Museums in Dubai: Heritage and Contemporary Museums to Visit

Dubai’s museums fall into two groups: heritage museums around Dubai Creek and in Jumeirah that tell the story of the city and the UAE, and newer venues focused on art, technology and play. The headline heritage sites, Etihad Museum and Al Shindagha Museum, are run by Dubai Culture. The Museum of the Future on Sheikh Zayed Road is temporarily closed, according to its official website on 2 October 2026.

Key facts

Hours are shown only where the museum’s own website published them on the day we checked. Hours can change during Ramadan and public holidays.

Heritage museums

Etihad Museum

Etihad Museum stands on the site of Union House in Jumeirah, where the constitution forming the United Arab Emirates was signed on 2 December 1971. Its interactive pavilions use photographs, films and documents to tell the story of the country’s founding, with a focus on the years 1968 to 1974. The curved white roof is inspired by the shape of the constitution, and seven columns represent the pens used to sign it. The site covers 25,000 square metres.

• Location: Jumeira Street at 2nd December Street, Jumeirah.
• Hours: 10am to 8pm, last entry 7pm (Etihad Museum website, checked 2 October 2026).
• Official website: etihadmuseum.dubaiculture.gov.ae

Al Shindagha Museum

Set on the banks of Dubai Creek in the historic Al Shindagha area, this museum tells the story of Dubai’s growth. Its centrepiece, “Dubai Creek: Birth of a City”, is a multimedia experience about life by the water and the role of maritime trade. The Perfume House, part of the same visit, explores the place of scent in Emirati culture.

• Metro: Al Gubaiba on the Green Line; Visit Dubai puts the walk at three to four minutes.
• Hours: 10am to 8pm, last entry 7pm (Al Shindagha Museum website, checked 2 October 2026).
• Official website: alshindagha.dubaiculture.gov.ae

Bait Al Banat Women’s Museum

Near the Gold Souk in Deira, Bait Al Banat (“the girls’ house”) presents the lives of Emirati women, including artists, activists and scholars, and their part in the country’s development. A permanent display is dedicated to the poet Ousha Bint Khalifa, and the museum also shows work by contemporary female artists from the UAE. It is about a ten-minute walk from Gold Souq Metro station. See our Deira guide for the surrounding souks.

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

This preserved quarter beside Dubai Creek in Bur Dubai shows how the city looked in the mid-19th century, with wind-tower houses and narrow lanes. Its more than 50 houses include:

• Coffee Museum (Villa 44): the history of coffee and how it reached Arabia, with old grinders and brewing pots.
• Coins Museum: coins and currency from the region and beyond.
• Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU): tours and meals introducing Emirati traditions.

Sharaf DG Metro station is about 700 metres away, according to Visit Dubai.

More heritage museums listed by Visit Dubai

• Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum’s House: the former residence of Sheikh Saeed on the Bur Dubai side of the creek.
• Museum of the Poet Al Oqaili: the 1920s home of the poet Mubarak Bin Al Oqaili, near the Spice Souk.
• Naif Museum: in part of the original Dubai Police headquarters, covering the history of the force from 1956.

Contemporary museums

Museum of the Future

Founded by the Dubai Future Foundation and opened on 22 February 2022, the Museum of the Future is a torus-shaped building of steel and glass on Sheikh Zayed Road, designed by architect Shaun Killa. Its facade carries Arabic calligraphy of poetry by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Emirates Towers Metro station on the Red Line connects to it by a footbridge.

Status: on 2 October 2026 the museum’s official website (museumofthefuture.ae) said it was temporarily closed while it prepares its next chapter, with the online shop and selected experiences still available. Check the website for reopening news before you plan a visit.

ARTE Museum Dubai

A digital art venue on Level 2 of Dubai Mall, ARTE Museum spans almost 2,800 square metres across 14 zones on the theme “Eternal Nature”. The nearest Metro station is Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall; see our Downtown Dubai guide.

OliOli

An experiential play museum in Al Quoz for children aged two to 11, with eight galleries over two floors and 45 hands-on exhibits.

Planning your visit

• Group creek-side museums together: Al Shindagha, Al Fahidi and, across the creek by abra, the Women’s Museum near the Gold Souk.
• Book online where the museum offers it; Visit Dubai recommends booking Al Shindagha in advance.
• Dress modestly for heritage areas and check each museum’s own website for hours and tickets on the day.

For more ideas, see things to do in Dubai, and to stay near the heritage district read where to stay in Dubai.

FAQ

Is the Museum of the Future open?

Not at the moment. On 2 October 2026 its official website said the museum was temporarily closed. Check museumofthefuture.ae for updates.

What are Etihad Museum’s opening hours?

10am to 8pm, with last entry at 7pm, according to the museum’s website on 2 October 2026.

Where was the UAE founded?

At Union House in Jumeirah, Dubai, where the constitution was signed on 2 December 1971. Etihad Museum now stands on the site.

Which Metro station is nearest Al Shindagha Museum?

Al Gubaiba on the Green Line, a few minutes’ walk from the museum.

Which museums are in Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood?

They include the Coffee Museum and the Coins Museum, alongside the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding.

Is there a museum for children in Dubai?

OliOli in Al Quoz is a play museum designed for children aged two to 11.