The Founder's Memorial is the national memorial to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE, at the western end of the Corniche. It opened in 2018, the Year of Zayed, covers 3.3 hectares and is free to visit.
What to see
At its heart is The Constellation by American artist Ralph Helmick: a three-dimensional portrait of Sheikh Zayed made of 1,327 geometric shapes on 1,110 cables. The face only comes together from certain viewpoints, and at night the lit shapes glitter like stars. The roughly 250-tonne artwork hangs in an open cube pavilion measuring 30 × 30 × 30 metres, circled by an elevated walkway.
Two gardens surround the pavilion. The Heritage Garden has ghaf, the UAE's national tree, sidr, acacias and date palms, with water flowing along a channel styled on a traditional falaj. The Sanctuary Garden around the pavilion is planted with desert species. Visits start at the Welcome Centre, which screens a film about encounters with Sheikh Zayed every 15 minutes.
Getting there
The memorial is in Al Ras Al Akhdar at the end of the Corniche, near Emirates Palace and Qasr Al Watan. Taxis and coaches drop off on 18th Street next to the Welcome Centre, where there is also a small free car park. You can also walk in from the Corniche.
Planning your visit
Allow 45 to 90 minutes. Evening is the best time, when The Constellation is lit. Emirati guides run free 30-minute tours in Arabic and English, which are worth booking ahead. Individuals and small groups don't need to book, but large groups must.
Before you go
There is no official dress code, but this is a national memorial, so modest clothing and quiet behaviour are appropriate. The 19th day of Ramadan, the anniversary of Sheikh Zayed's death, is marked in the UAE as Zayed Humanitarian Day.
Corniche Road West, Al Ras Al Akhdar, Abu Dhabi · 24.463147, 54.322432
