Dubai Museum
Al Fahidi Fort, Al Fahidi Street, Al Fahidi, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Set inside Al Fahidi Fort, the Dubai Museum recounts the Emirates’ history up until the oil boom, which forever altered its skyline. Dioramas and artifacts convey what daily life was like for Dubai’s earliest communities, while life-sized re-creations of the city’s early souks and wharfs bring the past to life.
The Basics
Housed in Dubai’s oldest structure—built in 1787—the Dubai Museum gives visitors insight into a side of the city hard to imagine amid all the ultramodern skyscrapers. The museum is a highlight on many city tours, along with other popular Dubai attractions such as the Jumeirah Mosque, Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Creek, and the Gold and Spice souks.
Things to Know Before You Go
The Dubai Museum is a must-see for history buffs.
See the museum as part of a city sightseeing tour, with stops at several other popular attractions.
The Dubai Museum is accessible to wheelchair users, but there are some steep walkways that may require assistance for manual wheelchairs.
How to Get There
To reach the Dubai Museum, either walk along Al Fahidi Street through the backstreets of Bastakia or make your way there from Bur Dubai Souq. The Dubai Museum is a short walk from both the Bhubaiba and Fahidi bus and metro stations. Limited free public parking is also available.
When to Get There
The museum is open daily (limited hours on Fridays) except for during Ramadan, when the museum remains closed on Fridays. Despite being 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.
History of Al Fahidi Fort
Located on the southern shores of Dubai Creek, the 200-year-old Al Fahidi Fort was built at what was then the edge of urban Dubai to lend protection to the city. Throughout its history, the building served as an arsenal for weapons and artillery, and as a prison before it became a museum in 1971.
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