Independent creative agency, People, has devised and delivered an immersive opening ceremony for the new Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, which is now open to the public following a less than five-year build programme.
Appointed by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the grand opening was curated and executed by People’s experienced team headed up by CEO and founder, Tim Elliott.
People partnered with experiential studio, Moment Factory, who produced the projection-mapping content and supported the wider immersive experience design. The work transformed the museum’s façade and surrounding landscapes into a living canvas of light, sound and storytelling.
The opening ceremony event set out to not merely welcome visitors but to transport them through story, sound and projection, across 13.8 billion years of natural history. The immersive show narrated a story about nature and the force that drives our living world, for an intimate audience.
At the heart of the ceremony was a 20-minute cinematic show that took guests on a journey from the Big Bang and the formation of early worlds to the emergence and extinction of species, ending with a powerful reminder that humanity is the future guardian of our planet.
Commenting on the show, Elliott said, “Our aim was to create an opening experience that truly captured the wonder and ambition of the new Natural History Museum in Abu Dhabi. The story allowed us to celebrate the powerful forces that connect all living things – past, present and future – through a narrative that was both universal and deeply rooted in the museum’s purpose. It was a privilege to bring this vision to life in such a spectacular setting, and to contribute to a landmark moment for Abu Dhabi’s cultural landscape.”
Ahead of the main show, guests embarked on an immersive night walk around the museum perimeter and through the gardens, where wildlife and natural phenomena came alive through projection, light and spatialised audio.
Dr. Peter C. Kjærgaard, Director of Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, said, “The opening of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi marks an extraordinary addition to the Saadiyat Cultural District and to the UAE’s growing global cultural offering.”
He added, “This museum will inspire curiosity and discovery for generations to come, deepening our understanding of the natural world and humanity’s place within it. The grand opening, delivered in partnership with People, perfectly captured that spirit of exploration and wonder; it was a fitting celebration for a museum dedicated to the story of life.”
The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi features some of the rarest natural specimens found on Earth, including the world-famous ‘Stan’ Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton and the Murchison meteorite.
Visitors to the museum will be able to travel through time and space from the origins of the universe to a perspective into the planet’s future.
