A museum to showcase the nation’s history
Innovation was the name of the game for the UAE in 2016. There are many reasons to cheer the year and we have picked out 10. The last part of a 10part series takes you back to the opening of The Etihad Museum on December 2.
The 45th UAE National Day saw the inauguration of the Etihad (Union) Museum in Dubai. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates and other leaders attended the opening.
The logo of the museum is inspired by the oval shape of the Union House.
The museum, which is spread over an area of 26,000 square metres, has an entrance designed to resemble the shape of a manuscript. The seven columns symbolise the pen used to sign the Union declaration in 1971. There are eight permanent galleries in the museum and one temporary gallery. ‘The Journey to Union’ gallery displays exclusive photos that were contributed by Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, for the ‘Let’s Preserve the Legacy’ campaign. Other galleries include ‘Founding Fathers’, ‘Stamp and Postal History’, ‘The Road to the Union’, ‘Planting the Union’, ‘Change and Independence’, ‘Unification of the Emirates’, ‘The Constitution’ and ‘The UAE: One Nation Common Future’.
On the same day, Shaikh Mohammed tweeted: “The Etihad Museum stands beside the Union House, honouring our journey and unity; I urge our youth to visit and learn from our history.”
Later on December 7, it was announced by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) that Etihad Museum will open its doors to the general public from January 7, 2017. It will be open for visitors all seven days of the week, from 10am to 8pm.
Saeed Al Nabouda, acting Director-General of the Dubai Culture said: “This landmark heritage initiative is an important manifestation of the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to create an important national UAE cultural and tourist landmark. It will offer the public a valuable opportunity to discover year-round, the events before, during and after the Union agreement’s signing in 1971. In doing so, the museum will enhance visitor understanding of the rights, privileges and responsibilities bestowed upon the nation’s citizens through the UAE Constitution.”— gaurav@khaleejtimes.com