An Oasis of Growth in the Middle East

Cultural Powerhouses

On Saadiyat Island, the five falcon wing-inspired towers of the Zayed National Museum, designed by Foster + Partners, reach for the skies.

“We are part of a cultural district designed to function as an interconnected ecosystem, where visitors can experience universal art, immersive digital environments, and natural history within minutes of one another, before encountering a nationally anchored narrative here. What makes the museum distinctive is that it gives context to that wider experience, grounding it in the history of this place,” says Dr. Peter Magee, director of the Zayed National Museum.

Since the museum’s opening in December, guests have journeyed into 300,000 years of regional history through the eyes of the Founding Father of the United Arab Emirates, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

“A national museum must first resonate with the people who call this country home. If residents recognize their own history in the galleries, international visitors will sense the authenticity of that narrative,” Magee believes. The carefully curated objects trace a thread from the past to the present. “Every object, whether the Abu Dhabi Pearl, the Blue Qur’an, or the reconstructed Bronze Age Magan Boat, has been chosen to explain the continuity between ancient exchange networks and the U.A.E.’s contemporary role as a global crossroads,” he says.

The museum will continue to evolve through temporary exhibitions, storytelling that utilizes the latest technology, and public programming that includes live dance performances. These ongoing opportunities encourage visitors to return and engage in new ways. “Our aim is to sustain Zayed National Museum’s position as a bright star within the larger constellation of the Saadiyat Cultural District,” Magee says.

Also on Saadiyat Island, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi opened in November. Designed by Mecanoo, the museum’s faceted geometry echoes rock strata and cellular forms—architecture that mirrors the natural world it seeks to explain. Visitors travel through 13.8 billion years of history, seeing artefacts such as Stan, a 67-million-year-old, fossilized Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Meanwhile, the purpose-built, 18,000-square-meter teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi—operated by Miral—allows art lovers to immerse themselves within colossal digital artworks.

H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism, calls the project “a groundbreaking cultural landmark that redefines immersive art experiences on a global scale,” adding that it “pushes the boundaries of creativity, technology, and human perception, offering visitors an experience unlike any other.”

At the Louvre Abu Dhabi—the first universal museum in the Arab world, born of an un

precedented partnership between France and the U.A.E.—architect Jean Nouvel’s design marries tradition and modernity. Inspired by classic Arab architecture, the museum’s silvery dome (as seen on Funworld's cover) seems to float between land and sea. Sunlight filters through its star-patterned lattice in a shifting “Rain of Light,” dappling floors and faces, and illuminating works that speak across civilizations and centuries.

Beyond its spectacular architecture, the museum’s rich permanent collection and rolling program of temporary exhibitions.

Soon, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will join this remarkable assembly, cementing Abu Dhabi’s standing as a global center for culture, arts, and creativity.

Intellectual Giants

With 2026 designated the U.A.E.’s Year of the Family, Yas Island’s world-class theme parks and attractions—Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Yas Island Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, and CLYMB Abu Dhabi—are the perfect playground, powered by strategic partnerships and intellectual properties (IPs).

“Once a blank canvas, Yas Island has been transformed into a one-of-a-kind, fully integrated and all-encompassing destination, where world-class attractions, hospitality, retail, dining, and major events operate within one seamless ecosystem,” says Dr. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral.

Investment continues with Yas Waterworld’s recent expansion, the Harry Potter-themed land coming to Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Topgolf’s arrival on Yas Island, another record-breaking ride for Ferrari World, and new themed hotels.

Images of Robert A. Iger, outgoing CEO of The Walt Disney Company, striding across the future Disneyland Abu Dhabi site underscored the emirate’s transformation into a force on the global entertainment stage.

Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 has propelled this wave of development, laying out a road map to attract 39.3 million visitors and increase the sector’s GDP contribution to AED 90 billion by the decade’s end.

Miral’s exceptional summer in 2025 reflects the growing momentum. Yas Island saw a 15% increase in visitation, while Saadiyat Island recorded a 14% rise across its cultural attractions and hotels. Yas Theme Parks had its best summer yet, up 9%, with a 50% increase in international visitors.

Dazzling Debuts

Across Saudi Arabia, vast new realms of entertainment continue to rise. Six Flags Qiddiya City stands as a testament to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in action. How many other theme parks would have the courage to send roller coaster riders off a cliff, as Qiddiya City does with Falcons Flight? The Intamin-designed roller coaster is one of the world’s tallest, fastest, and longest to date.

“This world-class destination combines cutting-edge, record-breaking attractions, immersive experiences for all ages, and the signature thrills that have made Six Flags a global leader. We look forward to welcoming guests from across the Kingdom and beyond to experience the future of fun at Qiddiya City,” says John Reilly, president and CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. More world-firsts will follow at Saudi Arabia’s first water theme park, Aquarabia, slated to open later this year.

Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN), part of Qiddiya Investment Company, set the goal of creating a nationwide entertainment network. “The scale of development, construction, investment, and long-term vision is remarkable. Momentum is evident everywhere you turn, with a clear focus on sustainable growth and impact,” says Bianca Sammut, ICAE, executive director at SEVEN.