A UAE newspaper has said that the Etihad Museum well deserves all the top honours that it scooped at The Leading Culture Destinations Awards 2017 in London, saying that it took home the coveted "Best New Museum in the Middle East and Africa" award and also got placed as first runner-up in the "Best Museum Architecture of the Year" category.

As Abdul Rahman Al Owais, UAE Minister of Health and Prevention and Chairman of the Board of Directors for Dubai Culture, pointed out, the recognition honours the success the museum has achieved in a short period of time in strengthening its position on the global tourism stage.

In an editorial on Monday, The Gulf Today said, "It has become famous as a key centre for academic exchange among both students and experts, cementing its role as an important reference point for the historical education of future Emirati generations and UAE residents and acknowledging the legacy of the Founding Fathers."

The paper continued, "The museum is focused on inspiring its visitors with the story of the founding of the UAE. The 25,000 m2 landmark is befittingly located at the very place where the UAE was founded in 1971.

"The various pavilions house experience-driven exhibitions, interactive programmes and education initiatives that explore the chronology of events that culminated in the unification of the Emirates in 1971, with a key emphasis on the period between 1968 and 1974.

"The programmes aim to educate visitors about the nation’s constitution, in particular, the rights, privileges and responsibilities that it bestows upon the people of the UAE."

The museum even allows visitors to view the most important personal collections of the UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which contains much of his own private property.

"By celebrating the dedication, commitment and patriotism of the Founding Fathers, the museum invites individuals from all walks of life to follow their shining example in nation building.

"If anyone thought visiting a museum is a tame affair, entering the Etihad Museum in Dubai could change that perception forever," concluded the Sharjah-based daily.