The Founder's Memorial
The Founder's Memorial
The Founder's Memorial
4.6
09:00 - 22:00
Monday
09:00 - 22:00
Tuesday
09:00 - 22:00
Wednesday
09:00 - 22:00
Thursday
09:00 - 22:00
Friday
09:00 - 22:00
Saturday
09:00 - 22:00
Sunday
09:00 - 22:00
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4.6
204 reviews
Excellent
141
Very good
48
Average
14
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Ihar Beliauski
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates844 contributions
Dec 2023 • Solo
The Founder’s Memorial is a captivating testament to the rich history of our country, providing an immersive journey into the roots of the nation. Exploring this memorial becomes more than a visit; it's an educational experience that underscores the importance of understanding the history of the land we call home. With insightful exhibits and engaging narratives, The Founder’s Memorial serves as a beacon, enlightening visitors about the achievements and values that have shaped identity of the country. A visit here not only offers a profound appreciation for the past but also instills a sense of pride in being connected to the historical tapestry of the country.
Written 20 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LightPacker308286
Rockville, MD1,539 contributions
Feb 2025 • Friends
We four senior joined a Half Day Abu Dhabi City Tour. Tour guide leaded us to stop by the Founder's Memorial.
A monumental artwork to honor the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who died in 2004. The Constellation artwork consists of 1,110 stainless steel cables to hold 1,327 “platonic solid”geometric shapes, weighing 250 tons. There are only five platonic solids and each one is made up of a series of identical faces and corners. Renowned for their beauty, these shapes have inspired artists and scientists for millennia.
Within The Constellation, platonic solids are used to represent individual stars. As envisaged by the artist Ralph Helmick a portrait of the founding father is revealed through this celestial constellation.
A monumental artwork to honor the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who died in 2004. The Constellation artwork consists of 1,110 stainless steel cables to hold 1,327 “platonic solid”geometric shapes, weighing 250 tons. There are only five platonic solids and each one is made up of a series of identical faces and corners. Renowned for their beauty, these shapes have inspired artists and scientists for millennia.
Within The Constellation, platonic solids are used to represent individual stars. As envisaged by the artist Ralph Helmick a portrait of the founding father is revealed through this celestial constellation.
Written 22 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flyingred
Buckinghamshire, UK436 contributions
Oct 2021
This is worth going to see around sunset when the lights are coming on. The suspended polygons form the likeness of Sheikh Zayed. The gardens, paths and landscaping are very tasteful and kept in superb condition.
Written 8 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert O
Rotterdam, The Netherlands6,762 contributions
Apr 2023
It took me some time to figure out what it was. The hanging stones in the frame form a portrait of Zayed (the UAE founder/ ruler of Abu Dhabi). Indeed an original idea, but perhaps a bit over the top, if you are more into modesty and paying hommage to the oridnary people who actually did all the work of building the new society.
Written 9 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roberts69
Northampton, UK18,895 contributions
Mar 2022
I was in Abu Dhabi to visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and had enough time afterwards to pay a visit to The Founders Memorial. A Memorial to Sheikh Zayed that enables visitors to learn more about his life, legacy and values. This is a very clever and artistic feat of engineering called 'The Constellation'. Designed by international artist, Ralph Helmick, The Constellation is a monumental three-dimensional portrait of Sheikh Zayed that can be viewed from multiple vantage points around the pleasant and nicely laid out memorial grounds. Housed in a 30m high pavilion, The Constellation contains 1,327 geometric shapes suspended on 1,110 cables to create a series of evolving personal encounters with Sheikh Zayed’s image. I visited by day and whilst I could see the portrait from some points in the memorial grounds I think it would be a far more impressive experience if visited at night when illuminated. There is also a visitor centre where you can watch video of people talking about the Sheikh, his life and the building of the memorial.
The Founder’s Memorial is free to enter and opens daily from 09.00am to 10.00pm. Free visitor parking is available at the site and accessible from 18th Street.
The Founder’s Memorial is free to enter and opens daily from 09.00am to 10.00pm. Free visitor parking is available at the site and accessible from 18th Street.
Written 1 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Professor_UK
London, UK97 contributions
Dec 2021
Free entry to the visitor centre. Free parking outside. The visitor centre had a large screen that provided information about the first ruler of Abu Dabhi. A second screen provided information about the memorial architecture building and artwork. Visitor centre was informative. Take a walk outside to the memorial building that sits in the centre of a lovely kept garden. The place is a great place to walk and view the surrounding area. The memorial building architecture artwork is an amazing piece of artwork for the 21st Century. There's a heavy security presence around the visitor centre and the memorial gardens, this is off-putting, every where you look, you can catch them staring at you - doesn't make for a relaxing visit. I scored it 5/5 for the artwork, clean restroom and information in the visitor centre.
Written 28 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
janerph59
North Branford, CT34 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
What a beautiful work of art this memorial is. We entered the information building close to the Memorial and received a warm welcome and no cost tour from Cultural Guidance Specialist Mahra who walked the grounds with us and taught us about the life of founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Afterwards, we watched a short film. There is also a large video timeline on display. This is in a beautiful area, not to be missed!
Written 9 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lain
Brisbane, Australia92 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
Learning the history of the founder of Abu Dhabi and the UAE is really interesting but what is amazing about this memorial is the artistry.
How it is made up of 1327 geometric shapes on 1110 cables to create the image of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
It’s definitely worth a stop and a moment to take it in.
How it is made up of 1327 geometric shapes on 1110 cables to create the image of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
It’s definitely worth a stop and a moment to take it in.
Written 11 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francis D
Montreal, Canada1,795 contributions
Jan 2022
This monument stands in a park that is small, but very well-maintained and curated for (employees wash the floor constantly).
Although the monument seems to be just rocks hanging in a random display, from a specific perspective (standing a bit more toward the right side of the monument), you can then see that the rocks align to form Sheik's face.
This area is free to enter.
Expect about 15-20 minutes to spend there.
There is a museum on the site, but we didn't visit.
Although the monument seems to be just rocks hanging in a random display, from a specific perspective (standing a bit more toward the right side of the monument), you can then see that the rocks align to form Sheik's face.
This area is free to enter.
Expect about 15-20 minutes to spend there.
There is a museum on the site, but we didn't visit.
Written 27 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob A
Stockport, UK434 contributions
Jan 2020
This is an easy place to miss as you zip about the city shopping, sightseeing and enjoying life. However it's well worth the time to visit.
Start at the small visitor centre, which has both a film and a short presentation to see. It's totally free.The film tells the stroy about the foundation of the UAE and the founder himself Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Really intersting to hear. It then gos on to explain why the memorial was built and how the design was created, before the story of how it was actually built. It was a real technical challenge to bring the installation to reality.
Outside you walk down to the plaza where the memorial is constructed. It's huge and surrounded by greenery and places to sit. Effectively it's a 3D sculpture hanging from a huge arch, which when you stand in the right position shows the face of the Sultan made up of hundreds of hanging lights. At night it really comes into it's own and shimmers. in the night sky.
So park up for free outside, come and wander and look around, watch the film in the visitor centre and meet the founder of the UAE.
Start at the small visitor centre, which has both a film and a short presentation to see. It's totally free.The film tells the stroy about the foundation of the UAE and the founder himself Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Really intersting to hear. It then gos on to explain why the memorial was built and how the design was created, before the story of how it was actually built. It was a real technical challenge to bring the installation to reality.
Outside you walk down to the plaza where the memorial is constructed. It's huge and surrounded by greenery and places to sit. Effectively it's a 3D sculpture hanging from a huge arch, which when you stand in the right position shows the face of the Sultan made up of hundreds of hanging lights. At night it really comes into it's own and shimmers. in the night sky.
So park up for free outside, come and wander and look around, watch the film in the visitor centre and meet the founder of the UAE.
Written 9 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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