Dubai Museum

Dubai Museum is inside Al Fahidi Fort, which is located at the south of Dubai Creek, at the Grand Market (Al Souk Al Kabir in Arabic) area and close to the Ruler's Court (the monarch's divan). The museum spans over an area of 4000 squares meters. Despite being situated in the oldest building in Dubai, the museum is completely air-conditioned, making it a perfect way to spend an hour or so during the hottest part of the afternoon.

How to reach it:

There are several roads and ways leading to the Museum of Dubai. Let’s explore them together as follows:

It is accessible from different locations through the Fahidi and Ghubaiba bus station. Just catch the metro or bus to Al Ghubaiba or Al Fahidi stations, and then walk 10 minutes to the museum.

If you are driving a car, be aware that there is limited parking space near the museum so your best bet would be to take a cab.  

The Museum is open from Saturday to Thursday, from 8:30 am until 8:30 pm. During Ramadan, it opens from Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 am to 05:00 pm.

Entrance Fees & Guidance:

The admission fee for Dubai Museum is AED 3 per person and children below 6 year old will be charged only AED 1. Dubai Museum tickets can be purchased along with the tickets of Al Fahidi Fort. Dubai Museum entry fee is inclusive of a visit to the Fort as well. Tour guides are available if required with no extra charges  

The Dubai Museum is set inside the Al Fahidi Fort (the oldest building on the soil of Dubai) which was home to a powerful monarch up until 1896. Being a place used for defense, a prison, and weapons depot; the Fort was a stronghold of the monarchy who ruled these lands back then. The late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum renovated the Al Fahidi Fort during his reign in 1971 (the year the federation was formed) to be an official iconic museum that displays the history of Dubai and preserving the ancient Arab history.

The Dubai Museum consists of several wings that elaborate on how the city progressed over the years based on a deeply rooted civilization and also houses original antiques such as pottery, weapons and tombs. The Museum exhibits a number of collections that reveal how life was in the area since the early 1950s. A visitor can explore different wings reflecting the atmosphere of the markets and traditional homes from the past as follows:

1-The Monument Wing:

The monuments wing displays housing antique monuments such as weapons, tombs, urban communities and pottery and urban communities. In this wing, you will have an idea about the past nomadic lifestyle of the Emirati.  

2-Markets from 1950

Undoubtedly, the shopping malls in Dubai are some of the best in the world but have you considered how shopping was like in the early 1950s? The Dubai Museum has its own market wing with many stores and tradesmen in an old market in Bur Dubai.  

3-Dubai Museum Video Room:

Next to the maps room in the museum, you can visit the video room which was updated in 2007 where you will experience the different life of Dubai people before the oil era and after it.

4-Dubai Museum Deck, Mosque and Models:

The deck of a dhow is the first thing you will find in this wing. After that there are retail shops which always fill with buyers and sellers. Going ahead in the street one can easily find a mosque model, old homes and wind towers exhibiting how the buildings and structures have evolved over the years in Dubai.

5-Sea Exhibit and Oasis Wing, Desert at Night Wing:

The Sea exhibit at the Dubai Museum reveals how the sea and its natural resources have assisted Dubai’s economy flourish. Pearl diving and fishing industry have made a massive contribution in shaping up modern Dubai. The Sea Wing displays the ancient methods of building the ships followed by local fishermen. The Oasis Wing and the Desert at Night have displays depicting desert life, and visitors can enjoy a glimpse of the wildlife of Dubai.  

In short, the museum with all its sounds, visual effects and electronic guides accompanying the dioramas offer a lot of information and activities for the visitors who are thrilled to learn about the old heritage of Dubai.