"What’s this place all about? Zayed Heritage Center, a small, humble museum, is the perfect place for history buffs to learn about the U.A.E.’s early days and its founder, the late Sheikh Zayed. A sand-colored building with weighty wood doors contains artifacts and memorabilia of the country’s origins. Ye shall know them by their permanent collection: How was it? The collection here is one part history and three parts nostalgia. Several rooms house different collections, ranging from the postal service’s early days to the founding of the police department. An entire exhibit dedicated to the police force—and a small theater with a documentary on repeat—explores a major pillar of the U.A.E. value system that affects everyone, including travelers: security. What did you make of the crowd? Don’t expect crowds at this slightly obscure, yet significant, museum; you might be the only one here. On the practical tip, how were the facilities? One long corridor conjoins several rooms, making the layout easy to navigate. Any guided tours worth trying? While there’s no official guided tour, if you catch him in the right mood, the elderly staffer manning the entrance—who lived through the country’s founding first-hand—will pour you tea and tell you stories as you peruse the museum. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? You don’t need long here—say, 30 minutes—so combine it with another destination, rather than making it a focus mission." - Jenna Scatena
