Abu Dhabi Museum Purchases 318 Jurassic Fossils From UK Collector

The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi purchased a collection of 318 Jurassic fossils from private collector Chris Moore for an undisclosed eight-figure sum. The specimens, which include ichthyosaurs, fish, and crustaceans from the Lower Lias sequence in Dorset, England, went on public display in November 2025.

Before the overseas sale, Moore offered the fossils to the Natural History Museum (London) and Amgueddfa Cymru (Museum Wales). Both institutions declined the acquisition, citing storage constraints and a lack of funding.

The transaction was legal under United Kingdom law because fossils are not classified as state property or treasure, meaning export licenses were not required. Some experts view the sale as a loss to the UK's national heritage, while others maintain that placing the fossils in a public museum abroad is a better outcome than a private sale.