Al Shindagha Museum

Was able to get a discounted ticket through a website. Amazing museum that's well worth the visit with 25 different exhibition halls each covering a different aspect of life in Dubai. Really enjoyed the perfume house and the Dubai Creek where a super friendly tour guide gave me a private tour of the exhibit. Easily spend 3-4 hours here. I went to every exhibit and it was worth traversing the entire complex.

Huge museum complex spreading over 22 different exhibits each built in old residence of sheikh saaed maktoum. Ticket price for adult was aed 50 and child aed 20. You need 3 to 4 hrs to completely visit the museum. This was beside the dubai creek and the walk itself was very beautiful. All the exhibits were superb. It is close to ghubaiba metro station.

I would advise to come as soon as they open if you want to finish all of the houses in this museum. UAE have such a rich culture and you will know it all from here. Also would like to make note that security staff here are very diligent. They do their job well and very kind.

This is almost the only place you can learn quality historical information about Dubai (without all the touristic fancy stuff). Make time (a few hours) to visit the different exhibitions and learn about the different aspects of the UAE.

I had a 12 hour layover in Dubai and having already visited all the main sights on a past trip I was looking for something close to the airport to pass the time. The Al Shindagha Museum is a sprawling museum complex located a 5 minute walk from the nearest Metro station which has a direct line from the airport. It can get very hot walking between museums but each is airconditioned inside. There was some confusion over where to buy an entry ticket as the main building told me to go the children's museum and then they sent me back but this was quickly sorted. I started my visit with the short 15 minute video in the theatre about the history of Dubai. There are lots of little alleys to explore with various themed museums around each corner. You show the ticket QR code on your phone at each museum to gain entry. I was there mid afternoon on a Thursday and had the entire place to myself. The displays are interactive, incorporating technology and audio visual effects along with artefacts and dioramas. My favourite museums were the archeology one, the perfume one, the food one and the culture of the sea. Special mention to Noora at the Food House who gave me black coffee and dates on the floor mat and then took me on a private tour of the gallery and answered all the questions I had. I spent about 5 hours here and covered about 80% of the museums. All the staff were lovely. Strong recommend if you have a stopover and want to pass some time near the airport. Entry about $20AUD.

Pretty enjoyable. I was amazed by the interactivity and sense of technology here. They also offer free workshops where you can make handicrafts, depending on the date you come. I made a saffron rose candle inside an oyster shell and got to take it home. Najla, who was in charge of the workshop, was extremely friendly—I really enjoyed talking with her. All the staff were polite and welcoming. My favorite part was the interactive installations in the perfume gallery (you can smell more than twenty different scents), and the VR pearl diving experience in the ocean gallery was also a lot of fun. If you only have one afternoon in Dubai, you definitely have to come here! Just so you know, the entire museum is located by the water, so when moving between the twenty or so galleries you can enjoy the waterfront scenery. The whole atmosphere is peaceful and pleasant (and it’s a perfect spot to watch the sunset!). You’ll also see lots of cats around. There’s even a museum gift shop. Nearby at the heritage house, a large bottle of water costs only 3 AED. I especially loved the perfume gallery, where you can compare scents from different origins and learn to distinguish between animal, plant, and synthetic notes. As a perfume enthusiast, I really appreciated discovering the differences between oud from various regions, the contrasts among natural saffron, synthetic saffron, and ambergris, as well as between Taif rose essential oil and regular rose oil. Don’t forget to take a walk through the long corridor in the perfume gallery—there are plenty more scents to experience there too. To sum up: If you’re interested in Arab culture, come! If you want to learn about Dubai’s development history, come! If you’d like to make your own handicraft and take it home for free, come! If you want to enjoy the comfort of air conditioning indoors while still admiring beautiful views outside, come! If you appreciate not only the elegant interior design and high-tech interactions but also natural settings with an Arabian touch, come! If you’re a perfume lover, this is a must! If you love cats, come! If you’d enjoy a sunset stroll by the water, come! I honestly can’t think of a single reason not to visit. Even if my time in Dubai were limited next time, I’d still want to come back here again. Tip: Don’t forget to have a cup of Turkish coffee at the visitor center, along with a few delicious dates!

We visited the Shindagha Museum today with the students of Elite English School, and it was a wonderful experience! Ms. Shama Syed, our tour guide, explained everything clearly and with great kindness. She engaged the children beautifully, making the learning experience both fun and educational. It is truly the best place for students to explore the history of the UAE and enjoy hands-on learning. A heartfelt thanks to Ms. Shama Syed for her time, effort, and dedication. Highly recommended! 🌸

Beautifully re-created traditional architecture, great place for a long afternoon walk and to hang out by creekside. It's fun to get lost in the narrow alleyways. One of the few photography-friendly places in Dubai.