On Saadiyat Island, a new architectural presence is quietly redefining what a museum can be. The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, designed by Dutch firm Mecanoo, is not simply a place to observe fossils and dinosaur skeletons. It is emerging as one of Abu Dhabi’s most important public gathering spaces.

Unlike traditional natural history museums — often housed in imposing Victorian buildings that emphasised order, authority and classification — this museum shifts the narrative. Here, the goal is not only to display knowledge, but to create community.

Architect Nuno Fontarra describes the building as a public anchor. Visitors can come without necessarily entering the exhibitions. The landscaped pathways, indigenous planting and waterfront seating transform the museum into an open civic environment — somewhere to walk, meet friends or simply sit at sunset.

The building’s form rises dramatically like a geological outcrop, inspired by basalt rock formations created by cooling lava. Inside, the experience unfolds sequentially. Spaces compress and expand, guiding visitors through immersive environments — from dramatic dinosaur skeleton displays to recreations of vast natural landscapes.

Flexibility was central to the design. Unlike art galleries, natural history exhibitions often remain unchanged for years. Mecanoo therefore designed adaptable interiors capable of evolving over decades, ensuring the museum can grow alongside scientific discovery.

But what lingers most after visiting is not a single object. It is the atmosphere — families lingering on steps, students gathering in research spaces, visitors meandering between galleries. In a city historically centred around malls and beaches, this museum introduces something different: a shared cultural heartbeat.

More than a museum, it is a new way for the city to live.