Dubai Culture opens the first phase of Al Shindagha Museum

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts, heritage, and literature, announced that Al Shindagha Museum opens its doors to visitors in Q1 2019. The museum representsthe first phase of the ambitious Dubai HistoricalDistrict (DHD) project and was developed in collaboration between Dubai Culture which will manage the museum’s content and operations, Dubai Municipality (DM), and Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism).

Al Shindagha Museum is a world-class heritage museum that connects Emiratis, residents, and visitors to the rich heritage of the UAE, embracing traditional values and revealing powerful continuities between past and contemporary Emirati identity. It invites visitors to discover both tangible and intangible reminders of the UAE’s captivating past through innovative exhibitions, organised events, and specialisedpublic-learning programmes, reflecting the Authority’s mandates to enhance Dubai’s cultural offering as well as preserve Emirati heritage and present it to the audience.

Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Chairman of Dubai Culture, said, “The opening of Al Shindagha Museum commemorates the historical city of Dubai and our ancestors’ footprints to ensure they continue inspiring future generations, strengthening their sense of pride in their country and heritage. This major landmark allows us to spreadour rich heritage and introduce it to visitors, underlining our vigorous efforts to safeguard Emirati heritage, in line with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai. The Museum will serve as an effectiveaddition to the Dubai HistoricalDistrict and a major attraction for visitors, providing deep insights, not only on Dubai’shistorybut also the UAE’s rich heritage.”

Al Owais continued, “On this occasion, we offer our gratitude to the teams that took part in the museum’s construction and supported us from Dubai Municipality and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing in Dubai. This serves as the first step in the development of the Dubai HistoricalDistrict, which will help drive Dubai’s burgeoning tourism sector and cultural scene. Our collaboration efforts pushed us to make this significant stride, reflecting our commitment to following our wise leadership’s directives of enhancing coordination and cooperation among government entities to improve well-being and boost happiness among citizens and residents, supporting activities that drive the creative economy.”

HE Mohammed Al Murr, Chairman of the Dubai Historical District Development Committee, said: “Al Shindagha Museum reflects the wise leadership’s keen interest in preserving our cultural identity, which is inspired by our history and reflected in our heritage, customs, and traditions, especially as it is located in Al Shindagha HistoricNeighbourhood. The museum invites all community segments to visit and get a glimpse into Dubai’s development and transformation that allowed it to reach its leading position. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum recognises the significance of the Dubai HistoricalDistrict, which is why he saw it necessary to implement such a massive project to preserve it by making it an open museum that provides knowledge to our youth and complements their sense ofbelonging,while offering tourists a distinctivemuseum experience.”

Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director General at Dubai Culture, commented: “Al Shindagha Museum is a direct translation of the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to transform Dubai into an open-airmuseum. It also represents the first phase of the DHD project launched by His Highness in 2015, whichwill support cultural tourism in Dubai and the UAE at large by bringing authentic traditions and heritage to life. The museum is part of our ongoing efforts to establish Dubai as a global cultural hub and support Dubai’s Tourism Vision 2020 by inviting the world to discover our rich heritage.”

Al Nabouda added: “While providing nationals and residents with connections to their own past in addition to new experiences and family activities, Al Shindagha Museum will also cater to tourists who seek authentic experiences, unique programming and events, a range of cultural experiences, and high-quality facilities. We are confident that it will enhance cultural tourism in line with our leadership’s vision.” 

One of the highlights of the new museum is the Perfume House, which is home to a multi-sensory perfume experience that showcases traditional and industrial perfume-making techniques that highlight local excellence. The Perfume House will invite visitors to explore Emirati culture via scent as well as the heritage that stems from perfumes which played an integral role in trade and exchange activities that made Dubai prosper in Emirati hospitality and in the personal lives of the nation’s citizens.

‘The Dubai Creek: Birth of a City’ is another key pavilion of the museum, serving as a starting point for visitors by introducing them to the history of Dubai through an immersive journey that will encompass artefacts and archival photography.it will also chart Dubai’s development into the thriving metropolis that it is today and showcase how the city’s leaders, both past and present, were essential in providing the vision behind this extraordinary expansion. 

Dubai’s Tourism Vision 2020 aims to attract more than 20 million visitors per year by 2020, of which DHD aims to attract 12 million. In alignment with this goal, the museum will be managed by Dubai Culture as part of the Authority’s mandate to consolidate Dubai’s position as a regional and global focal point for diverse cultural exchange.

Dubai Culture aims to enhance Dubai’s cultural scene and draw attention to the Emirate’s rich heritage with a variety of initiatives that take place throughout the year. The Authority’s mandate is to build bridges of constructive dialogue between different civilisationsand cultures through enriching initiatives that benefit the Emirate’s citizens, residents, and visitors.