Visitors went back in time at Zayed National Museum as the UAE President and the Rulers of the seven emirates gathered for the official 54th Eid Al Etihad ceremony on December 2. The first of its kind hosted at the newly completed national landmark, the ceremony marked a key moment ahead of the museum’s public opening on December 3.

The event focused on a single message: The story of the UAE did not begin only 54 years ago, it stretches thousands of years into the land, the sea and the sky. That message is what Zayed National Museum aims to convey as the permanent home for the country’s history.

The land acted as the main narrator of the show. The radio and the voices of the people joined it to guide the audience through different eras of the UAE. Together they moved back and forth between the past, present and future of the nation. Each scene showed how communities lived and built connections long before the Union, leading up to the formation of the seven emirates and the modern country known today.

The opening scene featured the late Sheikh Zayed driving through the desert in 1968. His voice filled the hall singing to the land, greeting it with 'Y Marhba ya Zain' which translates to “hello beautiful.” The land described him as courageous and a hero, saying that he called and she (the land) answered. The footage showed him behind the wheel of a 1966 Chrysler Newport. Another such car was found in the United States and restored with the same details. It is now part of the museum’s permanent collection.

The show transformed history into movement, light, projection and live performances. Large-scale visuals, dancers and chants shifted the narrative from one timeline to another. Drone formations above Abu Dhabi recreated symbols from different periods of the region’s past. These represented key artefacts from the museum collection, introducing visitors to what they will see inside.

The performance highlighted discoveries that reveal life in the region thousands of years ago. It referred to the Abu Dhabi Pearl which dates back around 8,000 years. It pointed to Saruq Al Hadid where metal industries once flourished 3,000 years ago. It mentioned carnelian beads that showed early trade networks and the first local coins that featured a horse as a sign of strength. Each element appeared through visuals and drones, without turning the show into a history lesson, but rather a sequence of scenes showing the evolution of the land.

The journey toward Union followed. Archival clips showed Sheikh Zayed meeting the Rulers of Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. The moment the UAE flag was raised for the first time was shown through sound and images. The radio announced the birth of the nation as it did in 1971, linking the original broadcast to the ceremony.

The UAE National Orchestra made its first public performance during the show. They played the national anthem, 'Ishy Biladi', marking a new milestone in the country’s cultural landscape by bringing together Emirati and international musicians on one stage.

Other segments focused on progress since the union. Visuals showed major achievements in sustainability, nuclear energy, advanced medical research and the space sector. The scene ended with a Mirage 2000-9 jet rising in a way meant to reflect ambition for exploration beyond Earth.

The museum itself became part of the narrative. Designed by Foster + Partners and inspired by a falcon wing, it now stands as the centrepiece of Saadiyat Cultural District. All the objects portrayed in the ceremony, including the Chrysler car, belong to the museum’s collection.

The ceremony came to a close by looking ahead. Children sang a national song about unity, responsibility and pride. The final message stated that Sheikh Zayed’s legacy continues to grow through future generations who will shape what comes next for the UAE.