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UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has endorsed today the implementation of the Union Museum project at a cost of AED 500 million.

The 25,000 square-meter museum is adjacent to the Union House which witnessed the signing of the treaty establishing for the United Arab Emirates federation in 1971.

Sheikh Mohammed, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was briefed by the members of the Board of the Union House on the final designs and external components of the museum and the timeline to implement the project, which celebrate a pivotal event in the history of the UAE.

Present at the meeting were Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Health and Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Chairman of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Mattar Al Tayer, and Director General of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) Hilal Saeed Al Marri.

Union Museum is a landmark that tells the federation formation story in 1971. The museum narrates the events from 1968 to 1974 and draw on the political and social circumstances surrounding this phase of UAE history.

Union Museum emphasis on the historic value of the museum’s location and further aims to establish a cultural beacon to educate citizens, residents and visitors about UAE modern history, the comprehensive development taking place in the United Arab Emirates and the nation’s achievements.

The museum’s location includes restored historic buildings, and the entrance of the new pavilion is designed on a shape of manuscript with seven columns that simulate the pen used to sign the declaration. The museum includes permanent and temporary halls, a theatre, educational area, recreational area and the administration offices.

The project also includes restoring the Union House to its original state, restoring Dar Al Dheafa to its original state and refurbishes its furniture and rebuilding the Ministry House in its original location and the building will be dedicated for state visitors.

The museum will be constructed underground and connected with the Dar Al Dheafa and the Ministry House. The entire landscape of the area will be restored to its state in 1971. The project also will add new waterfront that simulates the coastline in that phase and a new 123 meter flag pole to substitute the old one that was built in 2001. Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority will supervise the project and Dubai Culture and Arts Authority will operate the museum once completed.

The Union Museum is composed of eight permanent pavilions in addition to one temporary pavilion to exhibit items from international museums.

The first pavilion is dedicated for a documentary movie about the history of the United Arab Emirates. The second pavilion illustrates a panoramic interactive map highlighting the era before the formation of the federation. The third pavilion is an interactive timeline that demonstrates key historical events before the union phase through photos and exhibits. The fourth pavilion includes a visual presentation for the main events and meeting between late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum starting from Al Samha discussions to the day the declaration was signed.

The fifth pavilion utilizes advanced technologies to stimulate imagination and offer visitors a visual tour to understand the backgrounds of the formation of the union. The sixth pavilion highlights the leadership’s political approach and includes the formal and informal meetings and the important moments and challenges confronted the founding fathers before 1971. The seventh pavilion is dedicated for the UAE Constitution and includes the declaration that turned the dream into reality in addition to a digital copy for the Constitution. The eighth pavilion is an open gallery offers a sight on the new-born nation after the formation of the federation and the important events during that phase.