongside the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the forthcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The Natural History Museum functions as both a public exhibition space and an active research centre, housing significant specimens including Stan – one of the world's most complete T. rex skeletons – and the 4.6-billion-year-old Murchison Meteorite. The architecture mirrors natural rock formations, integrating the building itself into the storytelling experience.
Exhibition galleries span everything from the Big Bang to contemporary biodiversity, with a particular focus on the Arabian Peninsula's natural heritage. Beyond static displays, the museum incorporates interactive zones, an immersive theatre experience, a dedicated play area for younger visitors, and rotating special exhibitions in collaboration with institutions like London's Natural History Museum and Naturalis Biodiversity Center. Entry costs 70 AED for adults, whilst children under 18 enter free – visits typically run two to four hours depending on engagement level with the interactive elements.
teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi: Boundary-defying art in Saadiyat Cultural District
Art you don't just view – you become part of it. teamLab Phenomena brings the international collective's first permanent Middle East exhibition to Saadiyat Cultural District, blending science, technology and nature in installations that evolve with human interaction. Digital butterflies respond to your movements, mirror balloons reflect light in mesmerising patterns, and shimmering water features transform as you walk through them. Each visit promises a unique experience as the artworks react differently to each person's presence.
The exhibition space breaks conventional museum design with vast, darkened chambers where digital projections come alive against black backgrounds. In one room, thousands of digital suns form a universe of light that shifts as people move through it. In another, cloud formations gather and disperse according to collective movement. Perhaps most striking is an installation where visitors wade through ankle-deep water while digital koi fish dart around their feet, leaving trails of light that constantly reform. Adult tickets cost 150 AED, youth 115 AED, and children 50 AED – allow at least two to three hours to fully experience all installations.
Zayed National Museum: Abu Dhabi's national museum on Saadiyat Island
The UAE's iconic national museum opened on 3 December 2025, giving the nation's founding story a permanent home at the heart of Saadiyat Cultural District. Zayed National Museum chronicles 300,000 years of human history through the values and vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, connecting ancient artefacts with living traditions and dismantling the misconception that the UAE is a place without heritage.
The building itself, designed by Foster + Partners with five soaring towers rising like a falcon's wing mid-flight, embodies Sheikh Zayed's philosophy: sustainable, forward-thinking, yet deeply rooted in Bedouin traditions. Galleries trace values the Founding Father embodied – giving, humility, justice, peace, ambition – through objects spanning from a 300,000-year-old stone tool discovered at Jebel Hafit to photographs capturing the nation's formative years in 1974. Al Masar Garden, the 600-metre outdoor gallery, tells Sheikh Zayed's biographical story through curated desert, oasis and urban landscapes. Whether you're an Emirati, a resident or a visitor, this is Abu Dhabi's most comprehensive cultural institution.
the HUNTR
Get the best of your city straight to your inbox
Get the best of your city straight to your inbox
The best is hidden in the app
Click to download yours now
