Pavilions

Salaam-Alaikum! If you are new to Dubai, this is a phrase you should acquaint yourself with as soon as possible. It means "Peace be unto you," and is the standard greeting among Emiratis. In case you are wondering the correct response is: “Wa-Alaikum-Salaam" meaning: "And unto you peace."

Emiratis have a well-deserved reputation for courtesy, generosity, and a love of community. In their homes they ensure the majlis (reception area) is always kept tidy and prepared to receive visitors. It is also perfumed with the traditional incense of Oud to welcome guests, who are invited to sit in places of honour within the room. These small gestures speak volumes about their hospitality and genuine warmth. 

The Welcome Centre at The Shindagha Museum is the perfect starting point before embarking on a journey of historical exploration. Located at the entrance to the museum, here visitors will receive orientation and wayfinding information, and details about current or new events and programmes – as well as guided tours and theatre productions. 

A sophisticated ticketing and retail system means you are off to a smooth and hassle-free start with no excessive queuing. At the same time, helpful staff will answer any questions about museum timings, what to see, mobility or disability issues, and general queries. 

At its core, Dubai’s story is that of the ruling Al Maktoum family, a royal dynasty that over generations has transformed the emirate from a small town to a globalised metropolis. The family descends from the Al Bu Falasah section of the Bani Yas, a tribal federation that was once the dominant power through most of the country. 

Visitors at Al Maktoum Residence will discover the history of this pioneering clan, as well as getting a riveting look at the reigns of 19th century leaders – their decisions, and the important events connected to them. 

Full of intriguing historical information, ​Al Maktoum residence​ is accessible, surprising, and full of human stories that bring the family’s fascinating characters to life. 

It also illustrates how in an era of upheaval and uncertainty the seeds of Dubai’s prosperity were sown due to a combination of pragmatism and open-mindedness in its leaders. 

Set sail across the centuries to a time when Dubai’s modern society was beginning to take shape on the shimmering blue waters of its famous ‘khor’ – a traditional regional word for creek or waterway. 

Discover the place where trade with the outside world began, while being guided step-by-step through the area’s extraordinary development – the first bank, the first police house, the first produce market…

Find out what it took to grow a business and raise a family by the creek for the hardworking and innovative Emiratis of the past, from the shrewd merchants and tradesmen to tough seafarers and boat builders. Learn how the skills they developed in response to extreme conditions set the whole society on the road to affluence. 

Story of the Creek offers a state-of-the-art multimedia experience, including an informative and inspiring film that allows visitors to immerse themselves in personal stories that bring the neighbourhood to life. A unique sensory experience, it tells the universal tale of the power of the human spirit and how Dubai’s inhabitants managed to build a successful city rooted in its heritage and taking wisdom from the past

Islam is the foundation on which Emirati culture is based. It is a source of strength, joy, and unity for the people of Dubai. The faith has shaped society in a way that means the emirate is known for its courtesy, respect, tolerance, and acceptance of others.

People and faith house​ at the museum looks at the powerful religious and social messages that have come out of Emirati Islamic heritage, and how they inform the way people raise their families, do business, and interact with the world.

It begins with an orientation experience that offers an insight into the essential principles, elements, and beliefs of Islam – as well as its influence on language, science, the arts, and architecture. You can then take a step back in time to catch a glimpse of how Emiratis from the first half of the 20th Century lived in accordance with the principles of Islam, sharing beliefs and attitudes which they then built into the fabric of everyday life.

Accessible in content to a wide range of visitors, the house offers a rich ‘people perspective’ and caters to all levels of knowledge, interest, and understanding. 

Dubai’s physical presence – both its elegant traditional buildings, and its iconic modern towers – have captured the imagination of the world.

As you wander through the houses in the Emerging City section of the museum, you can follow the fascinating evolution of the emirate’s built environment and take in the development of its architecture and urban landscape. The houses explores specific elements of the growth of the city, focusing on Dubai’s famous megastructures, as well as the enduring spirit of the neighbourhood of Shindagha

As an introduction to the whole cluster, in Juma & Obaid bin Thani House visitors are guided through the cultural, economic and historical factors that laid the groundwork for the development of Dubai. 

The upper floor focuses on the explosion of growth in the emirate from the 1800s-1900s – which was a fascinating period in the economic and urban evolution of the city. Meanwhile, in the two smaller houses, vignettes of the urban development of the Dubai are explored. This is the section to understand the roots and progression of Dubai, from the ground up.

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Allow all your senses to be stimulated and delighted in the realm of exotic Emirati fragrance, while delving into the skills that bring them to life. 

Showcasing traditional techniques for making scented oils and perfumes that date back centuries, Perfume House takes visitors on an aromatic journey to learn about ancient traditions while exploring some unusual Ingredients. 

Discover the important role traditional scents play in Emirati culture, how they connect to the past, and their role in religious and everyday life.

While the arrival of modern medicine in the 1950s changed life in the UAE, there is still a huge respect for, and interest in, traditional remedies and methods.

The Traditional Healthcare ​house at the museum charts the history of innovation in ancient Emirati medicine, including the use of herbs and plants such as saffron, anise, nutmeg, lemongrass and ginger to cure ailments, and the role of the Atar and Hawaj (healers) in these treatments. 

The house shows not just medical methods, but also how previous generations of Emiratis took care of their health and hygiene. For example, how clay and leaves were used to make shampoo and coal to make toothpaste. Then there is cupping, or ‘Hijamah’, an effective and ancient technique that is still used today for dealing with a variety of ailments, particularly back pain. 

The house explores the first pharmacy in Dubai too, opened by Mohammed Habib Al Reda in the 1930s, and the Al Maktoum Hospital which opened in the 1950s – both pioneering centres of healing that set the course for the future.

Families coming together each day to dine while reconnecting with each other – as well as the importance of specific meals served on religious occasions – is central to Emirati life. 

Visitors in the traditional food house at Al Shindagha m​useum will learn that eating is a way of keeping heritage and history alive, with most Emirati dishes having their own intriguing story. From soft wheaty Harees to spiced meat and rice dish Machboos, this is a cuisine created to be savoured and celebrated.

The house also explores how ingredients are gathered or caught from the mountains, oases, sea, and land, to create a delightful cuisine that is totally unique. Learn about traditional Dubai food and drink customs, rituals and practices, methods of cooking, and aromatic spices and regional produce. 

A treat for the senses, the house includes multisensory exhibits that are highly interactive – and delicious of course. Visitors can touch, taste, and smell their way around the exhibition because this area is all about having fun and enjoying the best in life.