As the centerpiece of Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District, the Zayed National Museum was designed to honor the legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and share the story of the United Arab Emirates with the world.Developed by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, the museum strengthens the cultural district’s position as a global destination and adds another architectural landmark to Saadiyat Island.
 
Its outer structure is defined by five distinctive wing-shaped towers inspired by falconry, shaped to support the building’s climate performance by drawing cooler air through the museum. To deliver this complex structure safely and efficiently, the construction team focused on a modular approach that could reduce work at height, accelerate build time, and limit disruption across an active construction site with multiple trades and tower cranes operating at the same time.
 
On the first floor, four pod-shaped gallery units form the base of the wings and sit above the top-lit central lobby, which is set into the ground to support thermal performance. These pods were prefabricated at ground level on site, then lifted and installed onto their foundations inside the museum. This modular construction approach helped improve safety and quality while keeping the wider construction program moving.
 
The main contractor, JV BESIX and Trojan General Contracting, approached Mammoet in the early phase of the project to develop the best lifting and installation method for the prefabricated pods and the wing components. The initial plan considered using a large crawler crane, but the museum’s elevated construction area and surrounding site constraints meant this option would require significant backfilling to create enough working space for crawler crane operations, including the superlift. It would also impact ongoing civil activities and tower crane movements.
 
After studying the lifting requirements and site conditions in detail, Mammoet engineers proposed an alternative method using the Mammoet SK series crane, one of the world’s largest capacity land-based cranes.
 
With its high lifting capability and long outreach, the SK crane allowed Mammoet to position the crane away from the busiest construction zones, staying clear of tower cranes while still reaching the lift points inside the structure. This reduced congestion, supported safer lifting operations, and allowed other work fronts to continue with minimal disruption. This approach supported project acceleration by keeping key lifts on the critical path under control and allowing parallel construction activities to continue.
 
The crane’s large operating radius also allowed the pods to be picked from their fabrication position and installed onto their foundations with fewer relocations, which improved efficiency and reduced risk.
 
To suit site constraints and available working space, the SK crane was rigged at two locations: first in the SK350 configuration and then it was relocated and reconfigured into the SK190 configuration, which required a smaller footprint, highlighting the versatility of the SK series’ design to support complex heavy lifts across changing site conditions.
 
In both areas, the crane was rigged with a 135-metre main boom, and lifts were executed with wind speeds limited to 14 m/s and only under a decreasing forecast, following strict criteria defined in the engineered lift plan to protect people, the load and the structure.
 
The heaviest lift reached 612 tonnes, with a working lift radius of over 150 meters, showing the crane’s capability to perform complex heavy lifts in a congested environment while supporting efficient modular installation. Ground pressure was also carefully managed, with the SK crane maintaining a worst-case ground bearing pressure of 26.9 t/m² during these lifts, supporting stable operations without excessive ground preparation.
 
Mammoet engineered bespoke adjustable rigging using strand jacks, enabling controlled tilting, fine adjustment and rotation from fabrication orientation to final installation orientation. This precision was essential to safely install large, irregular-shaped pods within a tight footprint. This type of adjustable rigging approach, also applied on other complex roof and architectural module installations such as stadium and airport projects, helps make bold architectural designs practical to build.
 
With Mammoet’s early engineering support and the SK series’ lifting performance, the BESIX–Trojan JV was able to install the museum’s key modular components efficiently while minimizing disruption across the active construction site.
 
Now open to the public, the Zayed National Museum offers permanent galleries, special exhibitions and outdoor spaces that connect visitors to the UAE’s heritage and its place in the world.
 
Jack van den Brink, Managing Director AMEA at Mammoet, said: “Since the UAE was established in 1971, the country has grown at an incredible pace and continues to lead through long-term vision and innovation. Mammoet has been active in the UAE for almost 50 years, supporting customers across major energy and infrastructure projects, as well as landmark developments such as Burj Al Arab, Ain Dubai and many more. We are proud to continue contributing to projects like Zayed National Museum that celebrate the nation’s identity and cultural heritage”.  
Mammoet

Mammoet helps clients with Smarter, Safer and Stronger solutions to any heavy lifting or transport challenge. We aim to develop long term relationships in order to understand their businesses and challenges best, so we can realize the most efficient and cost-effective approaches. We have a unique global network and an unparalleled fleet of equipment. Through deep and longstanding engineering expertise and the highest quality and safety standards in execution we bring an intelligent and flexible approach to projects across a wide breadth of industry sectors. Clients trust us to help them achieve feats that were once considered impossible, and we have often broken records in doing so. For more information, visit www.mammoet.com
For more information, please contact:
Damira Kaziyeva
Marketing Communication Lead
Mammoet Projects AMEA
E-mail: damira.kaziyeva@mammoet.com