Zayed National Museum

Missions

Assessment, operational coordination and oversight of the installation of artworks for the opening of the United Arab Emirates National Museum.

Located on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum was the first major national institution dedicated to the history of the United Arab Emirates and its founding father, Sheikh Zayed.

Designed by Foster + Partners, this landmark project formed part of the development of a world-class cultural hub alongside the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

With its official opening scheduled for 2 December 2025 (National Day) fast approaching, setec organisation has stepped in to facilitate the installation of the artworks within a tight timeframe.

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What has been put in place

  • A rapid assessment of the project’s status (building, exhibition design, collections, organisation)
  • An agile operational structure based on rotating teams and working in pairs
  • Dynamic management tools: daily dashboards, flexible schedules, weekly reporting
  • Short, responsive communication channels, notably via WhatsApp groups organised by area of the museum
  • Close and continuous coordination between the teams on site and those based in Paris

Project carried out by setec organisation

setec organisation
was urgently commissioned to ensure the safe opening of the Zayed National Museum within a tight and non-negotiable timeframe.
The project was divided into two phases:

Phase 1
– Assessment: a rapid, operational analysis of the project’s progress, identification of critical risks and prioritisation of actions.

Phase 2
– Operational support: coordination of the installation of the artworks, organisation of information flows and support for decision-making right up to the opening.

The teams worked in direct support of the client and stakeholders (project managers, contractors, lending institutions), adopting a pragmatic approach centred on problem-solving and continuous adaptation.

The arrangement was based on a system of working in pairs and on a rota, ensuring operational intensity, continuity and efficiency on site.

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Challenges

  • Coping with a tight schedule, with a fixed and non-negotiable opening date
  • Coordinating a large number of international stakeholders with diverse interests and practices
  • Continuously adapting the organisation and its priorities in a rapidly changing and high-pressure environment

Key figures


66,000 m²
of museum floor space

5
iconic solar
towers
shaped like falcon’s wings
1,600 works
on display
300,000 years of history
brought to life

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