Abu Dhabi museums to offer free entry from 16 to 18 May

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Agents planning cultural itineraries and UAE stays for tourists and residents can now add free access to Abu Dhabi museums and heritage sites from 16 to 18 May 2026, as the emirate marks International Museum Day with complimentary entry across key attractions.

Participating venues include Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Hosn and multiple cultural sites across Al Ain and Delma Island. The programme also includes guided tours, performances, workshops and family-focused activities.

Selected activities and timed-entry experiences will operate on a pre-booking basis during the free-access period.

The initiative is being rolled out under this year’s International Museum Day theme, ‘Museums Uniting a Divided World’, with Abu Dhabi Culture positioning museums as spaces for dialogue, education and cultural exchange.

Similar International Museum Day initiatives are also being rolled out across Dubai and Sharjah, with Expo City Dubai offering free access to the Vision and Expo 2020 Dubai Museum alongside discounted entry to Terra, while Sharjah museums including Sharjah Science Museum, Sharjah Aquarium, Sharjah Archaeological Museum and Sharjah Heritage Museum will also offer complimentary public access on 18 May.

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Louvre Abu Dhabi will offer complimentary access to its galleries and Picasso exhibition alongside free thematic tours and children’s workshops, while Zayed National Museum will host performances, storytelling sessions and heritage-focused family activities.

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will introduce interactive science and craft workshops, while Al Ain Museum and Al Ain Cultural Sites will host conservation-focused programmes and guided heritage tours across Qasr Al Muwaiji, Al Jahili Fort and Al Ain Oasis.

Qasr Al Hosn will also run a ‘Children’s Takeover’ initiative allowing young participants to experience operational museum roles including guiding, ticketing and photography.

Zayed National Museum Abu Dhabi

The programme comes as destinations across the UAE increasingly roll out community-focused campaigns and experiential programming aimed at driving tourism and encouraging repeat visits. Earlier this year, Zayed International Airport launched a temporary Shopping Pass initiative allowing non-ticketed visitors access to terminal retail and dining areas, while Dubai Miracle Garden introduced free weekday entry for residents. Atlantis Dubai also issued 80,000 complimentary tickets to Aquaventure World and the Lost World Aquarium for residents and tourists as part of a wider tourism campaign.

The initiative also follows recent international recognition for Abu Dhabi’s cultural sector after Zayed National Museum was named among the World’s Most Beautiful Museums in the 2026 Prix Versailles selection unveiled at Unesco Headquarters in Paris.

For more information, visit www.abudhabiculture.ae