Museums in Dubai to Get a Glimpse of Emirati Culture

Dubai museum was built in 1787 and is the oldest existing building in Dubai.

Situated on Jumeirah Road, the Etihad Museum is a historical place which consists of everything old and ancient. Also called the union house, it serves as a place which recites the story of the birth of the UAE. Managed by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, this museum collects, preserves and exhibits the heritage and traditions of the city and the country. It is designed in the shape of a manuscript and upholds the political, social and cultural history. This museum in Dubai has several exhibits which run documentaries on history of the country, tell about the key historical events, provide interactive sessions with the guides, and have pictorial galleries of Dubai.

Al Maktoum House is a historic building located in the Al Shindagha area of the city. Former residence of Dubai’s then ruler Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, the house built in 1896 is now a museum. Visitors can enjoy and get to know about the city and the royal family’s culture and lifestyle. It is now a famous tourist spot which impresses residents and visitors with its simple yet vast stature, open areas and courtyards, and cooling wind towers. You can find a lot of old pictures, documents, stamps and coins, jewellery and decorative items in this ancient museum in Dubai.

Dubai’s Coffee Museum is a coffee lover’s paradise tucked away in Al Fahidi heritage hub neighbourhood in Bur Dubai. This eccentric museum in Dubai brings coffee lovers and the coffee culture together under a roof for the love of the cup of brewed Joe (Coffee). The robust home of Coffee Museum showcases the coffee bean journey from around the world, how it was discovered back in time. The visitors are often greeted with a warm cup of Java and popcorns when they enter the museum, as a courtesy to the Arab culture of hospitality.

You know the excitement that bubbles up when you’re staring at an optical illusion, knowing that your brain may be telling you one thing, but your eyes see a different story? In Dubai, the Museum of Illusions works to give you exactly that: a sensory experience that defies logic. With over 80 interactive exhibits spread over 450 square metres, this Museum in Dubai offers a unique experience. Adults and children alike are bound to enjoy the different illusions, exhibits, and brain teasers that’ll keep you guessing.

Camel being the lifeline of the desert, this museum in Dubai gives its visitors a chance to understand the status of this animal in Arabian culture.

Oli Oli in Dubai is an interactive play area for children. With 8 galleries holding more than 40 exhibits and frequent workshops, OliOli has managed to capture the hearts of both parents and children alike in just a few short months. While the galleries are designed to create a fun, joyful and safe atmosphere, they also create a learning space where children can explore topics like Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM). This interactive museum provided a hands-on experience that not many other places could provide, and that’s what made it stand out from the crowd. 

Hatta Heritage Village is a mountain village which is reconstructed and extensively renovated solely for tourism purpose. This place gives an insight into what ancient Emirati villages looked like. Amidst Al Hajar Mountains in Hatta, the village overlooks two very significant mountains of the Gulf city called Hajarans and is almost 3000 years old, but in a perfectly revamped condition. The rural landscape of Hatta Heritage Village is flecked with a cluster of farms chiselled by a freshwater canal, quaint shops selling customary heritage collections and an archaeological cemetery.

Located in the Satwa district of Dubai, this street museum is one of the most prominent global graffiti hubs in the country. With local, international and artists from the Emirates, the interested murals and painted buildings and walls promotes UAE’s heritage, art and culture. Initiated in the year 2016, it has significantly transformed the concrete and dull structures and streets into coloured, vibrant and appealing canvas of arts. It presents historical and cultural significance on the streets so that everyone has access to this open-air and inspiring exhibit which binds people with their ancestors and roots.