Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan Attend the Opening of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi

The grand opening ceremony of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi was illuminated by the presence of Bollywood megastars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, adding significant international celebrity power to the highly anticipated event.

The two actors, considered among the biggest names in India's film industry with well-known ties to the UAE, joined His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, along with other UAE leaders and dignitaries for the inaugural ceremony on Thursday night. Their attendance underscores the importance of the new cultural institution and its role in attracting global attention to the nation's growing arts and cultural scene.

The Khans were not merely spectators; they spent time touring the extensive museum collections and exhibits alongside other distinguished guests. The sheer scale and scope of the exhibits clearly impressed the actors. In a video shared by Visit Abu Dhabi, Shah Rukh Khan described the experience as "mind-blowing," while Salman Khan likened the immersive experience to visiting "the real Jurassic Park." These enthusiastic reactions highlight the museum's success in creating an impactful journey through natural history, right from the formation of the universe to the evolution of life on Earth.

The event, which celebrated the opening of the vast, 35,000-square-metre facility, also attracted a diverse array of international celebrities. Attendees included TV personality Steve Harvey, science host Adam Savage from MythBusters, and Jurassic World actors David Iacono and Audrina Miranda, alongside music producer Swizz Beatz. The museum, located on Saadiyat Island, is set to open its doors to the public on Saturday and is a centerpiece of the Saadiyat Cultural District, joining institutions like the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi chronicles several eras of natural history with a special focus on the Arabian region's unique biodiversity. Among its star attractions are the massive 11.7-meter-tall fossilized skeleton of Stan, the Tyrannosaurus rex, a 7-billion-year-old meteorite, and a detailed recreation of Abu Dhabi dating back seven million years. This new institution aims to offer a different perspective on the story of life on Earth, framed through a distinctly Arabian lens, with the ultimate goal of using the planet's past to inform and protect its future.