Dubai Museum
The Al Fahidi fort located in Bur Dubai behind Al Fahidi St, houses
Dubai Museum. The old fort building contains regular exhibits of
weapons, traditional costumes and musical instruments and the courtyard
has good examples of ‘arish huts and wooden boats. The new underground
section of the museum houses wonderfully lifelike exhibits of an ancient
souq, a quran school, typical Arabic households and an oasis. There is
also a display on the desert by night with interesting local wildlife. A
separate room is dedicated to lively modern exhibits of pearl diving and
fishing. Archaeological finds are displayed near the shop. Open 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. daily, Fridays 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is Dh3 for adults
and Dh1.5 for children.
Bastakiya District
This was one of the original trading districts in old Dubail. Now famous
for its delightful old houses with windtowers – rectangular structures
that catch the wind and circulate it around the houses. The area is full
of atmospheric narrow alleyways and many of the houses have been
converted into art galleries. Visit the Majlis Gallery (04 3536233),
open 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Closed Friday
Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House .
On the southern bank at the entrance to the Creek, this house was built
in 1896 as a residence for the ruling family. The traditional
coral-block structure has four elegant windtowers and a large central
courtyard. Carved teak wood doors, wooden lattice screens and
balustrades have all been restored to former glory. Delightful
photographs of old Dubai. Open 8.30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily., Fridays 3.00
p.m. to 10.00 p.m. Admission Dh2, children Dh1.
Heritage and Diving Village
Located next to Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoums’s House in Al Shindagha, the
village features reconstructions of Dubai’s maritime past. Displays
include a tented bedouin village with traditional weapons, chests and
household utensils. Shops sell handicrafts and camel and donkey rides
are sometimes available. Folk dance and music performances are staged
from time to time. The village boasts a number of cafeterias and a
seafood restaurant. Opening hours are Saturday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 10
p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Dubai Creek Waterfront
Walk along the waterfront (near Intercontinental Hotel, Deira side
of Creek.) A must if you want to experience Dubai’s traditional maritime
roots. Here large motorized wooden dhows offload their cargos in the
heart of the city.
Abra Trips
Take an abra trip across the creek in Umm al-Qaiwain to Deira. Steps
along the waterfront lead down to abras, small wooden motorized craft
that are used to cross from one side of the creek to the other. Take a
seat on the nearest boat, the fare of Dh1 (it may be less if you are
lucky!) will be collected by the skipper before the boat docks at
similar steps on the far side.
Dhow Building Yard (near Garhoud Bridge)
A reminder of days when sea trading and pearling were the mainstays of
the economy.
Majlis Umm Al Sheif (Al Ghoreifa)
Situated in Umm Suqeim, this house was originally constructed around
1955. The majlis (meeting room) was a summer retreat for Sheikh Rashid
bin Saeed Al Maktoum the late Ruler of Dubai. The simple two storey
stone building is constructed with traditional materials. The ground
floor comprises an open liwan (terrace) and also a small storeroom,
while on the second floor the majlis itself is decorated in traditional
style with carpets, cushions and Arabic coffee pots.
Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
The Centre endeavours to introduce visitors to life in the UAE and will
organize visits to mosques, usually the impressive Jumeirah Mosque, on
Sundays and Thursdays at 10 a.m., and to local homes. Booking is
essential.
Al Qusais
Al Qusais is today a suburb of Dubai but in antiquity it was the site of
an important settlement and associated cemetery. Excavations there in
the early 1970s and 1980s revealed the existence of a settlement dating
to the second and first millennium BC. Shaft graves dug straight into
the sabkha, of similar date, yielded large numbers of copper or bronze
vessels and weaponry, as well as many soft-stone vessels. Much of the
material from Al Qusais is on display in Dubai Museum.
Al Sufouh
This name has recently been given to a suburb south of Dubai. In the
early 1990s a tomb of typical Umm al-Nar-type was found here and
subsequently excavated, along with parts of an adjacent settlement, by
an Australian team in conjunction with Dubai Municiaplity. The most
striking feature of the tomb at Al Sufouh was the fact that, just
outside of it, were four pits containing human bone, most of it burnt.
It is possible that this bone, which may or may not have come from the
main tomb itself (i.e. been re-buried), represents the remains of
extensive cremation episodes. Some pits held the remains of c. 50
individuals, all seemingly cremated at the same time. |
Dubai
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About Dubai
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