Dubai Museum located in the Al Fahidi Fort, built in 1787 is the main museum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Dubai Museum works in the famous Al Fahidi Fort. Those interested in the history and the growth of Dubai from a desert to this stunning new city can understand by visiting this museum. The region’s cultural and historical influences and the Arab tradition can interest the old and young alike.
Al Fahidi Fort is the venue of this wonderful museum. This fort was built in the year 1787 and acted in those days as the palace, garrison and prison. It is the oldest building in Dubai and in 1970 it was refurbished to become Dubai Museum and opened in the year 1971, with additional galleries added to it in 1995.
Dubai Museum presents archaeological artifacts like stone and metallic items, pottery, metallic items, stone engravings and skeletons which were excavated from various sites of Emirates in Dubai. The sites include Hatta, Al Soffoh, Al Quasis, and Al Jumeirah. Certain relics date back to 4000 years.
In the museum a large portion is devoted to showcasing musical instruments, it consists of displays of drums, flutes, lyres, bagpipes made of goatskin and other native instruments. There is also weaponry that consists of curved daggers also known as hanjars, swords, spears, axes, bow and arrow, shields made of sharkskin and pistols. In the architecture section there is a model of wind tower room, it shows diagrams and photographs of different wind tower from the bygone cities of Dubai.
During the olden times this fort was used to shield the city from warlike neighboring ancient tribes. The place was the prime centre of governance, ruler’s palace, warehouse for ammunition and jail where prisoners were imprisoned. Walls of the fort were constructed out of coral and shell rubble from the sea and were cemented with lime.
In the galleries displays that gives insight of traditional Arab houses, creek, mosques, the souk, date farms, and marine life and desert life. The most popular exhibits are showcased in the archaeological hall that displays objects from Al Sufouh and Hatta. In the outside area, there is a replica of the traditional desert house with sitting areas, sleeping rooms and kitchen. Outside this traditional house, you could see cannon balls and glittering bronze cannons.
Opening hours: 8:30am – 8:30pm, Saturday to Thursday. 2:30pm to 8:30pm on Friday.
Admission: Dh3 for children from 6 years old and adults. Dh1 for children unde six years old.
