If you are looking for a nice vacation in Dubai and want to learn more about the city and the country then you have to hop into one of the best museums in Dubai. You will not only have a good experience but learn a lot about the history and culture of the city and the country as a whole. We have listed some of the best museums in Dubai that one can visit. All the options are quite nice and affordable as well. You can pick any museum in Dubai depending on which niche you want to focus on. So, let’s get into it.
Best Museums to Visit in Dubai:
Museum of Illusions
The next entry on this list of best museums in Dubai is the Museum of Illusions. This is a fun little place for families to come, relax and have some fun. If you are not a history buff and think museums are boring then you should definitely check out this museum. There are a ton of display pieces at this place. Most of these are just amazing or mind-boggling. It is very easy to reach this place.
If you are on the Bur Dubai side you can easily board a metro to Al Fahidi. Then you can just walk to the museum which is 1 km from the metro station.
Features
- If you want to visit some free museums in Dubai then you need to check out other options because there is an entry fee for the Museum of Illusions. It costs 80 AED or around $22.
- All the pieces here are meant to entertain the viewers. Some will trick your mind while others will make you question your vision. There are some entertaining puzzles as well.
- The museum is generally open from 10 in the morning to 10 at night on weekdays. On weekends and public holidays, it is open from 10 AM to 11 PM.
- If you want more info on the museum you can visit the website.
Address: Al Seef – Dubai Creek – Dubai – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 4 357 3999
Dubai Coffee Museum
Similar to the previous entry this museum is for people looking to do something different or check out a fun and interesting place. In this museum, you will see antiques but the crux of the place is coffee. Even if you are not an avid consumer of coffee you will appreciate the various ways people all over the world create and consume this beverage.
The aim of this museum is to showcase just that. Coffee is something that is present in Arabic culture quite widely. So, having a museum for it sort of pays homage to the culture and tradition surrounding the beverage.
Features
- The museum is located in one of the popular regions in Abu Dhabi viz. the Al Fahidi Historical neighbourhood. So, you have a bunch of things to browse outside the museum as well.
- The entrance fee is quite low. For 3 Dirhams you can have a fun time at this museum. So, if you are looking for free museums in Dubai you can visit this one as it costs less than a dollar to enter.
- The museum has many antiques that depict the culture and history of coffee not only in the Arabic culture but from all over the world.
- Even the architectural style of the museum is pretty stunning. The personnel here will tell you all you want to know about coffee.
Address: Historical Neighborhood, Bastakiya, Villa 44 – Al Hisn St – Al Fahidi – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 4 353 8777
Al Ain Palace Museum
One of the museums you can visit is the Al Ain Palace Museum. This museum has been built into the palace of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and is located in Al Ain. This is a city within Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Zayed was one of the prime figures in the establishment of the UAE.
He was the first president of the country and before moving to Abu Dhabi he stayed at this palace with his family. The palace is quite well built and is a sight in itself. This is a nice place to visit if you want to learn more about the royal family and the history of the region as a whole.
Features
- The palace was built in the early 20th century. It is currently, the oldest building on the premises. It is more than 8 decades old.
- If you enjoy historical sites then this place will be an interesting visit. The palace itself is quite the view.
- The museum opened in 2001. The aim was to create a tourist attraction that not only provides a good experience but also shares the history and tradition of the Emirates.
- There is an entrance fee to the museum. You have to pay around a dollar. So, not that high.
- Similar to the Dubai Museum this place shows the history of the region and how the place used to be before oil was found.
Address: Hessa Bint Mohamed St – Central District – Al Mutawaa – Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 3 711 8388
Dubai Women’s Museum
As the name suggests, Dubai Women’s Museum is a museum that is dedicated to the women in the United Arab Emirates. The museum has a bunch of things that give visitors an idea about the history and culture focusing mainly on women.
Features
- This place has been established to pay homage to the women of the UAE. It celebrates the lives of women in the region.
- You can learn about the history and culture of the women and know about their various achievements and accolades.
- The museum regularly holds exhibitions that focus on women that have done outstanding work in any field. For instance, there is an exhibition about the life of Muneera Bint Ahmad Bin Salem Al Mazrou who was a gunsmith and photographer.
- The enter the Bait Al Banat Women’s Museum you have to pay AED 20. This comes to around $5.44.
Address: Al Sabkha, Gold Souq, Near – Al Khor Street – Deira – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 4 234 2342
Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House
Many of the palaces in Dubai or Abu Dhabi belong to one of the rulers of the region. Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum was one of the former rulers of the United Arab Emirates and Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House used to be his residential quarters. Being a palace the building itself is something to look at.
The beautiful waters of Dubai Creek flow slowly near the Al Maktoum House. You have to travel to the Al Shindagha area to visit this place. So, if you are curious about how the royals in the Arabs live then this is a perfect place for that. This place will take you back to the time when Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum was still reigning.
Features
- Since this was the house of the ruler Sheikh Mohammed you will find many personal artefacts of the ruler along with a lot of other interesting stuff from that period.
- If you are interested in seeing how things looked back then and what the royal family used to wear or look like then there are many interesting photographs of that era.
- This is also a great place for coin and stamp enthusiasts as this place has special sections dedicated to such items. This place is not entirely free. You have to pay 15 dirhams which is around $4.
Address: 779R+72F – Al Fahidi – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Hatta Heritage Village
If you are into antiques and are always curious to learn the history of any culture then why not visit Hatta Heritage Village. It is a place that is still in the past.
Hatta Heritage Village is one of the older places in the UAE. It is a 75 min drive from Dubai. So, just hop in a car and travel to this place. Here, you will see buildings, roads and various architecture that are of an older era. The government understood the significance of the place and the restoration programme began in 1995.
Features
- The drive to the village itself is something to enjoy. The changing landscape and the smooth drive are quite relaxing.
- This place provides a sort of look into the history of the region. Any history buff will enjoy visiting this place.
Address: Unnamed Road – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Al Shindagha Museum
Al Shindagha Museum, like the Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, is located along Dubai Creeks. Like the other museums on this list, the Al Shindagha Museum is home to many interesting antiques and artefacts that depict the history of the region. Many visitors book a tour at this place to get the best experience.
If you are looking for the best museum in Dubai then you should check out the Al Shindagha Museum.
Features
- One of the unique features of this museum is that it does not only use items and antiques to show the past but it also makes use of modern technologies to show the past via images, videos and audio.
- You can book tickets to the museum or better yet book a tour of the museum. There is an entry fee for the museum. You pay 15 AED or $4.
Address: 288 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Dubai Police Museum
Law enforcement is definitely an important part of any administration. The same goes for Dubai. The Dubai Police Museum was established to showcase the progress and history of law enforcement and law enforcers in Dubai. Anyone interested in learning about the evolution of the city’s police force can visit this museum.
Features
- Besides just displaying items related to the evolution of the police force the museum aims to bridge the gap between the public and the police.
- You can see uniforms and weapons used by the policemen of different ranks and eras.
Address: 45GW+JG5 – Umm Suqeim St – Al Sufouh – Al Sufouh 1 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Etihad Museum
Etihad Museum is for people looking to visit a new museum in Dubai. The administration established the museum in 2016. It is architecturally spectacular.
The external look of the museum is enough to amaze many people. This is a place where you can find a lot about the history and heritage of Dubai. When people want to visit a museum in Dubai then most people will often point to the Etihad Museum.
It is a significant site for the UAE because of what it collects and stores. Another name for this place is the Union House. You can get some quality info about the museum on the website.
Features
- As mentioned before, the building itself is something to marvel at. It completely signifies how the world sees Dubai – This modern metropolis with some of the finest examples of modern architecture.
- The museum is filled with the rich history of Dubai. You can find everything from social history to political history to military history and much more. There are 8 pavilions inside the museum. It will take 2 to 3 hours to check out this place.
- Personal artefacts and passports of the rulers of the UAE are also displayed in the museum.
- This is not a free museum. There is an entry fee. Adults have to pay 25 AED as the entrance fee. This is roughly equivalent to around $7.
Address: 1 Jumeirah St – Al Mina – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Dubai Museum
When you ask people about the best museum in Dubai then many will say that it’s the Dubai Museum. Dubai Museum as the name suggests is the main museum in the city. It is one of the most popular museums in Dubai that people visit.
One interesting thing about this museum is that it is not some new building. It is more than a couple of centuries old. Rather it is located at a fort.
The Al Fahidi Fort was built in 1787. When you think of Dubai you think of massive high-rise buildings and modern architectural marvels. You will not picture a fort. Well, Al Fahidi Fort is in Dubai and it is the oldest building in the city.
Features
Even though the museum is situated in the oldest building in Dubai, the museum isn’t that old. The ruler of Dubai established the museum in 1971.
- The reason for establishing the museum was to collect, preserve and display the culture and the traditional way of life in the Emirates.
- It is a nice place to visit. There are dioramas which show various interesting phases of the area. For instance, you can see how the city and nearby regions looked before oil was found.
- Even though the museum often depicts not-so-old history some artifacts are from 3000 BC.
- The museum is not free but the cost is very low. You pay 3 AED which comes to $0.82.
Address: Al Fahidi Fort – Al Fahidi – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Conclusion:
So, these were some of the best museums in Dubai. Millions of people visit Dubai for work or travel. There are a ton of different things to do. But sometimes you can just slow down and know more about the culture of the place.
These museums in Dubai are the best spots for that. Also, these are great for history buffs. Anyone interested in learning more about the culture and traditions can enjoy these places. We hope you found some good options here and are looking forward to visiting a museum in Dubai. Happy travels!