In Abu Dhabi, where national museums increasingly serve as spaces for dialogue, education, and collective memory, a new initiative is reshaping how visitors engage with culture. The Zayed National Museum has launched Quiet Morning, a monthly programme designed to offer a calmer, more sensory-considerate museum experience for neurodivergent audiences.
Taking place on the first Sunday of every month, Quiet Morning opens the museum an hour earlier than usual, transforming its galleries between 9am and 10am into gentler environments. During this time, lighting is softened, sound levels are reduced, and sensory stimuli are carefully adjusted to support visitors with autism, attention deficit conditions, and others who may find conventional museum settings overwhelming.
The initiative reflects a broader shift within museum practice in the Middle East, where accessibility is increasingly understood not as an add-on, but as a core institutional responsibility. At Zayed National Museum, this approach extends across both indoor and outdoor spaces, including selected galleries and the Al Masar Garden, allowing visitors to move through the museum at a comfortable pace.
Importantly, Quiet Morning is not limited to individuals with diagnosed conditions. It is designed to welcome families, school groups, and visitors who simply prefer a more peaceful way of navigating cultural spaces. In doing so, the programme challenges traditional assumptions about how museums should sound, feel, and function.
The initiative builds upon the museum’s long-standing commitment to accessibility. Zayed National Museum was the first cultural institution in the region to adopt the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, a globally recognised system that allows people with non-visible disabilities to discreetly signal that they may need assistance. The majority of museum staff have undergone specialist training to support People of Determination, reinforcing a culture of awareness and care.
Beyond sensory considerations, the museum has implemented a wide range of inclusive features. These include induction loops for visitors using hearing aids, tactile stations for visually impaired audiences, portable seating for those unable to stand for long periods, and comprehensive wheelchair access throughout the building. Tours in Emirati Sign Language further expand access, led by deaf museum experience specialists.
Digital and spatial tools complement these efforts. A sensory map helps visitors plan their journey through crowded and quiet areas, while a dedicated calm room provides a space for rest, emotional regulation, and retreat when needed. Together, these elements position accessibility not as a single initiative, but as an integrated experience.
Within the regional context, Quiet Morning signals a meaningful evolution in how national museums in the Middle East define public service. By prioritising comfort, dignity, and choice, Zayed National Museum aligns cultural participation with wellbeing, setting a benchmark that extends beyond the UAE.
As museums across the region expand their audiences and ambitions, initiatives like Quiet Morning demonstrate that inclusivity can be both thoughtful and transformative—reshaping cultural spaces into environments where everyone can engage on their own terms.
