From being known as an oil-rich country to becoming the cultural capital of the Middle East, Dubai has come a long way. The city has been investing in colossal museums that showcase its rich cultural heritage and serve as a centre for innovation and research. If you’re interested in exploring the UAE’s rich heritage and culture, make sure these Dubai museums are included in your Dubai tour package itinerary.
The Museum of The Future
Go big or go home is the motto of every architectural project in Dubai. The Museum of the Future, Dubai’s most extravagant cultural icon, cost $136 million to build and was even named one of the world’s most beautiful architecture even before it was built. The building’s steel façade extends over 17,000 sq metres and consists of 1024 Arabic calligraphy panels made entirely by robots. It features seven floors dedicated to providing a different experience, including outdoor space research, ecosystem and bioengineering, health, climate change, etc., and one floor exclusively devoted to children, helping them explore and solve challenges independently.
This unique elliptical-shaped building has no support columns; it is supported by a stainless steel backbone with over 2,400 diagonally intersecting beams.
Dubai Museum
If the Museum of the Future is about the future, the Dubai Museum is about reflecting the city’s past. The museum is housed inside the Al Fahidi Fort, one of the oldest buildings in Dubai. It was started in 1971 by the Dubai King Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum to showcase the traditional life of the Emiratis. The museum displays everyday life before oil was discovered in the Gulf, including typical Arab homes, mosques, date farms, souks, and general desert life. It also has a dedicated section displaying life after oil was discovered to date.
Here, you can experience a real-life dhow and a creek-side souk where a tailor, carpenter, and ironsmith line the streets, besides Bedouin tents selling trinkets and everyday jewellery.
The Louvre, Abu Dhabi
The Louvre, Abu Dhabi, is the first of its kind in the Middle East. It is located in the Saadiyat Cultural District, and every art lover’s dream comes true. The museum covers over 9200 square metres, featuring a permanent and temporary gallery with art pieces loaned from across the world, including the Louvre Paris. Besides the artefacts, people visit the Louvre to admire the unique architecture, especially the vast silvery dome that appears to float above the museum.
Etihad Museum
The Etihad Museum is historically significant because it is located exactly at the place where the UAE’s founding fathers signed the declaration, marking the formation of the UAE. The museum showcases how Emiratis have lived for hundreds of years before oil was discovered. There are dedicated galleries with photos and films showing how the country developed over the years, especially from 1968 to 1974. It is one of the most important Dubai museums and a must-visit for history buffs.
Pearl Museum
The museum was founded by Ali Bin Abdullah Al Owais and Sultan Al Owais in 1970. As the name goes, the museum is famous for its exquisite collection of pearls and other sea treasures donated by Sultan Al Owais, the former writer and pearl merchant in Dubai. Today, the museum aims to connect with its modern citizens yet teach them how to preserve the country’s cultural heritage.
These are just some of the best Dubai museums, but the absolute best is yet to come. Some of the proposed museums that will be completed in the coming years include the Guggenheim Museum, the Zayed National Museum, the Centre of Curiosity, and the Umm Al Quwain National Museum. And if you are looking for budget Dubai tour packages, visit us. Follow our Instagram for travel inspiration and exclusive offers!
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