From headline grabbing international architectural wonders to small ramshackle collections inside traditional Emirati forts and rainforest biospheres, the UAE is home to at least a dozen fantastic museums that should find their way onto any tourist itinerary.
Given everything else – beaches, malls, hotels, restaurants, deserts and so on – visitors may not have time to see them all, but particularly in the summer months, museums can provide welcome retreats from the heat, and many are specifically catered towards families.
Many are clustered in cultural hubs like Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, but you’ll also find hidden gems off the tourist trail that offer unique insight into Emirati identity.
1. Louvre Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi)
Since opening in 2017, the Louvre Abu Dhabi has quickly become the UAE’s – if not one of the region’s – most famous museums and for many tourists is a destination in itself. Designed by Jean Nouvel, the Louvre is an architectural masterpiece that brings together international artists with work from the wider Arab world, including contemporary artists from the Gulf and beyond.
Visitors can see works by Leonardo Da Vinci and Monet, as well as temporary exhibitions that change seasonally. In all, the museum’s permanent collection comprises some 700 works of art from every period and civilisation, from prehistoric times to the present day. Another 300 works are loans from partner museums – the original Louvre in Paris lends 100 different masterpieces every year.
2. Museum of the Future (Dubai)
The newest kid on the cultural block, this cavernous modern museum in Dubai imagines 2071 as we will live it through a series of hands-on exhibits on tech and sustainability. You may need to book in advance, but this is a perfect location to while away an hour (or three) and escape the heat, as well as keep curious kids of all ages entertained.
Like the Louvre, the building itself is an exhibit – a vast steel oval shape adorned with calligraphy on Sheikh Zayed Road. You will be encouraged to download an app at the start of the experience, which begins with a simulated space shuttle voyage, before leading to various rooms of exhibits. Visitors particularly liked the views from the deck of the building and the vertical elevators.
3. Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization (Sharjah)
An oldie but a goodie, the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is a well-curated introduction to Islamic heritage, science and art in a beautifully restored traditional souk on Sharjah Corniche.
Visitors can enjoy a range of exhibits that cover over a thousand years of Islamic history, including rare manuscripts, calligraphy, scientific instruments such as astrolabes and early clocks, and ceramics from different regions of the Islamic world. The displays are arranged thematically, allowing visitors to understand the development of Islamic art, culture and science over time.
The museum also highlights Islamic contributions to astronomy, medicine and mathematics, with thoughtfully presented artifacts and explanations. Interpretive signs are available in both Arabic and English.
4. Qasr Al Hosn (Abu Dhabi)
The oldest stone building in Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Hosn has been carefully restored and now serves as a museum and cultural center. Once a watchtower and later a royal residence, it offers insights into the lives of the UAE’s ruling families, the tradition of pearl diving, and the Bedouin way of life. The complex also includes the House of Artisans, where visitors can see demonstrations of traditional Emirati crafts and learn more about the country’s intangible heritage. General admission is AED 30 for adults.
5. Dubai Museum (Al Fahidi Fort, Dubai)
Housed in Dubai’s oldest building – Al Fahidi Fort in Bur Dubai – this museum showcases the city’s rapid evolution from fishing village to global city and includes engaging dioramas and reconstructions of traditional homes, souks and mosques. It was once the fortified home and weapons arsenal of Dubai’s rulers, and the nearby Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the UAE and a fascinating place to wander.
Sadly, the museum has been closed for at least three years, but new reconstruction plans were recently revealed and when it does re-open, it is likely to be an essential stop on any UAE itinerary. One of the stand-out exhibits prior to the closure was the full-size Arabian dhow that sat outside the walls of the fort and gave a welcome look into the emirate’s maritime past.
You can still view the dhow and the building from the outside while renovations are underway. While here, it is well worth visiting the Al Shindagha Museum at Dubai Creek, which brings Emirati heritage to life through the lens of daily life, trade and storytelling. It is a good stop for families thanks to its hands-on exhibits and kid-friendly layout.
6. The Green Planet (Dubai)
Definitely one for the kids, the Green Planet is an impressive biodome that recreates a tropical rainforest ecosystem and is home to 3,000 plants and animals, including sloths, toucans and various species of reptiles and fish. As well as the animals, visitors are able to explore the distinct different habitats – or ‘levels’ – of the rainforest, including the forest floor, the mid-story and the canopy, all three of which have their own distinct plant and animal ecosystems.
At various times during the day, zookeepers allow visitors to interact with animals and one popular attraction is the feeding of the museum’s piranhas. You can also camp overnight and take the role of ‘zookeeper for the day’.
7. Ajman Museum (Ajman)
As far from the architectural wonder of the Louvre or Museum of the Future as it is possible to get, this intriguing little museum in the emirate of Ajman captures how the residents used to live in the 18th century, long before the oil industry and when the UAE was a pearl-fishing hub.
It is set inside an 18th century fort that was once a military stronghold and the palace of the ruler of Ajman, and its wind towers are an excellent example of the traditional architecture of the region.
Exhibits, which include ancient pottery and funeral jewellery dating back 5,000 years as well as local costumes, weapons and manuscripts, are in both Arabic and English. Entry is AED 5.
8. Al Ain National Museum (Al Ain)
At time of writing, the Al Ain National Museum was closed for renovations (check here for updates) but when it does re-open, it is not one to miss on a visit to the UAE’s Garden Emirate.
It charts the history of the UAE from the stone age to the establishment of the nation in 1971, and was a pet project of former ruler and founder Sheikh Zayed. As well as flint tools and arrow-heads dating back to the sixth millennium BCE, it is also home to the Sultan Fort, one of a number of important buildings for the ruling Al Nahyan family on this site. Other archaeological exhibitions include pots and grave offerings left in tombs found in the nearby Hili Archaeological Park, where a Bronze Age community thrived some 4,500 years ago.
It also includes a section on the culture and ethnography of the people of the UAE, as well as an interesting display of photos charting the development of Al Ain and the wider nation from 1971. Lastly, it is home to many gifts that were given to Sheikh Zayed, including a piece of actual moon rock donated to him by NASA following the Apollo 17 expedition.
