*INACTIVE* Dubai Museum

You'll find the Dubai Fort, also known as Al Fahidi Fort, at the southern end of the Dubai Creek in the charming Al Souk Al Kabir area close to The Ruler's Court. The fort was built here in 1787, near the border of what was then urban Dubai.

The oldest existing building in the city, it was initially a base for the monarch, as well as a defence tower. Later, the fort became a weapons arsenal and a prison. Renovated during the reign of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the government of Dubai reopened the fort as the Dubai Museum in 1971 – the same year the United Arab Emirates was formed – with an underground museum added in 1995.

Today it proudly places the city's heritage in the limelight, giving you the chance to catch a glimpse of Dubai's rich history, covering the emirate's coastal areas to its deserts, mountains and settlements. Featuring multiple wings – with each one showcasing a different stage of Dubai's evolution – the museum boasts an impressive range of relics and ancient documents that include rare drawings, diagrams, and audio and video material, with some carefully preserved items dating as far back as 3000BCE.

History buffs will love the Dubai Museum's carefully considered ancient pottery, antique weapons, architectural models, and lifelike portrayals of the emirate's evolving communities and markets. The museum's astronomy, natural phenomena, and sea wings share enchanting stories about Dubai's maritime adventures, including its involvement in shipbuilding, pearl diving and more.