One way to know a lot about the destination you are visiting is by heading to museums. A carefully curated collection of elements displays what the destination truly was in the past and depicts its keen interests and visions. Dubai is a fascinating destination that every wanderlust should experience at least once in their lifetime. The city evokes an image of a sophisticated and suave lifestyle. Look closer and you can find that this Middle Eastern emirate is steeped in the bygone Bedouin essence. Amid the contemporary chaos, there are few attractions that preciously protect the remnants of the city’s past. These snippets of history are displayed in dedicated museums to give visitors a sense of the reality of Dubai. The museums in the city delve into various topics and provide insights into Dubai’s fascinating history.
If you are heading to Dubai, you have access to many extraordinary experiences, so you will certainly look forward to visiting them as much as possible. However, before you make your final travel itinerary and apply for an online Dubai visa, add a few of these museums to your Dubai travel plan so you can truly get a feel for the city’s personality.
Table of Contents
1. Dubai Museum
Set inside the oldest standing structure in Dubai – the Al Fahidi Fort, Dubai Museum is where you can get a glimpse of emirate’s humble history. Constructed in the late 18th century, this historic fort with enormous watchtowers was built to guard Dubai. After massive renovations, the fort was transformed into a museum dedicated to preserving and presenting Dubai’s traditions to visitors and locals. The exterior of the museum is adorned by ancient canons, a traditional wooden boat, and a spacious courtyard, Visitors can also descend underground via a spectacular spiral ramp to reach the main portion of the museum. There is also a section dedicated to archeological findings with exhibits including tools that were used more than 4,000 years ago by ancient Bedouin settlements. The Dubai Museum is one of the most visited museums in Dubai and is a must-visit for those who wonder what Dubai was all about before it became a global city.
Location – Al Fahidi fort at Al Souk Al Kabir area, Bur Dubai
Timings
From Saturday to Thursday – 8:30 am till 8.30 pm, Friday – 2.30 pm to 8.30 pm.
Admission cost
For Adults, the charge is AED 3 per person, and kids under the age of 6 years pay AED 1 per child.
2. Al Shindagha Museum
When visiting the emirate on a Dubai tourist visa, you may as well dedicate a half-day tour and check out the Al Shindagha Museum while you are there. Its picturesque location on Dubai Creek allows visitors to experience a stoic perspective on the emirate and learn how Dubai Creek inspired and paved the way for modern Dubai. Several interactive displays and historic artifacts from the 19th century can be seen in the museum. Al Shindagha Museum was opened to the public in 2019, but it is just one piece of the larger Dubai Historical Neighbourhood project. This museum has an interesting section called the Perfume House where you can discover authentic Arabian scents and experience how perfume is made according to ancient methods. The museum is a small nudge for visitors to discover Dubai’s cultural heritage and its legacy.
Location – Shindagha Historical district
Timing
Wednesday and Thursday and Saturday to Monday from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm. Friday from 2.30 pm to 9.00 pm.
Admission Cost
Entry ticket is priced at AED 15 per person. Students aged 5 to 24 years can avail of entry at AED 5 per person. Children under the age of 5 years can enter free of cost.
3. Etihad Museum
The Etihad Museum immediately draws you in with its eye-catching contemporary design. The museum celebrates the union of all the emirates that make up the UAE and documents how the political foundations of the country were built. Photographs, articles, and heirlooms on display at the museum illustrate significant events in the history of Dubai and the UAE from 1968 to 1974. It depicts historic moments such as the discovery of oil and how trade boomed after the emergence of the UAE as a nation. The museum also has an expansive library that houses more than 3000 documents and books.
Location – 1 Jumeirah St, Al Mina
Timings
Daily from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm
Admission cost
The entry fee is AED 25 per person. Students aged 5-24 years can avail the ticket for AED 10 per person. Children under 5 years of age can enter free of cost.
4. Coffee Museum
It’s hard to resist a hot cup of Arabian Coffee, right? The city of Dubai is one of the best places to sample Middle Eastern coffee, but if you are curious about the beverage, you can visit a museum dedicated to it as well. The Dubai Coffee Museum showcases the coffee culture and coffee drinking traditions. This museum in Dubai has two levels where visitors can learn about coffee, roasting beans, brewing styles, and even glimpse into the history of coffee through antiques, exhibits, and books from all over the world.
Location – Villa 44, Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, Bur Dubai
Timings
Daily from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Admission cost
Entry is free of cost.
5. Naif Museum
Visitors are quite fascinated by Dubai’s police force, another aspect that is quite a popular chatter topic. While the elite police force of Dubai is well-known for its posh fast cars, there is more to the unit than that. Naif Museum tells the story of Dubai’s police force and gives you a good idea of how the force developed and reached its current standards. The museum is located in a fort that was once a prison and police headquarters.
Location – Naif Area, Deira
Timings
From Sunday to Thursday – 8:00 am until 2.00 pm
Admission cost
The museum is free to visit at no extra cost
6. Museum of the Future
Dubai has opened the New “Museum of the Future” on 22nd of February 2022, which is the Palindrome date. Its is an exhibition space for innovative and futuristic ideologies, services, and products and its based on the 3 elements building, green hill and void. It has also got the title of Most beautiful building in the world. There is a viral promo video on internet about the spaceship landing inside this beautiful museum building. The entry ticket cost is AED 165
Conclusion:
The above mentioned 5 museums are only a handful of the most popular museums to visit in Dubai. There is no dearth of museums to visit in Dubai and you would be surprised how much you can get enlightened by visiting them. These 5 museums are a must-visit if you want to get a gist of how Dubai was before it became a global city and what interest it keenly loves to explore. There are plenty more museums which you can get an idea about from the internet or by consulting a reputed tour operator that deals with International visa services and holiday packages.
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