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A Trip to The Dubai Museum
Dubai
Dubai is one among the top traveling destinations. Dubai has a rich cultural heritage and has grown by leaps and bounds. It is a land of multicultural diversity reflecting regions across the world.
Dubai museum showcases life in the past and the traditional ways of Dubai. It focuses on the rich cultural heritage of the Arab world. It is one of the oldest buildings in Dubai.
A trip to Dubai is not complete if you have not visited the Dubai Museum.
About the Museum
Dubai Museum is located in Al Fahidi Fort. This fort was built in 1787 to protect the Dubai Creek against invasion. It was transformed into a museum in 1970.
The Al Faidi Fort is the oldest building in Dubai.This building was not only used for protection but also served as the ruler's residence, to store ammunition and also housed the jail.
Local antiques and artifacts from countries that traded with Dubai are displayed. There are dioramas showing life in Dubai during the past.
The Al Fahidi Fort is square shaped with towers located at three corners of the building. The Fort is built out of coral rock and mortar. The entrance is adorned by two massive grand iron doors. Two grand cannons adorn the main gate. In the center is a large courtyard housing a dhow, which is the traditional boat of Dubai.
Arish in Dubai Museum
Another highlight of the Dubai Museum is the summer house “Arish.” The Arish is made from palm fronds that are weaved together.
This summer house is an example of how houses were cooled without modern day technologies. It is an example of how halls, bedrooms, and kitchens were constructed in the olden days.
One of the main features of Arish summer houses are the wind towers. The wind towers served as a source of cooling in those days. These towers cooled the houses and protected the people from the scorching sun.
The Dubai museum has many galleries that showcase scenes from the creek, traditional Arab houses, the souk, date farms, desert and marine life.
Pearl diving exhibits are fascinating to see. A collection of old weapons and arms from different periods and traditional music instruments are also displayed.
Another unique feature is the reconstruction of a street scene in those days. There are life-sized dioramas that represent Dubai in the pre-oil era. There is a creek side display with olden day shops that have mannequins of vendors and customers.
There are representations of life in the desert with Bedouins, tents, camels and date palm trees.
The largest diorama is about the sea and their seafaring ways. It showcases the dhows that were used, how they fished and about marine life that existed during those times.
Dhows
The dhow occupies an important place in UAE history. In the olden days the dhow was an important connection to the sea. It was built out of wood and had one or more lateen sails.
The dhow helped to transport goods and to connect UAE to different parts of the word.It was taken out to sea to fish and was a means of sustenance of life.
Even today dhows can be seen on in and around the Arabian Gulf.
Archaeological Sites
The Dubai museum also has a diorama that represents the archaeological site of Al Qusais dating back to 3000 BC. This diorama has a display of archaeological finds. There is another display of the archaeological site at Umayyad in Jumeirah.
Finally there is a gift shop from where you can buy gifts representing your visit to Dubai, to take back home with you. A memory to last for a lifetime.
© 2012 Nithya Venkat
Comments
Interesting and quite informative hub about Dubai museum! Looks like an interesting museum and I hope to visit it some day.
Thanks and voted up!
You bring an intersting side of Dubai that we don't usually hear! I heard of the big hotel in a shape of a sail and other big buildings with fascinating shapes. The mordern architecture seems quite interesting. I also heard of the interior skying complex.
Thank you for sharing that other side of Dubai! Very interesting!
Have a great week!
Things to do in Dubai - A visit to the Dubai Museum well-suggested on what to do in this beautiful place.
Thanks for this. I didn't know Dubai had a Museum. All I see on TV is beaches and under water restaurants. I enjoyed the article. :-)
Wonderful hub, Vellur. I love to explore museums and would find this one fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing. I think Dubai would be an interesting place to visit. Voted up/U/I/A and will share.
I remember making dioramas in school. :)
What a wonderful visit and here's to a wonderful New year for you my friend.
Take care
Eddy.
Thank you for this.
Interesting feature, Vellur!
I'm sure I can see Sinbad crossing the Red Sea in one of these dhows. The one in the picture looks very seaworthy - probably the same length as a Viking longship, with a sail about the same size. Anything to record in particular about dhows, such as when they were first built, where they sailed to and what they carried?
Was the Al Fahidi fort built by the Turks as a sort on 'control outpost' (like the Legionnaires' forts in North Africa)?
I know I go on a bit about maps, but one would be useful to show the general readership where exactly Dubai is amongst the United Arab Emirates?
Enjoy the New Year!
Sure I will never get to venture there but love the tour and info. Thank you.
Fascinating...I had never heard of dhows...thank you for the education my friend!
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