Dive into a month of discovery with eighteen specialized workshops, wellness sessions, and architectural tours.
- The museum offers eighteen unique activations for visitors throughout May.
- Children under eighteen enjoy free entry to all museum galleries.
- Wellness sessions take place directly beneath ancient prehistoric dinosaur fossils.
- Hands on workshops cover everything from desert survival to constellation mapping.
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is setting a new benchmark for cultural engagement this month. As the city transitions into May, residents are increasingly looking for sophisticated indoor environments that offer more than just a walk through a gallery. The trend of “edutainment” is peaking on Saadiyat Island, where the community now seeks immersive, tactile experiences that bridge the gap between art and hard science. This isn’t just about looking at history. It is about touching it.
The museum has curated a staggering eighteen different activations to satisfy every level of curiosity. For those interested in the bones of the building itself, the Architecture Mini-Tours offer a behind the scenes look at the design vision. These tours run on May 15 at 12 PM, 3 PM, and 5 PM, with an extra 7 PM slot on weekends. It is a rare chance to see how the space connects with the environment.
A deep dive into the best family workshops Abu Dhabi offers
1. ARCHITECTURE MINI-TOURS
Step behind the scenes of the museum’s design with a guided journey through its architectural vision. Discover how each space has been thoughtfully created to tell a story and connect with the surrounding natural environment.
- Date: 15 May
- Time: Daily at 12 PM, 3 PM, 5 PM. Weekends at 7 PM
- Location: Visitor Desk
- Registration: Follow social media channels for updates
2. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES – “FAMILIES IN NATURE”
Celebrate the UAE Year of Family with an immersive museum-wide experience inspired by how families exist and thrive in nature. Journey through galleries exploring lunar meteorites, plants, insects, and dinosaurs with a specially designed Discovery Book.
- Date: 15 May
- Time: Museum Opening Hours
- Location: Museum-Wide
- Registration: Drop-in
3. SUN PRINTING (ARTISTS AND FUTURE SCIENTISTS)
Harness the power of sunlight to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind prints using natural materials. This activity introduces participants to the science of light while producing striking visual patterns.
- Date: 16 to 17 May
- Time: 12 PM, 2 PM, 5 PM
- Location: Curiosity Wing Classrooms
- Registration: Drop-in
4. LIGHT LAB: COLOUR & SHADOW (ARTISTS AND FUTURE SCIENTISTS)
Step into a world of colour and light as participants experiment with transparent materials to create layered visual effects. Children gain a playful introduction to light behaviour and perception.
- Date: 16 to 17 May
- Time: 11 AM, 1 PM, 4 PM
- Location: Curiosity Wing Classrooms
- Registration: Drop-in
5. CONSTELLATION LIGHT LAB (ARTISTS AND FUTURE SCIENTISTS)
Explore the night sky through a creative, hands-on activity that brings constellations to life. Participants create their own viewers and discover how humans have long mapped patterns in the stars.
- Date: 16 to 17 May
- Time: 1 PM, 3 PM, 6 PM
- Location: Curiosity Wing Classrooms
- Registration: Drop-in
6. SHADOW SAFARI (ARTISTS AND FUTURE SCIENTISTS)
Turn light into storytelling in this interactive shadow play experience. Using hands and simple shapes, participants create animal silhouettes and perform behind a lit screen.
- Date: 16 to 17 May
- Time: 10 AM to 8 PM
- Location: Curiosity Corner
- Registration: Drop-in
7. PAPER FRIENDS
Bring animals to life through creativity in this workshop where participants design and build their own 3D paper creatures while exploring how animals adapt through form and colour.
- Date: 15 May
- Time: 15 to 25 minute rolling sessions
- Location: Curiosity Corner and Gallery Corridor
- Registration: Drop-in
8. WIGGLY CREATURES WORKSHOP
Get imaginative with craft materials to create moving, expressive creatures inspired by the natural world. This session explores how structure and movement help animals survive.
- Date: 16 May
- Time: 20 to 30 minute sessions
- Location: Curiosity Corner
- Registration: Drop-in
9. BUILD A MINI EXHIBIT (INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY)
Step into the role of a curator and create your own miniature exhibition. Participants select specimens, design displays, and learn how museums tell stories through objects.
- Date: 18 May
- Time: 3 PM, 5 PM, 7 PM
- Location: Curiosity Wing Classrooms
- Registration: Follow social media channels for updates
10. SPECIMEN HANDLING WORKSHOP (INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY)
Go behind the scenes with the collections team to discover how museum specimens are handled, preserved, and prepared for scientific study.
- Date: 18 May
- Time: 6 PM
- Location: Curiosity Wing Classrooms
- Registration: Follow social media channels for updates
11. NATURE & MIND GUIDED YOGA SESSIONS
Reconnect with your body and the natural world through guided yoga sessions in the unique setting of 13.8 billion years of history.
- Date: 14 and 28 May
- Time: 7 PM to 8 PM
- Location: Atrium, Beneath the Dinosaurs
- Registration: Pre-bookings and drop-ins welcome
- Note: Free with every ticket
12. A SOUND EXPERIENCE UNDER THE BLUE MOON
Unwind with a unique sound healing experience set against the backdrop of a rare Blue Moon. This session explores the science of resonance while offering a calming space for reflection.
- Date: 31 May
- Time: 7 PM to 8 PM
- Location: Atrium, Beneath the Dinosaurs
- Registration: Follow social media channels for updates
- Note: Free with every ticket
13. FOOD WEB LIVE CHALLENGE (AFTER-SCHOOL WORKSHOP)
Children step into the roles of different organisms within a living food web, exploring the delicate relationships between predators and prey in an interactive format.
- Date: Ongoing (Monday to Thursday)
- Time: 4 PM to 4:30 PM
- Location: Curiosity Corner
- Registration: Drop-in
14. NEEDLE FELTING LEAVES (AFTER-SCHOOL WORKSHOP)
Examine plant diversity in the Our World gallery and bring those observations to life by crafting a felted leaf using traditional needle felting techniques.
- Date: 4 May to 12 June
- Time: Drop-in sessions
- Location: Curiosity Corner
- Registration: Follow social media channels for updates
15. CAMOUFLAGE CHALLENGE (AFTER-SCHOOL WORKSHOP)
Test the art of disguise as children place animal cutouts against different natural backgrounds to see how well they blend in and survive in the wild.
- Date: Ongoing
- Time: 5:30 PM to 6 PM
- Location: Curiosity Corner
- Registration: Drop-in
16. SURVIVE THE DESERT (AFTER-SCHOOL WORKSHOP)
Take on the challenges of desert life in an interactive matching activity. Participants pair environmental conditions with the adaptations needed to thrive in extreme ecosystems.
- Date: Ongoing (Saturday and Sunday)
- Time: Drop-in sessions
- Location: Curiosity Corner and Gallery Corridor
- Registration: Drop-in
17. PERMANENT GALLERY EXPLORATION
Travel through 13.8 billion years of history, including the famous “Stan” the T-Rex and the Murchison Meteorite.
- Date: Daily
- Location: Main Museum Galleries
- Registration: Included with entry ticket
18. CURIOSITY WING DISCOVERY SESSIONS
Dedicated times for sensory discovery and informal learning through the museum’s interactive educational hub.
- Date: Daily
- Location: Curiosity Wing
- Registration: Drop-in
With eighteen unique ways to engage, the museum is the ultimate destination for those who value curiosity. These family workshops Abu Dhabi offers are completely free with every entry ticket. Secure your spot online today and prepare for a month of prehistoric discovery!
VISITOR INFORMATION
- Location: Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi
- Opening Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Friday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
- Tickets & Booking: https://nhmad.ae
