The  Al Maqta’a Museum, formerly known as Al Maqta’a Fort, has a rich history deeply intertwined with the protection and development of Abu Dhabi Island. 

The museum is housed within Al Maqta'a Fort, which is a reconstruction of the former Customs House built in the 1950s to monitor entry to Abu Dhabi Island when the first causeway was built linking it to the mainland. It is located within Al Maqta’a Conservation Area, which comprises buildings and structures of the pre-oil, transitional, and post-oil periods and the naturally formed waterway (Khor) between Abu Dhabi Island and the mainland. These elements contribute to the political and strategic significance of this area for the founding of Abu Dhabi City. 

As early as 1761, Sheikh Diyab Ibn Isa Al Nahyan, who was the Sheikh of the Bani Yas tribe from the inland Liwa Oasis, made frequent visits to Abu Dhabi Island. As the settlement grew, it was important to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s defences. Sheikh Diyab Ibn Isa Al Nahyan’s son, Sheikh Shakhbut bin Diyab, oversaw the construction of Al Maqta’a Tower in the late 18th century, which protected the Al Maqta’a Crossing between Abu Dhabi Island and the mainland. 

Fast forward to the late 1950s, a causeway was built linking the mainland to Abu Dhabi Island and a police station was built on the mainland to monitor traffic across the causeway. This building later became a customs house, operating until the unification of the UAE in 1971, after which goods were no longer required to be checked at the border to Abu Dhabi Island. The building, renamed Al Maqta'a Fort, was heavily restored in 2002 and transformed into a museum to celebrate its socio-cultural and historic importance. 


The tower still stands in the middle of the Khor and was conserved by DCT Abu Dhabi in 2022 to address the recurring damage caused by exposure to a marine environment. Until the 1950s, the tower signalled arrival to Abu Dhabi Island for wayfarers and guarded the crossing. 

The renovated museum underlines the shared efforts of DCT Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Police in presenting and promoting the history of this site to the community and visitors at large. The rehabilitation project encompassed both the building itself and the museum’s interpretive content. For the first time, the plaster was replaced with a more homogeneous and durable material, closely resembling the appearance of the original finish. 


The renovation also included significant upgrades to the electromechanical systems, the installation of an improved drainage network, and enhanced waterproofing. In addition, the new museum features engaging exhibits showcasing objects related to the Abu Dhabi Police through the decades, including vintage police cars and uniforms, and will host programmes for people of all ages, such as historical re-enactments of the changing of the guard, children’s programming, live police shows, as well as seasonal activations. New experiential elements include food and beverage outlets, a coffee shop, a children's playground, camel statues, a photo-friendly miniature of Al Maqta’a Bridge, and parking.