Must-See Museums in Dubai

Study traditional Emirati life and culture by visiting these great museums.

2 min read•Aug 15, 2019•By Sarah Iredale

Travellers explore the aquarium on a trip to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates

Hi, I'm Sarah!

Sarah is an experienced copywriter specialising in travel, finance, and IT. Born and raised in Sri Lanka and India, and with stints living in the UAE and Oman, her love of South Asia and Arabia has seen her add travel writing to her record of copywriting for cross-sector global brands. Sarah has a BA Hons in History from Reading University and lives in East Sussex with her partner. When not working, she enjoys scuba diving, wild swimming, and woodland walks with her rescue Jack Russell, Charlie.

Hi, I'm Sarah!

While Dubai steals the tourist spotlight with its record-breaking skyscrapers and futuristic hotels, it also offers museums that showcase traditional Emirati life, architecture, and customs. Here are our picks for the city’s must-see museums.

Why you are seeing these recommendations

Dubai Museum

Dubai Museum seen from the outside. | Photo Credit: Kateryna Galkina / Shutterstock

Dubai’s main museum is located inside old Dubai’s Al Fahidi Fort—a restored, 18th-century fortress with a round tower. Inside, dioramas, exhibits, and photos trace Dubai’s Bedouin roots and meteoric rise from pearl-trading port to futuristic city.

How to Visit: Buy a 1-, 2-, or 5-day hop-on hop-off bus ticket and disembark at the museum stop, or book a tour that covers old Dubai.

Women’s Museum (Bait Al Banat)

One of the exhibits at Women’s Museum (Bait Al Banat). | Photo Credit: HawraQSA / Shutterstock

Hidden near Dubai’s Gold Souk, this illuminating museum spotlights the history and role of women in Emirati life. View works and photos by female artists, try on a burka, learn about pioneering women of the United Arab Emirates, and more.

How to Visit: Join a culture-themed walking tour around old Dubai.

Coffee Museum

Inside Dubai's Coffee Museum. | Photo Credit: Mariangela Cruz / Shutterstock

Coffee lovers will enjoy this museum in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood. Attractions include timelines charting coffee’s history, demos of roasting and brewing in various countries, and fresh coffee for visitors.

How to Visit: Several old Dubai walking tours include museum entry.

Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House

Tour one of the first buildings of Dubai. | Photo Credit: frantic00 / Shutterstock

Once home to Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum—Dubai’s ruler from 1912 to 1958—this palace turned museum is one of the city’s oldest buildings. Wander the courtyards to admire the wind towers and carved doors, and view the antique artifacts and collections inside.

How to Visit: The house features on many heritage-focused Dubai tours.

Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

A look at Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. | Photo Credit: Glen Berlin / Shutterstock

Perhaps more educational hub than museum, this cultural center offers a window into local life and traditions. Activities range from shared Emirati meals in the courtyard to Q and A sessions with local spokespeople, tours, and more.

How to Visit: Choose a tour that calls at the center during time at Dubai’s Al Fahidi quarter.

Heritage and Diving Village

A boat at the open-air Dubai Heritage Village. | Photo Credit: sokolovsky / Shutterstock

Located in the old Shindagha area, this open-air living-history museum offers re-creations of bygone Dubai life in the form of Bedouin tents, craft making, souks, and a maritime village that harks back to the city’s onetime dominance in the pearl-diving industry.

How to Visit: Make the village a stop on a Dubai hop-on hop-off bus tour.