Best Museums in UAE for History Buffs
Museums in UAE
Here is the list of 20 Best Museums in UAE for History Buffs
1. Dubai Museum
This museum is located on Al Fahidi Street in Al Fahidi Fort, Dubai. It was opened in 1971 and celebrates traditional Bedouin life in the UAE. It looks at Bedouins lives on the coast, in the mountains, and in the desert terrain. There are plenty of historical findings and maps in the museum, along with a video room that shows a fascinating reel of Dubai's development.
Timings:
8:30 AM to 8:30 PM from Saturday to Thursday
2:30 PM to 8:30 PM on Fridays
Entry Fee:
AED 3 (for Adults)
AED 1 (Below 12yrs)
2. Louvre, Abu Dhabi
This is the first Louvre to open outside Paris and was opened in Abu Dhabi in November 2017. It is designed like a shallow dome that houses 600 artworks and artefacts offering a glimpse into the history of the world and its many religions. The Louvre in Abu Dhabi was designed by award-winning architect Jean Nouvel. The exhibitions are maintained in chronological order to encourage dialogue between the pieces, despite their different cultural contexts.
Timings:
Closed on Tuesday
9 AM to 10 PM on Wednesday & Friday
9 AM to 6 PM on other days of the week
Entry Fee:
AED 60 per person
3. Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
Opened in 1987, this museum in UAE is locally called Souk Al Majarrah. It is dedicated to tracing Islamic history. There are many artefacts as well as Islamic art and sculptures to be seen. The main attraction here is their beautiful dome above your head that is decorated by the Zodiac signs in the night sky. The first floor's Islamic Faith Gallery has astronomical works that help to locate the direction towards the Ka'ba. This museum can be found opposite Sharjah Creek.
Timings:
8 AM to 8 PM (Saturday to Thursday)
4 AM to 8 PM (Friday)
Entry Fee:
10 AED for Adults (13+ years)
5 AED for Children (2-12years)
4. Emirates National Auto Museum
Once featured in BBC's popular auto show called Top Gear, the Emirates National Auto Museum is home to over 200 cars from Shaikh Hamid Bin Hamdan Al Nahyn's personal collection. Its famous cars include the Mercedes rainbow collection. The museum was established in 2004.
Timings: 10 AM to 6 PM every day.
Entry Fee: AED 50 for adults & Free for children below the age of 10
5. Etihad Museum, Dubai
This museum in UAE has large halls, an education area, recreational spaces and administrative offices along with eight permanent galleries. They host frequent exhibitions that are experience-driven while their many programmes are quite interactive. The entrance of the Etihad Museum is quite memorable as it is shaped like a manuscript with seven columns. This museum is located across the 2nd of December Street in Dubai.
Timings: 10 AM to 8 PM Every day
Entry Fee:
AED 25 for Adults
AED 10 for Students
Free for Children under 5yrs
6. Al Ain Palace Museum, Abu Dhabi
This museum was once the home of Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his family. It was built for the Al Nahyan family in 1910 before it was converted into a museum in 1966 for the public eye. The museum has materials about the ruling family, as well as tours into their former private rooms and gardens. It is situated on Al Ain Street and can be viewed for free.
Timings:
8:30 AM to 7:30 PM (Saturday to Thursday)
3 PM to 7:30 PM (Friday)
Closed on Mondays
Entry Fees: Free
7. Sharjah Science Museum
This museum is hugely popular for their fascinating exhibitions and hands-on experiments on aerodynamics, physics and physiology among other sciences. It was opened in April 1997 to be an interactive, fun museum on science. It's great for children and many school tours have been organized here. Their electricity show is considered a must-see attraction. The museum is located near Sharjah Media Corporation in Al Abar area.
Timings:
8 AM to 8 PM (Saturday to Thursday)
4 AM to 8 PM (Friday)
Entry Fee:
AED 10 for adults
AED 5 for children below the age of 12
8. Saeed Al Maktoum House
Saeed Al Maktoum House was built in 1896 at the Al Shindagha area. It was the residence of Al Maktoum ruling family till 1958, as it was a residence and premises for the Dubai monarch at the time, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum. The House is located at the protruding part above Dubai Creek (Khor Dubai) strategically, which made it stand amidst Deira and Bur Dubai, overlooking the Arabian Gulf. This house witnessed the birth of his sons and grandsons and is also considered as a touristic icon that receives visitors all year round.
Timings:
8 AM to 8:30 PM (Saturday to Thursday)
3 PM to 8:30 PM (Friday)
Entry Fee:
AED 3 for adults
AED 1 for children (Below the age of 6)
9. The Women's Museum of Bait Al Banat
This museum in UAE was created by Prof Rafi Ghubash in an attempt to remove stereotypes about women in the Arab world and preserve their history and achievements, especially women in the history of the UAE. It was established in the 1950's. The museum can be found in the Old Gold Souq in Deira and has an entry fee of Dh 20. It opens at 10 AM and closes at 7 PM from Saturday to Thursday.
Timings:
10 AM to 7 PM Saturday to Thursday
Entry Fee: AED 10 per person
10. Camel Museum
Once called Beit Al Rekab, this museum firmly establishes the importance of camels in UAE's history. It was built in the 1940's in Al Shindagha Area in Dubai. The exhibits discuss the different types of camels, anatomy, characteristics and how to care for them, among other things. Camel Museum is open from and there is no entry charge.
Timings: 8 AM to 2 PM from Sunday to Thursday
Entry Fee: Free
11. Sharjah Archaeology Museum, Sharjah
Sharjah Archaeology Museum, as understood by its name, is a place where tourists can learn about the history of Sharjah through its well-preserved archaeological records. Go back in time with the museums various sections namely Stone Age, Bronze Age, The Iron Age and Greater Arabia. The key highlights of the museum are Ceramic Dome, camel statue, Golden bridle and ivory comb placed inside a alabaster bowl. The place is well curated and is an amazing place to visit while also featuring some games to keep kids entertained.
Timings: 8 AM to 8 PM from Monday to Thursday; 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday; 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturday & Sunday.
Entry Fee:
AED 5 for Children
AED 10 for Adults
12. Sharjah Calligraphy Museum
Sharjah Calligraphy Museum is home to art and written works from artists around the world. It hosts regular calligraphy exhibitions that introduce the Arabic art of calligraphy. It was established in 2002 and has an entry fee of Dh 10 for adults and Dh 5 for children. A must-see attraction here are the paintings from Al Kufa in their traditional Kufic font.
Timings:
8 AM to 8 PM (Saturday to Thursday)
4 AM to 8 PM (Friday)
Entry Fee:
AED 7 for adults
AED 3 for children below the age of 12
13. Sharjah Heritage Museum
Sharjah Heritage Museum was opened in 2005 in the Heritage Area. It was re-opened in 2012 after a renovation in Bait Saeed Al Taweel Al Shamsi in the Heart of Sharjah. The museum highlights Sharjah's heritage and the rich culture of the residents of Sharjah. It displays the deep-rooted customs and traditions of the Emirati people.
Timings:
8 AM to 8 PM (Saturday to Thursday)
4 AM to 8 PM (Friday)
Entry Fee:
AED 7 for adults
AED 3 for children below the age of 12
14. Dubai Coffee Museum
This is the first museum in UAE dedicated to coffee. It was opened on International Coffee Day in 2014. Located in Al Fahidi district, the museum showcases different roasting and brewing techniques, along with a large collection of books on the history of coffee. It has a lounge where you can enjoy a hot cup of coffee for yourself and a gift shop to buy memorabilia for your friends.
Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM (Saturday to Thursday)
Entry Fee: Free
15. Pearl Museum, Dubai
Established in 2003, this museum is home to the world's largest collection of saltwater pearls. It celebrates the history and tradition of pearling in the UAE. The museum celebrates pearl divers and sailors and has a large collection of equipment and maps used to harvest these pearls. It was established by late Sultan Al Owais. Visits are by appointment only and tour groups can have a maximum of 10 people at a time. Entry to the Pearl Museum is free. It can be found in Emirates Bank Headquarters in Deira.
Timings: 10 AM to 6 PM (Saturday to Thursday)
Entry Fee:
AED 15 for adults
AED 10 for children below the age of 12
16. Sharjah Natural History Museum
This museum in UAE is focused on documenting the flora and fauna of the Arabian desert. It was founded in 1997 and has since then introduced the Arabian Wildlife Centre, a petting zoo for children, and beautiful botanic gardens where you can walk around and enjoy nature at its finest. The museum is quite enjoyable for children. It is located past Sharjah International Airport on Dhaid Road.
Timings:
9 AM to 5:30 PM Daily
2 PM to 5:30 PM Friday
11 AM to 5:30 PM Thursday
Entry Fee:
AED 15 for adults
Free for children below the age of 12
17. Dubai Moving Images Museum
This museum houses the private collection of prominent businessman Mr Akram Niknas. It is located in MCN Hive Building. The collection has some fascinating artwork, some pieces even dating back to the 1730's. Dubai Moving Images Museum was founded in 2011 and its timings are 11 AM to PM every day (with the exception of Fridays). There is an entry charge of Dh 50 for adults and Dh 25 for children, and there is a special fee for students who provide ID proof.
Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM (Saturday to Thursday)
Entry Fee:
AED 30 for adults
AED 20 for children below the age of 18
18. Dubai Police Museum
The Dubai Police Museum celebrates the accomplishments of the country's police force. It was opened in 1987, tracing the police force's history since its inception in 1956. There are plenty of exhibition halls that showcase collections of weapons, even depicting Dubai's first police logo. Entry is free although you must fill an online form from Dubai Police before you are allowed to enter. It can found next to Al Mulla Plaza.
Timings: 8 AM to 2 PM (Saturday to Thursday)
Entry Fee: Free
19. Al Oqaili Museum
Mubarak Al Oqaili was a prolific Emirati poet and this museum in UAE commemorates his life and works. It was built in 1923 in his former two-floored residence. There are plenty of manuscripts, hand-written works and information on his life in this fascinating museum. Renovated in 2010, the museum is located in Bani Yas in Deira.
Timings: 8 AM to 2 PM from Sunday to Thursday.
Entry Fee: Free
20. Sharjah Maritime Museum
Sharjah has a fascinating history of trading, fishing and pearling. This museum in UAE aims to share the region's marine stories. It was originally opened in Heritage Area in 2003 although it was moved to Al Khan area in 2009. It focuses especially on the UAE's seafaring dhow culture. It is home to the ancient pearl, one of the world's oldest pearls.
Timings:
8 AM to 8 PM (Saturday to Thursday)
4 AM to 10 PM (Friday)
Entry Fee:
AED 10 for adults
AED 5 for children below the age of 12
From coffee and automobiles to Islamic Civilization and camels, the museums in UAE offer a slice of culture in a variety of educational spheres. If you'd like to dive head-first into the history of the UAE, museums are a great way to start!