Dubai’s museums and heritage sites provide the diverse community of Dubai with rich experiences across the emirate, and Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is mandated with safeguarding them as beacons of knowledge and a testament to the emirate’s past and rich cultural heritage.
Dubai Culture is committed to its cultural responsibility of preserving the emirate’s tangible and intangible heritage, celebrating Dubai’s history and authentic values of Emirati heritage based on the Authority’s belief in the importance of museums and heritage sites when introducing the world to Dubai’s vibrant history as well as in consolidating the emirate’s global cultural position. Through museums and heritage sites, the Authority seeks to provide centres of culture and heritage that would contribute to providing rich cultural experiences for a wide range of visitors including emaratis, local residents and international tourists
Through its website and application, the Authority provides a portal that deliver a wide array of services to encourage the public to explore the various creative and cultural aspects of Dubai, providing them with the opportunity to learn about the emirate’s history and rich heritage and to easily interact with its vibrant and thriving cultural and artistic scene. Community members, for example, can easily obtain services from Dubai Culture’s website as well as Etihad and Al Shindagha Museums website, such as ticket reservations, guided tours for groups and delegations in museums and heritage sites, as well as venue booking services within museum sites.
A dynamic 21st century museum, Etihad Museum is focused on inspiring its visitors with the story of the founding of the UAE. The 25,000 m2 landmark is befittingly located at the very place where the UAE was founded in 1971. Through a unique visitor journey, the various pavilions house experience-driven exhibitions, interactive programmes and education initiatives that explore the chronology of events that culminated in the unification of the Emirates in 1971, with a key emphasis on the period between 1968 and 1974. The programmes also aim to educate visitors about the nation’s constitution, in particular – the rights, privileges and responsibilities that it bestows upon the people of the UAE.
Al Shindagha Museum, on the other hand, is considered a heritage museum with a global character that connects Emiratis, residents and visitors to the UAE’s rich heritage and unravels the strong relationship that binds the past to the contemporary Emirati identity. The museum is located within the historical houses of the Al Shindagha Historical District on the banks of the Dubai Creek, narrating the history of the emirate and highlighting its cultural heritage. The museum provides diverse cultural experiences for tourists as well as various cultural activities for all family members within a unique historic facility Visitors can benefit from the museum services, such as booking guided tours for groups as well as booking venue spaces for events and activities.
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood provides an opportunity to experience an authentic emarati neighbourhood and its unique characteristics, where historical buildings with high wind towers (Barajeel), built with traditional building materials, are separated by alleys, pathways and public squares, giving the neighbourhood a natural and beautiful diversity. Cafés, restaurants and hotels are spread throughout the neighbourhood, and visitors can enjoy an interactive tour led by a cultural guide, through which they can explore the offerings of the neighborhood including specialised museums, such as the Coins Museum, Coffee Museum, and Bayt Al Khanyar Museum, as well as the history of the traditional architecture in the neighbourhood’s buildings.
