10 Best Museums in Dubai

Museums in Dubai mirror the rich Arabic heritage and culture that the city has deeply seeped in since its birth. These museums are the best way to let visitors see what Dubai initially was- a nomadic trading and fishing village, established in the 17th-century and how the ancient traditions and culture shaped the city and made it what it is today- a symbol of 21st-century futuristic aspirations, leadership, unity, and a melting pot of cultures.

Apart from those museums that talk about history, there are other kinds of museums as well that specialize in their own niches.  The Dubai museums are interactive, educational, and fun for both adults and children alike. They range from the traditional- that showcase the city’s 3000-year-old history & archaeology, political evolution, policing system, pearling industry through stunning visual presentations to the quirky ones dedicated to a beverage i.e. coffee.

1. Dubai Museum

A visit to The Dubai Museum takes you back 3,000 years to tell you the story of the small fishing village that the city initially was. The rustic building is divided into thematic areas like coastal, desert, and mountain showcasing rare drawings of the 17-century architecture, pottery, weapons, ship & boat construction equipment, bamboo houses of the Bedouins, and scenes from the 1950s marketplaces, the museum converts ancient history into a rich 3- dimensional visual treat.

The building housing the museum has an equally fascinating past. The Al Fahidi Fort, built-in 1787, was the monarch’s house and was used as a prison.

Location: Opposite Grand Mosque, Al Fahidi Street, Dubai.

Timings: Saturday-Thursday: 8:30 am- 8:30 pm, Fridays: 2:30 pm- 8:30 pm.

               During Ramadan: Sunday- Thursday: 10:00 am- 5:00 pm

Entry Fee: Adults: AED 3 , Children below 6 years AED 1 

2. Etihad Museum

The Etihad Museum chronicles the history of how the political foundations of UAE were laid by its seven founding fathers. The building’s architecture mirrors the constitution’s manuscript. Inside, there are seven golden pillars that depict the pens that were used to sign the Union Agreement.

The huge halls in this museum in Dubai showcase historical phases like the oil discovery, opening up of trade, personal belongings of the ruling families through photographs and 3-dimensional films. There is a library, theatre, and a recreational space inside the museum for interactive sessions.

Location: 1 Jumeirah Street, Dubai.

Timings: Everyday 10:00 am- 8:00 pm.

               Ramadan Timings: 10:00 am- 5:00 pm, except Friday.

               Guided tours: Everyday: 12:00 pm & 5:00 pm.

Entry Fee: Adults: 25 AED, Students: 10 AED, Groups: 20 AED, children’s entry is free.

3. SHINDAGHA MUSEUM / SHEIKH SAEED AL MAKTOUM HOUSE

Ever wondered where the vision of the Dubai we see today was first thought of? Just head to the Shindagha museum to find out. Located on the banks of the Dubai Creek, the Shindagha Museum is one of the newest attractions in Dubai. It features various sections with interactive displays of photos, videos and artefacts that will take you back to the 19th century. There is also a section called the Perfume House, where you can see the traditional methods used for making different scents. The Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, which is the oldest building in Dubai and was the official residence of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, will also be part of the new Shindagha Museum in Dubai. 

Location: Al Shindagha area on the Bur Dubai side of the Dubai Creek

Timing: Open daily from 10:00 am to 06:00 pm; 02:30 pm to 09:00 pm on Fridays; Closed on Tuesdays

Ticket Price: AED 15 for adults and AED 5 for students (aged 5-24); Children under the age of 5 and people of determination have free entry

Contact: +971-4-515-5336 / +971-4-515-5337

4. Museum of Illusions

Be sure to have the most spectacular mind-boggling experience that will challenge all your senses at this museum.  The illusions, designed using scientific techniques, are divided into three categories- Master, Grand, and Optical illusions. These include turntables, rotational rooms, holograms, stereograms, chair illusions, vortex tunnels, anti-gravity rooms, clone tables, etc.

You can pick up 3-D dilemma games, lightning globes, and souvenirs from the museum gift shop. A visit to this Dubai museum should not be missed.

Location: Al Seef by Meeras, Phase-3, Lot 17-1, Bur Dubai. 

Timings: Sunday to Saturday: 10:00 am- 12:00 am

Entry Fee: Adults AED 80, Children between 5-15 years AED 60, Family of 2 adults & 2 children AED 225 

5. Pearl Museum

Symbiotic to the history of Dubai as a pearl farming village, this museum in Dubai houses some of the rarest pearls in the world. Not only does it display these dazzling beads and fine jewellery, but it also pays an ode to the people who have driven this trade- the divers and the sailors.

It showcases the traditional boats (dhows), diving equipment, and the musical instruments that every boat was equipped with. Here, you can learn how to study pearls. 

Location: 15th floor, Emirates NDB office, Deira, Next to Imperial Hotel Apartment.

Timings: Everyday 9:00 am- 5:00 pm.

Entry Fee: There is no entry fee for this Dubai museum. The entry is only by appointment after permission from NBD

6. Saruq al Hadid Museum

The architecture of this museum of Dubai is as enthralling as the artefacts that are displayed. Housed in the residence of Sheikh Juma Bin Makhtoum Al Makhtoum, the museum brings alive an Iron Age excavation site through 3-dimensional technology!

All efforts have been made to make the visitors' experience as dynamic as possible by the use of interactive screens, digital puzzles, and workshops to let you create your own clay pots. Other artefacts include fossilized bones, iron & olive wood equipment, and beads. 

Location: Al Shindagha- 311, Dubai. 

Timings: Every day 8:00 am- 8:00 pm.

Entry Fee: Adults AED 20, Children 7-12 years AED 10

7. Coffee Museum

Arabs have had a long relationship with coffee. It is said that they were the first to use coffee as a recreational drink and they were the ones who carried the coffee culture to the rest of the world. The word coffee itself has its roots in the Arabic word Kahva.

The Coffee Museum, located in one of the many heritage houses in Al Fahidi historical neighborhood, tells the tale of love between Arabs and the coffee. Space inside the elaborately decorated rooms is dedicated to the ancient artifacts of coffee brewing and drinking. You can see the old rotating rosters, pots, and grinders.

There are audio and visual presentations about the coffee and the legends about its origin. You can even try different varieties of coffee, including the Arabic, Ethiopian and Japanese brews. You can see some vintage coffee adverts in German adorning the walls.

The Coffee Museum in Dubai is one of the very few museums in the world dedicated to coffee culture. There is also a small library here with a collection of historical texts that relate to coffee, like the encyclopedia of Johann Friedrich Von Pfeiffer that has over 170 pages about coffee.

Location: Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, Bur Dubai 

Entry fee: 10 Dhs

Opening hours: Saturday through Thursday – 9:00 Am to 5:00 PM

8. Women's Museum - Bait Al Banat

Women have played an intrinsic part in shaping the UAE by being at the forefront of politics, education, arts, and humanitarian work. A visit to this museum of Dubai, built in the 1950s and originally a private house lets you see the shaping of the Emirati society through the contributions of its womenfolk.

It exhibits traditional jewellery, textiles, and life-size photographs of artworks and writings. There is a gift shop where you can pick up traditional attars, souvenirs, and other knick-knacks. 

Location: Al Sabkha, Gold Souk, Near Al Khor Street, Dubai.

Timings: Saturday- Thursday: 10:00 am- 7:00 pm.

Entry Fee: AED 20 per person 

9. History of Cinema Museum

Imagine seeing a film on a 17th-century Dutch peep box viewer and rotating the cinema reels to see the images come to life! This is the fantastic experience that cinema buffs get at the History of Cinema Museum.

Originally a private collection, it is dedicated to the evolution of moving pictures and the equipment used to shoot & view them right from the time of silent films era till the 3-dimensional and virtual reality technologies that have become common today. A quaint gift box lets you pick up film memorabilia and miniature cameras. 

Location: MCN Hive, 1st floor, TECOM C, Near Ramee Rose Hotel, Dubai.

Timings: Every day except Friday from 11:00 am- 6:00 pm.

Entry Fee: Adults AED 50, Children below 18 years AED 25

10. NAIF MUSEUM

Another one of the free museums in Dubai is Naif Museum. The building that is now the Naif Museum was built in 1939 entirely with clay and was the first police station in Dubai. Over here where visitors can see how police uniforms have evolved over time, as well as see the weapons, medals and badges of police ranks of the Dubai Police Force. You also get a first-hand look at the detention rooms prisoners were kept in. 

Location: Naif Souk, Deira 

Timing:  Open daily from 08:00 am – 02:00 pm; Closed on Friday and Saturday

Ticket Price: Free

Contact: +971-4-227-6484