Al Shindagha Museum Dubai collage of photos

Discovering Dubai’s Past at Al Shindagha Museum

ByAlison Watt

As a local resident, I’ve visited Al Shindagha Museum several times yet and each visit brings a new discovery. Sometimes it’s something about Dubai’s maritime history or the city’s rapid growth, other times it’s cultural traditions, the art of perfumery or one of the many other themes the museum explores.

Set along Dubai Creek, the museum brings the city’s past, and its recent transformations, to life through interactive exhibits, beautifully restored buildings and high-tech multimedia displays.

In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know before visiting, how to plan your trip, and what not to miss, including some of my favourite exhibits. Whether you’d like to learn more about Dubai’s past or are interested in local traditions, this guide will help you make the most of your visit to Al Shindagha Museum.

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Al Shindagha Museum: Overview

Al Shindagha Museum is set within Al Shindagha Historic District, an important cultural site of Dubai. It is made up of 17 sections, each within a different theme. The sections are housed in individual buildings separated by narrow alleys, traditionally known as sikhas.

Key themes include:

  • Pearl Diving and Maritime Navigation – Exploring Dubai’s seafaring past and the pearl trade.
  • Traditional Crafts and Architecture – Exhibiting skills passed down through generations.
  • Emirati Lifestyle and Hospitality – Covering everything from social customs to traditional food.

The exhibitions bring Dubai’s pearling history, maritime trade, traditions and customs to life through interactive exhibits, multimedia displays and fun immersive and multisensory experiences.

  • Modern mirrored and copper-toned display pillars under a geometric ceiling, each featuring illustrations and artifacts related to traditional Emirati games and rural life.
  • A spacious atrium with sand-colored walls and a bright, ocean-themed art installation of swirling blue shapes suspended under a skylight.
  • Close-up of a display case with wooden spinning tops and colourful glass marbles, showcasing traditional Emirati children's toys.

Visitor Information

  • Al Shindagha Museum Opening Hours: 10 am – 8 pm daily, last entry 7pm, Ramadan timing 9 am – 5 pm, last entry 4pm
  • Al Shindagha Museum Ticket Price: At the museum, tickets are only available at the Visitor Centre. Cost: AED 50 per adult (valid for all exhibits but for one day only.) ➡️ Check these cheaper offers available online here.
  • Payment: Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted
  • Accessibility: Wheelchair-friendly pathways and ramps
Buy Shindagha Museum Tickets for Less Online Here

The Different Pavilions of Al Shindagha Museum

Al Shindagha Museum is made up of 17 themed pavilions, each housed in either a restored heritage home or a newly built structure designed to reflect traditional Emirati architecture.

  • A shaded museum walkway with a directional sign on a traditional sand-coloured wall pointing toward Al Maktoum House, Traditional Healthcare, and the Poetry House.
  • Traditional-style entrance gate with wooden doors and a shaded overhang, leading into Al Maktoum Residence at the museum, marked by a vertical bilingual sign and wall plaque.
  • A narrow passage framed by traditional buildings with a tall palm tree in the centre, leading to a view of the Dubai Creek in the distance.

The buildings are grouped by theme, and as you walk between them through the narrow alleys, or sikhas, you get a feel for how life once flowed through this historic neighbourhood.

Each pavilion focuses on a different aspect of Dubai’s heritage. The biggest is the Culture of the Sea Pavilion, which spreads across four buildings and dives into everything from pearl diving and fishing to marine life, trade, and life at sea.

Pearling exhibit at Shindagha Museum in Dubai showcasing traditional wooden chests, weights, and tools used in the pearl trade, with a large black-and-white photo in the background of a man in traditional dress closely inspecting a pearl.

There’s even a great virtual reality feature that lets you experience life on the waves.

  • Immersive VR area at Shindagha Museum featuring round stools equipped with virtual reality headsets, set in a dim, ocean-themed room with a large window view of a traditional dhow and coastal village backdrop.

Other pavilions explore Traditional Crafts, Traditional Jewellery, Beauty and Adornment and the Children’s House, which is more interactive and hands-on for younger visitors.

One of my personal favourites is The Perfume House, a beautifully designed space where you can smell raw ingredients like oud, saffron and rose while learning about the rituals and traditions behind Emirati perfumery.

Further along, the Life on Land section brings together pavilions on Agriculture and Irrigation, Living off the Land and Traditional Food, each one providing insights into daily life in the past.

  • A traditional two-story courtyard house with arched windows and wooden balustrades, featuring an external staircase leading to the upper floor, set under a clear sky.
  • A dimly lit hallway with wavy, layered walls and backlit displays showing regional maps, infographics, and objects related to Dubai’s maritime and trade history.

You’ll also find pavilions dedicated to People and Faith, the Emerging City and the Al Maktoum Residence, which provides a more personal insight into the ruling family and how the emirate was once governed.

You don’t need to see everything in one go. Just choose the pavilions that match your interests. Some people might enjoy daily life and cultural traditions, while others are more interested in Dubai’s transformation into a modern city. There’s plenty to explore, whatever your interest.

How To Visit Al Shindagha Museum

Sadly, this museum is missed off almost all city tours but you can visit by yourself by using the Dubai Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour taking the Historical Route (Red Route). This will allow you to visit other areas of Old Dubai too.

Alternatively, take the metro to Al Ghubaiba and you have a very short walk to Al Shindagha Museum Visitor Centre.

Buy your Dubai Hop On Hop Off Bus tickets online now

What To Know Before You Go

Plan your visit ahead of time. The museum is large and spread out, so look at the map beforehand and prioritise what you want to see to make the most of your visit.

You may feel you’ll be able to do it all, but planning your route means if you get tired or run out of time, you won’t be disappointed about missing out on something you really wanted to see. And if all goes well and you have plenty of time and energy, you can fit the other sections in! (I’ve never done it all in one visit.)

Map of Al Shindagha Museum in Dubai showing the layout of 22 themed pavilions across historic houses, with colour-coded zones and a legend for visitor amenities like toilets, cafes, and entrances.

You can get to the museum by car, or bus or by metro or boat to Ghubaiba. Wear something cool to walk to the museum and bring an extra layer if you tend to get cold from air-conditioning. Take water with you too as there are no cafes inside the museum.

I would allow 2-3 hours to explore the key pavilions and a couple extra if you want to see everything. I usually spend a couple of hours then go for some late breakfast or lunch. If you want, you could continue after that or change to another activity.

Al Shindagha Museum Highlights

The Perfume House

One of the unique sections of the museum was The Perfume House, which is not only a journey through the history, ingredients and types of perfume but an opportunity to see the raw materials up close and smell the different scents for yourself.

  • A white information table titled “Local Ingredients” in Arabic and English sits beneath tall transparent cylinders containing suspended representations of native flowers and plants used in perfumery.
  • A sleek white display table labeled “Musk” in English and Arabic holds three cylindrical scent dispensers with perforated copper tops, inviting visitors to explore the scent interactively.

Firstly, you learn about the history of perfume and ancient trade routes going back to the Bronze Age and you can see bronze incense burners and ceramic perfume containers. Next, the exhibition moves on to the different ingredients used before exploring the role of perfume in Emirati culture.

  • A central glass case holds a large, dramatic piece of raw oud wood, surrounded by more display cases containing white vessels and traditional perfume-making tools, with a projected video playing in the background.
  • Glass display cases showcase traditional perfume vessels and ornate containers, each piece crafted from materials like metal and ceramic, arranged under spotlights in a dimly lit museum room.

The exhibition begins with the ancient history of perfume, tracing trade routes back to the Bronze Age and displays artefacts like bronze incense burners and ceramic perfume containers. From there, it looks at the various ingredients used in perfumery and explores the cultural significance of fragrance in Emirati life.

Sunlight floods a wide hallway with arched windows and stone-accented columns, where tall, modern copper and glass scent dispensers line the wall beside a view of an outdoor courtyard.

The venue itself is just as special. It was once the home of Sheikha Shaikha bint Saaed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, who created perfumes at home. The museum now stands as a tribute to her passion and skill in the art of perfumery.

Traditional Food House

Food is not just a means to an end in Emirati culture. It’s a central part of hospitality, with certain dishes and drinks traditionally served for specific occasions or at different points during a visit.

  • Traditional Food House exterior. Outdoor exhibits are set into the building’s facade, displaying circular woven mats with bowls of spices and ingredients, framed by dark wooden shutters under the desert sun.
  • A traditional Emirati seating area or majlis is arranged with white floor cushions around low woven mats, set in a spacious room with a modern ceiling and a display of large pottery on the side.

Not offering food to guests, or serving it carelessly, can be seen as impolite. Honouring guests is an important value and sharing food and drink are a key part of that tradition. In the Traditional Food House, you’ll learn not only what foods are commonly served but also the cultural meanings and customs behind them.

  • A wall-mounted display features colourful plates with traditional Arabic sayings and cultural snippets of information translated into English, each plate held by a slender pole, forming a visually striking and culturally rich arrangement.
  • A decorative plate with Arabic calligraphy and English text features a proverb, “A bite keeps calamities away,” emphasising the cultural value of feeding the poor to ward off misfortune.

One of the exhibits I enjoyed most was the collection of plates decorated with sayings and cultural snippets. Take a moment to read though them during your visit for a deeper insight into everyday life and values in Emirati culture.

Where To Stay Nearby

There are two options to stay in Al Shindagha Historic District, right next to the museum and other options are within walking distance a little down the creek or just a boat ride away on the Deira side near the Old Souq.

📍📍Best Budget Spot The George Hotel by Saffron, Dubai Creek – spacious rooms, excellent location for exploring, Booking Rating 8.3

📍Best Mid-Range Spot Heritage Home Guest House – traditional decor, within the heritage area, Booking Rating 8.2

📍Best Luxury Spot Arabian Boutique Hotel – Emirati decor, views over the creek, excellent service Booking Rating 9.3

A heritage-style hotel with sand-coloured walls, intricate window designs, and a shaded outdoor seating area. A palm tree stands tall beside the entrance, adding to the traditional Arabian charm.

FAQs

What is inside the Al Shindagha Museum?

Al Shindagha Museum has 17 themed pavilions, each focusing on a different aspect of Emirati heritage, from pearl diving and perfumery to traditional crafts, food, and architecture, so it includes artefacts and items like old photos and documents, but it also has lots of interactive and immersive exhibits.

Is Al Shindagha Museum worth visiting?

Definitely. It’s one of the best places to learn about Dubai’s past in a way that’s both engaging and easy to explore at your own pace. Whether you’ve lived in the UAE for years or are visiting for the first time, it offers a thoughtful and well-curated look at the culture and history of the city and the emirate as a whole.

Can you visit Al Shindagha Museum with kids?

Yes, Al Shindagha Museum is family-friendly and includes a dedicated Children’s House with interactive exhibits designed especially for younger visitors.

Many of the other pavilions also have hands-on displays, multimedia features and sensory experiences that children can enjoy. Just plan your route in advance to keep walking to a minimum, especially in warmer weather.

How long do you need at Al Shindagha Museum?

You’ll need around 2 to 3 hours to see the main pavilions at a relaxed pace. If you want to explore in more depth, allow at least half a day. I usually choose a theme or a few pavilions to focus on, then stop for lunch nearby and decide from there whether to continue or head elsewhere.

Wrap-up on Al Shindagha Museum

Al Shindagha Museum is one of the best places in Dubai to explore the city’s past through thoughtful exhibits and real-life stories. From the immersive exhibits to the beautifully restored heritage buildings, it’s a unique way to explore Emirati traditions, daily life and the transformation of the city over a relatively short period.

It’s also one of those places you can go back to again and again, exploring a different theme or pavilion each time. Each visit can feel a little different and you can pair it with a walk by the creek or a meal at one of the nearby restaurants.

Creekside walkway at Al Shindagha in Dubai, lined with traditional buildings, palm trees, and a wooden signpost pointing to various museum pavilions; the Dubai Creek and modern skyline with the Infinity Bridge are visible in the background.

If you’re looking for a cultural experience in Dubai that goes beyond the usual tourist stops, and is also less crowded, Al Shindagha Museum is well worth adding to your list. Want to explore more of the surrounding area? Don’t miss my full post on Al Shindagha Historic District for more things to see and do nearby.

❇️ To see how it compares to other parts of the city, check out my post on Old Dubai vs New Dubai.

❇️ If you liked this post, you might also like to read Exploring the Heart of Sharjah.

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