dubai museum.docx

7/28/2019 Dubai Museum.docx

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Dubai Museum:

The Dubai Museum is a must see for everyone who comes to Dubai. This is a lively interactive

museum with working models and lifesize displays portraying various aspects of Dubai life: a

bustling market, an Islamic school, the desert at night and sealife in the Gulf.

Established in 1970, the museum is housed in the imposing 19th century Al Fahidi fort. The Al

Fahidi Fort, was built around 1799, and once guarded the landward approaches to the town.

Thought to be the citys oldest building, the fort was both the residence of Dubais rulers and the

seat of government until it was retired as a museum in 1971. It was renovated in 1970 for use as

a museum; further restoration and the addition of galleries was completed in 1995.

Colorful and evocative dioramas, complete with life-size figures and sound and lighting effects,

vividly depict everyday life in pre-oil days at the museum. Galleries show scenes from the

Creek, traditional Arab houses, mosques, the souk, date gardens, desert and marine life. One of

the most interesting exhibits portrays the underwater world of pearl-diving, including sets of

pearl merchants weights, scales and sieves.

The main fort is a fascinating military museum. The museum also displays a fine collection from

ancient history including copper, alabaster and pottery artefacts found in graves up to 4,000

years.

In recent years, archaeologists have unearthed hundreds of artefacts, including pottery, weapons

and coinage, that point to civilised settlements dating back to the third millennium B.C. These

historic finds have been carefully preserved and are now permanently housed in the

Archaeological section of the Museum.


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Dubai Museum is housed in the Al Fahidi Fort. The building in Bur Dubai was constructed

around 1799 and has served as a palace, garrison and prison in the past.

In 1970 it was renovated and became Dubai Museum in 1971, with additional galleries being

added in 1995.

Exhibits

The museum houses many exhibits from Dubai's history. There are several static displays

showing Dubai life from ages past, including souk, fishing, domestic and desert travel scenes.

Galleries show scenes from the Creek, traditional Arab houses, mosques, the souk, date farms as

well as desert and marine life.

These galleries reflect the nature of the UAE, from the beach to the city and the oasis areas to the

nomadic Bedouin culture.

Artifacts from several excavated sites in Dubai date back to the third millennium B.C. The two

main excavated sites in Dubai were discovered in Jumeirah and Al Qusais.

The Jumeirah site is not currently open to visitors, but special permission can be granted for

archaeologists.

According to May Hamid, researcher at Dubai Museum, the most popular exhibits are housed in

the archaeological halls, which also displays artifacts from Al Sufouh and Hatta.

Islamic period discoveries were made at the Jumeirah site, dating back to the 7th century. A total

of 50 tombs were found on the left side of the Jima Valley, which dated from 3,000 B.C.

An outside area at the museum recreates a traditional desert house, with seating and sleeping area

as well as a kitchen. Ancient dhows lay outside the house, with a collection of shiny bronze

cannons and cannon balls.

A video, updated in 2007, depicts Dubai from before the discovery of oil in the 1960s to the

current day.

In 2007, Dubai Museum welcomed 1,800 visitors daily, with a 2007 yearly total of 611,840. In

March 2008, the Museum had 80,000 visitors. The most popular times are from August to April.

Opening hours: 8:30am - 8:30pm, Saturday to Thursday. 2:30pm to 8:30pm on Friday.

Admission: Dh3 for children from 6 years old and adults. Dh1 for children unde six years old.


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Dubai Zoo

Dubai Zoo is the oldest zoo of its kind not only in the United Arab Emirates but also in the

Arabian Peninsula. Dubai Zoo also occurs to be the first Arabian zoo to breed the rare

Chimpanzee and Arabian wild cat.

It is an extraordinary place of attention and fun for travelers and the people of Dubai. Was

formerly constructed in 1967 by a Dubai resident when H. H. Sheikh Rashid bin Maktoum, the

late Ruler of Dubai, acceptable Otto J. Bulart to form a zoo on a two hectare plot in Jumeirah. It

is still the oldest zoo in the Arabian Peninsula. It was considered a Dubai landmark in the late

1960s as it showed the towns end

Dubai Zoo is located in Jumeirah. It spans to two kilometer stretch land housing approximately

230 animal species. Among these are around 248 mammal specimens, including foxes, hyenas,

pumas, lions, jaguars, chimpanzees, baboons, monkeys, deer, bears, porcupines, giraffes and

Barbary sheep. Endangered species include Socotra shag or cormorant, Bengal tiger, gorilla,

subspecies of grey wolf and Arabian wolf, Siberian tiger, and the indigenous Gordon's wildcat.

Bird include ostrich, golden eagle and parrots. Reptiles are represented by around 400

specimens. It is open 10am to 6 pm daily and entrance is 2 AED.

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