The striking design will fit in with the iconic buildings planned for Saadiyat Island. The striking design will fit in with the iconic buildings planned for Saadiyat Island.

The design of the Zayed National Museum — that will feature the life and achievements of the founding President of the United Arab Emirates, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan — has been unveiled in Abu Dhabi.

The museum will serve as a memorial to Sheikh Zayed and is set to stand alongside the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Louvre Abu Dhabi amongst the iconic Saadiyat Island Cultural District’s institutions.

Set within lush gardens, the design features five soaring pavilions, representing the feathers of a falcon’s wing, reaching a height of 124 metres, towering over the Arabian Gulf.

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Commenting on the launch, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE said: “The Zayed National Museum is destined to become an inspiring permanent reminder of the vision handed down to us from the father of our nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to unite all Emiratis and build a strong and prosperous nation. As a fitting memorial and a national institution, the museum will serve as a symbol of our historic cultural roots and of the many achievements of our country, providing us with an incentive to continue building our country with the same will and determination.”

It is scheduled for completion in 2014.