10 must-see museums in Dubai

A comprehensive guide to the best museums and must-see attractions in the UAE city

Dubai, the city of elegance, fashion and entertainment, is also the custodian of a rich history that has shaped its extraordinary present. In this guide, we present the 10 must-see museums to discover the perfect balance of tradition and modernity that characterizes this unique metropolis.

To discover the 10 things to do in Dubai click here.

Etihad Museum

If you are a history enthusiast, this museum is the place for you. The Etihad Museum celebrates and recounts the union of the Arab states in 1971, which led to the creation of the United Arab Emirates. The museum shows us this important historical phase of the country by offering a comprehensive overview and covering the political, social, cultural and scientific fields. Opened in 2017, the museum is located in the Jumeriah district, a deeply symbolic place, where the act of union that gave birth to the UAE was signed in 1971.
The building is an architectural masterpiece and its shape resembles that of a parchment, symbolising unity and progress. The seven pillars supporting the roof indicate the seven Emirates that make up the country and the museum covers 25,000 square metres. The Etihad Museum offers an immersive experience, divided into seven chapters, telling the story of the Emirates from before 1966, when rich oil deposits were discovered in the area, to the present day.

Museum of The Future

The Museum of The Future is one of the city's most famous and innovative attractions. Located along Sheikh Zayed Road, it opened in 2022 and is considered a masterpiece of futuristic architecture and design.
Included by National Geographic in its list of the world's most beautiful museums, it was built by architect Shaun Killa, who, using innovative techniques such as 3D printing, was able to perfectly represent the futuristic vision of the city of Dubai with the ovoid shape of the structure. The Museum of The Future is designed to show visitors what the world might look like in 50 years. It focuses on topics such as space travel, sustainability, wellness, artificial intelligence and the future of medicine.
The exhibition is spread over five floors and the visit starts on the 5th floor, called OSS Hope: here you can experience the thrill of space flight and learn everything there is to know about our universe and the OSS Hope station. Continuing the visit, visitors arrive on the 4th floor, where they ‘come back to earth’, but are catapulted into a future Dubai, set up by the Heal Institute. Thanks to augmented virtual reality, visitors are immersed in the play of light, colours and sounds of nature. On this floor, in fact, life is the protagonist, through simulators of ecosystems and the DNA chamber, in which 2000 species of fauna and flora are collected in glass jars, allowing visitors to observe every detail. The 3rd floor, called Al Waha, is dedicated to a sensory room, aimed at healing the mind. The 2nd and 1st floors are devoted to the future of biotechnology, which could improve our lives. To find out more about the Museum of the Future click here.

Exterior view of the new Museum of Future which was built in stainless steel and glass without supports. Its design pays homage to digital technology through the 1024 panels covering the facade

Al Shindagha Museum

The Al Shindagha Museum is one of the city's main cultural attractions, located along the banks of the Creek. The museum celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the United Arab Emirates. The Museum spans over 4 buildings and includes thematic houses that explore Emirati history and the country's transition to modernity.
Al Shindagha is one of the oldest districts of the city and was formerly the residence of the Al Maktoum royal family. Among the most interesting sights in the museum district are the Perfume House, the House of Poetry and Dubai Creek: Birth of a City.

Miraj Art Centre

Arabian culture holds one of the richest and oldest traditions in the world and the Miraj Art Centre is the perfect place to discover all its facets. The collections, divided into weapons, jewellery, carpets, textiles, calligraphy and more, tell a centuries-long journey to honour Islamic culture and religion.
Perfection, as Islam demands, flows from every detail and objects transcend their mere function, becoming works of art. Lose yourself among jewel-like decorated weapons, tapestries and carpets that transport the visitor to distant times and stones carved by skilled craftsmen.

Global Village

From October to May you can visit one of Dubai's most original attractions, the Global Village. It is a huge cultural theme park, divided into pavilions, designed to showcase and celebrate some of the world's cultures. The 25 pavilions include the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia, and each pavilion is designed to reflect the architecture and culture of the country or region it represents.
The Global Village is a true world expo, where it is possible to eat at over one hundred locations, including themed restaurants and street food stalls. There is also a market, where you can shop for traditional products from the various countries, such as colourful dishes from Turkey or the Abaya, the traditional Arab women's dress. The Global Village also organises a New Year's Eve party, with fireworks, parades and much more. (To find out how to celebrate New Year's Eve in Dubai click here).

Global Village

Saruq Al Hadid Museum

The Saruq Al Hadid Archaeological Museum, which means ‘the iron road’ in Arabic, houses a vast collection from the Saruq Al Hadid archaeological site, located in the Rub Al-Khali desert. The 3,000 year old site is famous for the artefacts found there, objects are of various materials, iron, ceramics, bronze, but also gold and precious stones. The museum is located in a renovated traditional Emirati house and reflects the cultural heritage of the region. The visit shows metalworking in Arab culture, but there are also activities and workshops for children, such as a reconstruction of an archaeological site where they can discover fossils and artefacts.

Jameel Art Centre

Contemporary art lovers cannot miss the Jameel Art Centre, located in the Jaddaf district and opened in 2018. The museum is directed by Antonia Carver, former director of the Art Dubai Fair (to find out more about the Art Dubai Fair click here) and features exhibition rooms for permanent and non-permanent exhibitions, as well as a library, specialising in contemporary art. Inside the museum is the ever-expanding Art Jameel collection, featuring works by almost two hundred artists from Africa and West and South Asia. Among the time-honoured exhibitions, the Jameel Art Centre presents the works of some of the world's most important partners, including the Venice and Gwangju Biennale

Quranic Park

The Quranic Park is an open-air museum, aimed at the discovery of Islamic culture through the narration of the miracles of the Quran. The park is spread over 64 hectares and is divided into green areas and twelve orchards containing the plants mentioned in the Quran, including grapes, figs, wheat and much more. In addition, the Cave of Miracles is situated here, in which the miracles of the Islamic prophets are narrated through the plants. The park also includes stands and stalls, where you can buy and enjoy the products grown and harvested.

Coffee Museum

Of the many traditions that compose Arab culture, coffee is certainly one of the main ones. In the heart of the historical district of Al Fahidi is a museum dedicated to dallah, the Arabian café.
The museum is a place designed to celebrate coffee not only as a beverage, but as a cultural, historical and social element, and is organised through a sensory journey to discover Arab coffee and its history, from the legendary shepherd Kaldi, who discovered this precious resource, to its cultivation and roasting, to the sacred coffee ritual. The museum does not stop at the Arabian borders, but exhibits all the cultures around the world that appreciate and use this plant and its produce.

Madame Tussauds Dubai

Madame Tussauds Dubai opened in 2021 and follows in the footsteps of the famous Madame Tussauds in London. The museum offers walking among some of the world's most acclaimed stars, including Hollywood, Bollywood, sports and more. In addition to a visit among the waxworks and a red carpet walkway, you can enjoy unique experiences, such as having tea with Queen Elizabeth II or sitting down with the great actress Audrey Hepburn.
The museum is located on Bluewaters Island, next to the famous Ain Dubai, the world's largest Ferris wheel, and is the first location of the famous wax museum chain in the Middle East.