Dubai museum in Al Fahidi fort, Dubai
The Al Fahidi Fort is one of the magnificent historical landmarks that is located in the heart of Dubai city. This is one of the most well known monuments which must be seen during Dubai travel. This superb fort is believed to be the oldest architectural marvel and was constructed in 1799. The fort was constructed with an aim to protect Dubai from sea attacks. IN the 1830’s expansion work was undertaken under the leadership of the ruler Late Sheikh Maktoum Bin Buti. The fort has also been the ruler’s residence and the seat of government, a store for ammunition, and a jail at various times throughout history.
The fort’s walls are built from shell rubble and coral from the sea and were cemented with lime. The upper floor is supported by handel or wooden poles and the ceiling is built using mud, plaster and palm fronds. At the entrance stands an iron-studded large door and its towers and walls are witness to the battles of the past.
Dubai Museum
The Fort was transformed into a famous museum called the ‘Dubai Museum’ in the year 1970. Those visiting Dubai include the museum which is a part of Dubai tours and attractions. The museum has an attractive display of objects that showcases the cultural richness of this place in the past. You can see superb displays of Arabian sailing boats, pearl driving dresses, old weapons and an attractive range of military artifacts. The museum also has life size and colorful dioramas, merchants scales, pearl sets etc that give visitors a good insight into the old Arabian lifestyle. One of the superb exhibits at the Museum is a complete grave from the Al-Qusais archaeological site which is about 3000-4000 years old.
By visiting the Al Fahidi fort during Dubai travel, visitors can know about interesting facts and information about commerce and trade, general living and rich jewellery and bridal ware of people of Dubai. You can also see displays of collections of sieves, weight and scales used by pearl diving merchants as Pearl Diving was a main occupation of people in ancient Dubai.
Visitor Hours of Al Fahidi fort
Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president, prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai took up the restoration work of the Al Fahidi fort. The fort is open to visitors from Saturday to Thursday between 8.30 am to 7.30 pm and on Fridays 2 pm to 7.30 pm.
You can know about the traditional occupations of Dubai people from the museum’s realistic lifesize static displays. These occupations include fishing, dhow building, trade and pearl diving. The export of fine pearls mainly contributed to Dubai’s meteoric rise as a trading centre.
A large section of the museum is devoted to exhibits of musical instruments, with displays of lyres, drums, bagpipes made of goatskin, flutes and other locally-made instruments used in performances on festive occasions.
There are displays of deadly weaponry also in the museum. Visitors can see the curved daggers known as hanjars and also spears, swords, bows and arrows, pistols, shields made of sharkskin, and axes. Visitors can also have a look at the model of a wind-tower room which is an interesting feature of the architecture section. It has photos and diagrams showing several types of wind-towers from ancient Dubai city. Narish Khyma is another must see place during your travel to Dubai. It is located close to the Museum. IT is a typical Arab summer-house, which has an interesting collection of local boats. These include the ferry boats, replicas of abras which are the ferry boats that were used to transport passengers across the river.