Hot air balloons over the UAE desert are a familiar sight in the cooler months. Now the story of ballooning is getting its own home. The UAE Hot Air Balloon Team has signed a partnership with the Saga Balloon Museum in Japan to build the first comprehensive hot air balloon museum in the Middle East, to be called the UAE Balloon Museum 7.
The two sides signed the deal in Japan, and WAM announced it on 11 November 2026. So here is what the museum will include, why it carries the number 7, and what we are still waiting to hear.
Quick answer: The UAE Balloon Museum 7 will be the first hot air balloon museum in the Middle East and the seventh specialised balloon museum in the world. The UAE team is developing it with Japan’s Saga Balloon Museum, and Emirati professionals will run it. However, organisers have not yet announced a location or opening date.
What the UAE hot air balloon museum will include
According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the museum will:
- Tell the history of hot air ballooning
- Show the technology used to build and fly balloons
- Document the journey of the UAE Hot Air Balloon Team and its international tours
- Act as an educational and training hub for national talent
Captain Abdulaziz Nasser Al Mansoori, Head of the UAE Hot Air Balloon Team, described it as “a knowledge bridge connecting our region to the horizons of aviation”, in both its historical and modern forms.
Why the UAE hot air balloon museum carries the number 7
The name reflects its place in a small global network. Once open, it will be the seventh specialised balloon museum in the world. The others are:
| Country | Balloon museums |
|---|---|
| United States | Two |
| Netherlands | One |
| United Kingdom | One |
| Switzerland | One |
| Japan | One (Saga Balloon Museum) |
| UAE | UAE Balloon Museum 7 (planned) |
That makes the UAE the first and only country in the Middle East to have one.
Read More: Zayed National Museum Abu Dhabi: History, Architecture and Timings
Why Saga, Japan?
Saga is one of the world’s ballooning capitals. It hosts the Saga International Balloon Fiesta, one of the biggest balloon events in Asia, and its museum focuses entirely on the sport. The UAE team signed the deal during a visit to the museum while competing in the 39th Pacific Cup at the fiesta.
In fact, the relationship goes back years. Kiyoshi Mori, Deputy Director of the Saga Balloon Museum, said the UAE team was the first to have an Arabic name inscribed on the museum’s honour boards, in 2006.
The balloon that carries Sheikh Zayed’s name
The museum will also tell the story of the UAE Hot Air Balloon Team, which flies to honour the legacy of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Its balloon carries the slogan “The world will never forget you, Zayed”, and the team has flown it at international events around the world.
For many residents, that balloon is also a familiar sight at festivals. A museum gives that history a permanent home, and a reason for families and school groups to visit.
What we don’t know yet
- Location: WAM’s report came from Sharjah, but organisers have not confirmed a site.
- Opening date: there is no timeline yet.
- Tickets and visits: no details yet on entry fees or opening hours.
Read More: Sheikh Zayed Festival 2026/2027: Dates, Tickets, Attractions and What to Expect
Pro Tip: If you want to see a hot air balloon up close before the museum opens, book a sunrise balloon flight over the desert during the winter season, when calm mornings make for the best flying conditions. Always choose a licensed operator.
Our Take
A balloon museum sounds niche until you remember how much ballooning is already tied to the UAE’s winter tourism and to Sheikh Zayed’s legacy. Still, being one of only seven in the world gives it a real draw for tourists and school trips. The details that will decide its success, the location and how hands-on the exhibits are, are still to come.
FAQs
Is the UAE getting a hot air balloon museum?
Yes. The UAE Hot Air Balloon Team has partnered with Japan’s Saga Balloon Museum to create the UAE Balloon Museum 7, the first of its kind in the Middle East.
Where will the UAE balloon museum be?
Organisers have not announced the location yet.
When will the UAE Balloon Museum 7 open?
There is no opening date yet.
How many balloon museums are there in the world?
Six specialised balloon museums, in the US (two), the Netherlands, the UK, Switzerland and Japan. The UAE museum will be the seventh.
