LONDON: When Abu Dhabi’s Zayed National Museum opens its doors to the public on Dec. 3, the first thing visitors will see as they enter is a remarkable sailing boat — a hypothetical recreation of a merchant ship of the type that would have sailed the Arabian Gulf in the Bronze Age.
Ancient records written in cuneiform, an early form of writing etched into clay tablets, tell us that 4,000 years ago such vessels linked far-flung communities and cultures, from ancient Mesopotamia to the Indus Valley in modern-day India and Pakistan.
They carried large cargoes, including copper and pottery, and called at ports and trading posts along the coasts of modern-day Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE.
The boat represents only part of the story of the UAE, which unfolds over six galleries in the museum, including an outdoor “living gallery” garden, devoted to its history, landscapes and culture, while honoring its late founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan.
The museum, designed by the acclaimed British architect Norman Foster, and set to open during the same week as UAE National Day, is a striking addition to the cultural district on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island.
