Dubai Museum

Dubai, popularly known as the “shopper’s paradise” or “the city of gold” is also a great destination for history enthusiasts for having the most prominent museum of the Emirates, the Dubai Museum. Being a part of the legendary Al Fahidi Fort in Dubai, the museum is the earliest building of UAE and a key attraction in Dubai for culture aficionados. The stunning architectural marvel of the museum stands as a chronicle of the Arab world-its heritage and culture. The Bastakia Quarter and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding are the two prominent heritage sites near Dubai Museum.

The Al Fahidi Fort was built in the year 1787 by the then ruler of Dubai for political and residential purposes. Later in 1971, the battered citadel was renovated by Sheikh Rasheed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum as a museum for visitors. In 1995, another underground museum was built and added to the old fort. The museum is a treasure trove of monuments, diagrams, documents, tombs and other relics that give you a vivid picture about the earliest settlements in Dubai.

The museum has different wings that are dedicated to the different aspects of life and living in Dubai. The Al Fahidi Fort Gallery descending down a spiral staircase in the south-western tower of the citadel comprises of artefacts dating back up to 1960 before oil was discovered. The full-scale wings of the museum featuring various relics of trade and commerce in ancient Dubai and video footage telecast at the background together give you a feeling of being on a real souq (market) in ancient Dubai.

Following the souq, one will find a model mosque and a desert bearing the testimony of the life and living of the Bedouins. Regardless to say, the largest wing of the museum is that of the seafarers which showcase their importance in the social structure of Dubai. Starting from the technique of making a dhow to the varied marine life underneath the Arabian Gulf, the seafarer diorama is a must-watch in the Dubai Museum.

The largest diorama of the museum is the Al Qusais Archaeological Site which reflects various stages of Dubai’s archaeological history. The relics from Jumeirah, Al Quasis and other sites date as early as back to 2000-1000 B.C. reflecting the glorious past of the Arab world. Your final stopover will be at a gift shop where you can find gift items and other souvenirs at surprisingly affordable prices.

Dubai Museum is a place where history and modern-day reality blend seamlessly making it a prominent cultural site of Dubai. The intricate architecture across the interior of the museum, local antiques and artefacts traded from the Asian and African countries down the centuries add to the rich collection of the museum. Thousands of people from all walks of life visit the museum to explore and gain knowledge about the social, cultural and political history of the people of the Emirates. In a nutshell, a visit to the Dubai Museum is an escape into the royal past and an experience worth making. Some unknown facts about Dubai Museum you should check out before planning your trip:

The best time to visit the Dubai Museum is between November and April when the climate is comparatively cooler than the rest of the year when it is scorching. Also, during this time of the year, tourists can witness the major festivals held in Dubai.

Location: Al Fahidi Street, Ali Bin Abu Thalib Street, Bur Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Timings: Museum remains open from Saturday to Thursday between 8:30 AM-8:30 PM

Price: Entrance fees are AED 3 (INR 58) for adults (per person) and AED 1 (INR 20) for children (per person under the age of 6). Visitors can purchase Dubai Museum ticket along with tickets for Dubai Fort as the museum ticket is inclusive of the fort ticket.

Places to Shop Near Dubai Museum

Check out on the prominent places to shop near Dubai Museum that will surely allure you to pay a visit and buy some exclusive items from the shopping paradise of the Middle East. Here are a few listed below:

1. Old Souk: Located in Bur Dubai in the southern side of Dubai Creek, Old Souk is also known as Textile Souk or Bur Dubai Souk which houses an array of stores selling fabrics, souvenirs, shoes, footwear etc. Old Souk is basically an immigrant market in the heart of old Dubai where Indian traders have settled and built a flourishing textile business; hence the name Textile Souk (market). Small retail shops with wooden doors on either side of the market with their display of colourful knickknacks are really inviting to the eyes.  Tourists willing to visit this traditional souk will have to get down at either Al Fahidi Metro station or Al Ghubaiba Metro Station. You can also take an abra (water taxi) from Deira to reach Old Souk.

2. Spice Souk: ‘Colourful’ and ‘aromatic’ are the two adjectives that you can generously use for Spice Souk. Discover a wide variety of Arabian spices, incense, medicinal herbs, dry fruits and many more things in this traditional market of Dubai. As you walk along the alleys of Spice Souk, your senses will be intoxicated by a myriad of flavours wafting in the air from various shops. It is a must-visit place for cookery bugs.

3. Gold Souk: This is probably the most hunted shopping destination in Dubai which every tourist includes in their bucket list even if it is just for window shopping. The covered alleys are home to numerous jewellery shops that sell extravagant ornaments of gold, silver, diamonds and other gemstones. Make sure you bargain the price of the jewellery before purchase as there is often a reduction as high as up to 30% on making charges.

4. Perfume Souk: If you are looking forward to buying some exclusive knickknack from Dubai, visiting the famous Perfume Souk will be all worth it. An array of exotic aromas coming from different directions will certainly tantalise your olfactory senses and beckon you towards its various sources. You can gather fair knowledge about oud and bakhoor and other intricacies of fragrance making in the Arab world and buy personalised fragrances according to your taste and personality.

5. Al Khaleej Centre: The high-end shopping complex stretching for about 6000 sq. ft. has more than 300 retail units (KFC, Pierre Cardin, Galadari etc.), electronic retail outlets and modern open souks (perfumery, bags etc.). Opening hours of the shopping complex are between 10 AM- 10 PM (Saturday to Thursday) and 5 PM- 10 PM on Fridays.

6. Al-Ain Centre: Al Ain Centre aka Computer Plaza is an exclusive store in Dubai which sells a wide range of internationally-branded electronic goods at competitive prices. There are over 60 independent retail shops that sell top-notch hardware, software programs and computer parts all under one roof.

Tips for Visiting Dubai Museum

Dubai is a city where culture and tradition blend seamlessly with modern lifestyle and therefore makes it a much-hunted travel destination for wanderlust people. Follow these tips for an exciting trip to the Dubai Museum:

- Dubai Museum is a treasure trove of valuable artefacts and relics. So, tourists are not allowed to touch or mishandle them in any way and acknowledge their antique value. Damage to museum property will be subject to stringent action with a hefty fine.

- Visitors must keep their mobile phones in silent mode. For taking cameras inside the museum premises one has to take prior permission of the museum authority.

- Visitors should be thoroughly particular about the timings of entry into the museum. No visitors will be allowed to enter before or after the scheduled timings.

- Maintaining proper dress code is highly recommended while touring around the prominent places in Dubai. Your dress code should not reflect any form of disregard towards the prevailing culture of Dubai.

- Smoking in public and consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited.

- Since Dubai experiences hot and dry climate, you should drink enough water to keep yourself hydrated.

Dubai Museum is easily accessible from Dubai Airport and it takes about 8 minutes from the airport to reach your destination. From Airport Terminal 3 you can take a metro up to Burjuman Station. From there a connecting metro will take you up to Al Fahidi station. You have to walk up to the Dubai Museum from the station which takes about 9 minutes.

The second option is to take a taxi from Dubai Airport up to Dubai Museum that will take approximately 8 minutes to take you up to the museum and cost you around AED 55- AED 65. You can also hire an Uber from the airport till your destination.