The world celebrates museums today

Dubai Museums. Edifices document the past and celebrate the future

  • Dubai Museums takes visitors on an exciting journey through the history of the region and looks to the future. Emirates Today

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Every year on May 18, the world celebrates International Museum Day, an opportunity for museum professionals to connect with the public and alert them to the challenges facing museums. International Museum Day is important as a means of cultural exchange, enriching cultures and promoting understanding and cooperation among peoples.

International Museum Day was officially designated on May 18 each year in 1977 during the General Assembly of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) with the aim of uniting the creative aspirations and efforts of museums and galleries, and drawing the attention of the world audience to their activity.

Dubai's museums welcome thousands of visitors from around the world, not only because they document the past, but also because they look to the future, as well as important cultural edifices that connect members of the community with their rich history and heritage. And on International Museum Day. Here are six museums in Dubai that attract tourists and visitors from inside and outside the country to visit:

Dubai Museum

Located in the historic Al Fahidi Fort, the first museum of its kind established in the Emirate of Dubai, following in the footsteps of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, may God rest his soul, in making Al Fahidi Fort a beacon of culture.

Saruq Al-Hadid Museum

Located in the historic neighbourhood of Al Shindagha in the heart of Dubai, the museum tells the story of one of the most important and mysterious archaeological sites discovered in the UAE to date.

The museum uses the latest technology to explore the site of Saruq al-Hadid (Metal Trail), one of the desert archaeological sites that was the center of the metal industry nearly three thousand years ago.

Museum of the Future

The Museum of the Future is a masterpiece and one of the most beautiful buildings around the world, and a permanent destination to showcase the future of humanity, and the museum is designed to be an architectural and engineering marvel that connects the past with the future. The Museum of the Future is a meeting place for scientists, thinkers and researchers and a hub for innovative ideas and ambitions that do not know the impossible, as it anticipates new transformations and the latest developments and opportunities in the fields of science, technology, artificial intelligence and robotics with a focus on sustainability, space and health, in one place that connects local and international pioneers and the public, and takes them towards a brighter future.

Numismatic Museum

Located in a residential neighbourhood of Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, the Numismatics Museum was converted into a two-storey numismatic museum in 2004 and is built of coral stone, stucco, shadal, palm fronds and logs, and teak. Visitors to the museum have access to coins dating back to different historical eras.

Al Shindagha Museums

Located in the Dubai Creek area, Al Shindagha Museums is a collection of distinctive museums that tell the grand story of human creativity and the determination to achieve the progress that has shaped the present Dubai.

These museums shape Dubai's vision of creating cultural platforms that highlight the history and heritage of the emirate, including the Perfume House, Dubai Creek, Marine Life, Wildlife, Children's Pavilion, Bait Al Maktoum, Navigation, Beauty and Jewellery, and the growth of the city.

Etihad Museum

Etihad Museum is a 21st-century vibrant theme focused on inspiring UAE citizens and visitors through the story of the founding of the UAE. It also celebrates the dedication, commitment and patriotism shown by the founders of the State to encourage individuals of all stripes to follow in their footsteps in nation-building. The museum takes visitors on a unique journey, offering exhibitions, interactive programmes and educational initiatives that explore the chronology of events, leading up to the proclamation of the UAE in 1971, with a main focus on the period between 1968 and 1974.