Dubai Museum in Fort Al-Fahidi

Where is the Museum of the past oak? How comfortable and quickly reach? How much to pay for the entrance? What hours of work? And most importantly – what is interesting here you can see? Read the answers in this article.

In Dubai, two main historical museum, and between them there is some "separation of responsibilities". Museum in Fort Al-Fahidy shows life in Dubai before the formation of the state of the UAE and to the oil era. The Echad Museum in the district of Jumeira is dedicated to the formation of the UAE and the evolution of the country in a new era. If you like history, it is better to visit both of these museum.

Attention! As of February 2021, the Museum in Fort Al-Fahidi temporarily does not work. He closed during the outbreak of coronavirus, and has not yet opened again. In addition, in January 2021, a large-scale reconstruction began under the patronage of Prince Sheikh Hamdan, and without declaring deadlines. When now the museum opens? Unclear.

In Dubai, have enough attractions, see our Page "Attractions of the UAE".

Short description

Fort was built in 1797 as a defensive construction on the outskirts of the city, at the same time performed the functions of the residence of the Emir. Later in 1896, the emirs moved to a separate residence in the neighborhood (Emir’s sofa), and Fort became Arsenal, later a prison. In 1971, Fort became the museum of the history of Dubai.

Now Fort Al-Fahidi is the most ancient preserved building in Dubai. The late Sheikh Rashid Ibn Said al-Maktum wanted to keep the memory of the tradition of life in Dubai to the oil era, he chose the fort as a place to save traditions.

Total area of ​​exhibition halls – 4000 sq.Meters (Square Football Field). The exposition is conditionally divided into 9 sections, almost the entire exposition is located in the underground premises of the fort, where the arsenal was once. The objects of the old days are exposed, the scenes from the life of the residents of Dubai of old times are restored.

The exposition also includes artifacts that have recently found on the excavations of Hafit cultures, Umm-Ansen, Wadi Suk, dated to 3000 year d.N.NS. About these cultures, read in our article "History of Arab Emirates". Since Dubai from ancient times was the center of trade, as part of the exposition, many ancient objects from Persia, India, Africa – those countries that Dube traded.

Describe all the exhibits in this article we do not make sense to see, especially considering the fact that among them there are no very important and valuable. Let us dwell on several.

Be sure to look in the courtyard of the Fort Traditional House "Arish", built entirely of palm leaves. This is not a wretched hut, but a real house with several rooms and wind fence system for ventilation. It was in such houses who lived ordinary dube to the oil era. What does a house look like inside, look at the photo below, click on the photo to enlarge.

Dear houses built from coral stone, which was very rare and roads. Fort al-Fahidi was built from coral stone.

In a separate room, life of the Desert Bedouins. Here you can learn about their orientation methods on the stars. After all, in the desert, like in the sea, it is extremely difficult to navigate – wherever look, everywhere the same sand. Many tourists are striking, but the Bedouins knew a lot about the stars, they were able to focus on them.

In some figures, women can see "Battula" – this is a golden mask. The origin of these masks is not known, they were probably borrowed by the Arabs of the Persian Gulf of India in the 18th century. In the old days, these masks were a mandatory part of the female dress even in everyday life, and not only on holidays. Girls began to wear a battula since 9 years.

A very interesting hypothesis is connected with this mask. There is an opinion that these masks Arab women cheated enemies. Battula mask in shape resembles a mustache. Thus, it seemed from afar that it was not a woman, but a man with a mustache. The enemies seemed to be combining people in the settlement 2 times more than it is in reality.

Where is and how to get

Fort al-Fahidy is located in the Dubai Bur area, on the south bank of the Creek Channel. Next through the channel is the Diewa area.

From Deira can be reached by Boat Abra, Travel price – 1 Dirham. Of course, this method is convenient only if you are close to one of the marins in Deira – Deira Old Souk Abra Station or Al Sabhkha Abra Station. In other cases, it is better to go on the subway.

Option 1 – Metro + Bus. Previously, from the subway, the museum had to be obtained only on foot, but from October 20, 2019, the F70 bus was allowed, which stops near the museum. Comfortable.

The F70 bus can be seating at the metro station "Sharaf DG" (up to 25.eleven.20 was called "Al Fahidi") on the green (second) branch or "Burjuman" at the intersection of red and green branches. The route F70 circular and one-sided, so that you will not be mistaken exactly. It is better to sit at the Burjuman station, so faster – go about 10 minutes. Metro map in Russian Look in our article "Dubai Metro".

If you can use the Rule "Transfer in 30 minutes", then on the bus will go for free. For details about this rule, read in our article "NOL cards in Dubai". And do not forget to do "check" when disembarking from the bus, otherwise pay 7.5 dirhams for the trip, in detail in the article "Buses in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah".

Option 2 – subway + on foot. You need to get to the metro station "Sharaf DG" on Green (second) branch. When you raise from the subway (underground station), you will find yourself on a large crossroads. Here you need to choose the right direction. You need to go to the northeast, in the direction of the Creek Channel. It is a pity that the compass none of the tourists wears.

Therefore, orient to another way. At this crossroads, 3 of 4 roads have 3 bands in different directions. And only 1 of 4 roads has only 2 bands in different directions, it is the smallest of 4 roads, so it is necessary.

On this street, go 600 meters to a circular junction. On the junction, turn to the left and in 250 meters will see the fort, it is not confused by anything, there is a big boat on the intersection.

In the winter, when there is no exhausting heat, it’s nice to go on foot, you can eat on the road, the benefit on the way there are more than a dozen eateries. But we do not recommend going to summer heat so far. Read our review "Weather in Dubai for months".

Option 3 – Taxi. You can catch a taxi from the metro station "Burjuman" or "Sharaf DG", a trip to both cases will cost 12 dirhams (the minimum price of a trip by taxi in Dubai). It is better to go from Burjuman, there find a taxi is much easier.

You can take a taxi from the hotel or any point of Dubai. The city is large, to predict the cost of the trip is difficult – it may turn out from 12 to 120 dirhams, depends on the distance and road situation. Tariffs See our article "Taxi in UAE – Tariffs and Rules".

From other Emirates go to watch the alphaid museum we don’t make much sense, because the attraction is clearly not topical. But if you decide, then read our articles "How to get from Sharjah to Dubai" and "How to get from Abu Dhabi to Dubai".

Input price

Normal ticket (from 6 years old) – 3 Dirhama.

Children’s ticket (up to 6 years) – 1 Dirham.

Current currency rates See our article "Dirham UAE".

Opening hours

All days, except Friday – from 8-30 to 20-30.

On Friday (day off in the UAE) – from 14-30 to 20-30.

A month Ramadan:

All days, except Friday – from 10-00 to 17-00.

Friday – day off.

Ramadan rules operate in the museum. Read our article "Ramadan in the UAE".

Important moment!

Since the price of a ticket to the Al-Fahidi Museum is very low, the museum is very popular as part of Obayu sightseeing. There are times when several sightseeing groups are brought here at the same time, and then in the museum just "not pour". And it happens that school excursions are brought, it’s even worse.

Options to avoid crowd two.

First – come early.

The second – skip the excursion group forward, they are not delayed in the museum for a long time, they have a schedule.

More important and useful tips

– Exhibits have inscriptions only in Arabic and English. There are no audiogides not only in Russian, there are no. With knowledge of English here will be much more interesting. Or reserve the application that can recognize the text from the camera and translate. Unfortunately, such applications require Internet connection, read our Internet in the UAE;

– At the checkout, you can only pay a ticket for dirhams. Here do not take credit cards or NOL cards. And often there is no delivery at the box office, so reserve coins;

– The museum has a dress code, but quite simple, as in all Dubai Emirate. In short shorts and mini skirts will be allowed without problems, but without frank eroticism in clothes. Details about the dress code in our article "What is impossible to the UAE".

Good walks on Dubai, and read our interesting articles about the UAE (List of articles below).