Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi AR experiences: Jurassic dinos and blue whales

The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is bringing 13.8 billion years of history to life through a new technology partnership. According to a joint press release from Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and Snap Inc., the institution will feature a suite of augmented reality (AR) experiences that transform the museum into an interactive journey through time.

This collaboration adds to the growing list of tech-meets-culture initiatives in the UAE, similar to the recent Irthi and Apple collaboration. While the museum’s official opening date remains under wraps, these newly revealed features give us a clear look at what visitors can expect when the doors open in the Saadiyat Cultural District.

What to Expect

The partnership focuses on shifting museum exploration from passive observation to active discovery. Using Snapchat’s camera technology and Snap’s Spectacles, visitors will encounter prehistoric environments and ancient creatures overlaid onto the physical museum space.

Here are the three core experiences announced:

A Living Jurassic Jungle

This experience transforms the museum’s atrium into a prehistoric environment. Using mobile AR, visitors will see the space fill with ancient foliage and dynamic lighting. The exhibit features three full-scale species: Camarasaurus, Barosaurus, and Tylosaurus. You can access this through a permanent QR code using the Snapchat camera on your phone, allowing multiple people to explore the environment simultaneously.

Hands-Free Encounter with Brachiosaurus

For a more immersive look, the museum will offer a hands-free experience using Snap’s next-generation Spectacles. This will be available during curated demos and tours. Visitors will see a life-size Brachiosaurus emerge in front of them without needing to hold up a phone or tablet, blending the digital creature with the physical room.

The Blue Whale Deep Dive

This educational tool reconstructs a full-scale Blue Whale with photorealistic precision. The key feature here is an X-ray mode that reveals the whale’s internal anatomy, including its heart, lungs, and deep-sea adaptations. It is designed to turn abstract scientific data into a visual lesson that is easy to understand for all ages.

Dates and Opening Info

The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi has not yet confirmed its official public opening date. These AR experiences are designed as permanent features of the museum, so they will be available once the institution welcomes visitors. The announcement comes during a busy period for the capital, coinciding with major events like the World Future Energy Summit, highlighting Abu Dhabi's focus on future-forward projects.

Tickets and Pricing

Ticket prices for the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi have not been released. It is currently unclear if the AR experiences will be included in the standard entry ticket or if the curated Spectacles tours will require a separate booking or additional fee. We will update this section as soon as official pricing becomes available.

Getting There

The museum is located in the Saadiyat Cultural District on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. This area is already home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and creates a significant cultural hub for the capital.

• By Car: Takes about 15-20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi or roughly one hour from Dubai via Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) and the Saadiyat Island expressway.
• Parking: While specific parking details for the museum are pending, the Cultural District generally offers ample parking for visitors.
• Public Transport: Bus routes connect Abu Dhabi city to Saadiyat Island, with stops near the Cultural District.

Event Info

Event: Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi AR Experiences
Dates: Permanent features (Opening date TBC)
Times: Museum operating hours (TBC)
Location: Natural History Museum, Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi
Tickets: Prices TBC
Website: Official museum website (TBC)

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