Today, Dubai attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. It provides its guests with not only beach vacations but also first-rate shopping and unforgettable cultural experiences. We tell you about the most interesting places to visit in this sunny metropolis.
Jumeirah Mosque
Dubai’s Jumeirah neighborhood is home to one of the country’s most beautiful mosques. Although the building was built in the 1970s, its architecture is in the Fatimid style of the Middle Ages. Inside, the Jumeirah Mosque is adorned with geometric patterns and Arabic script. The women’s hall is embellished with floral designs. The light-colored Muslim temple with openwork towers and minarets was the first in the country, and it is open to people of all religions.
The mosque is located near the coast of the Persian Gulf. It is not far from the city center and it is about 10-15 minutes by car. By the way, having a car will play a key role if you want to see all the best sights of Dubai. Thankfully, in the UAE there are no problems with rental cars at all – here car rentals are cheap, and the cars are very good. Therefore, there is no need to travel by public transportation, because it is better to do it in the comfort of an inexpensive rented car.
Museum of Future
The Museum of the Future opened in Dubai in February 2022 and quickly rose to prominence around the world. Architect Sean Kill designed the unusual building with a streamlined torus shape, which was built using cutting-edge technology. The curved diagonal-mesh frame is unsupported, the structure is clad in fiberglass and steel panels, and each component was created in a single copy. The Arabic script on the structure’s silver surface contains quotes from Dubai’s Emir, Sheikh Mohammed, about the future of the country and humanity as a whole. The inscriptions are made of transparent glass and are illuminated at night with LEDs. A cushion in the shape of a rounded trapezoid covered in lawns is arranged beneath the 61-meter-high structure. It houses the museum’s main entrance, with its arched portal.
Visitors can take capsule elevators from the luxurious lobby to the exhibition’s beginning, the Space Technology Hall, which is located on the fifth floor. The tour progresses from top to bottom. The “Vault of Life”, an exhibition about nature and ecology, is located on the fourth floor. The third floor is dedicated to the Al Waha Medical Institute. Everything here is devoted to the human ability to survive in the modern world and to resist stressors that are harmful to health. The “Tomorrow Today” exhibition on the second floor showcases future urban transportation that is both safe and environmentally friendly, as well as new developments in environmental protection, artificial intelligence, and robots. The first floor houses a children’s playground called “Heroes of the Future”.
Etihad Museum
The Etihad Museum, which opened in Dubai in 2016, features exhibitions about the UAE’s history before and after the emirates’ unification. The museum is near Union House, where the Seven Emirates’ agreement was signed. The architects who designed the museum building immortalized the historical event through its forms. It resembles a folded piece of paper. Seven columns within the pavilions represent the number of pens used to sign the document.
Eight pavilions contain photographs, documents, and official UAE symbols. A historical documentary film is shown in the cinema. One of the halls features a large interactive map of the Emirates prior to the formation of a single state. Every exhibition is outfitted with multimedia equipment.
Bastakiya Neighborhood
Bastakiya is an ancient neighborhood located on the Persian Gulf’s shores, between Dubai Bay’s waterfront and Al Fahidi Fortress. It was built in the late nineteenth century by wealthy Iranian merchants who relocated to Dubai. Since 1962, when oil fields were discovered in the Emirates, the country and the city have been actively developing, with the residents of Old Dubai gradually moving to new neighborhoods. Bastakia began to decline, and during the construction boom, the old buildings were initially planned for demolition but later changed their minds.
In the 1990s, the government purchased the houses from their previous owners, and the restoration of the old neighborhoods began. Today, there are numerous coffee shops, restaurants, and art galleries along the narrow, well-kept streets, which are shaded from the sun by awnings. Bastakia has several museums, the Sheikh Mohammed Cultural Center, and a vibrant Arab market where fabrics, gold, spices, and souvenirs are sold.
Sculpture “Together”
An expressive sculptural group titled “Together” (Together) has been installed near Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard in Downtown Dubai, Dubai’s business center. The composition, created in 2016, adorned a public garden near the iconic Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall. The pedestal depicts two 4.25-meter-tall figures dressed in traditional Arab attire. The male figure is made of snow-white Carrara marble, which was delivered from Italy. For the slender female figure, black labradorite from Scandinavian quarries was chosen. Lutfi Romhein, the well-known sculptor, created the composition.
Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House
The Sheikh Saeed House Museum is located on the shores of the famous Dubai Creek Bay in the historic Al Shindagha neighborhood. Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum is the grandfather of Emir Mohammed, Dubai’s current ruler. For more than 50 years, the Al Maktoum family lived here. State issues were resolved, meetings were held, and the Emir’s heirs were raised here.
Following the Sheikh’s death, a museum was established in the building, with exhibits detailing the lives of all generations of the monarch’s dynasty. The house’s original furnishings have been preserved, and the family hall showcases the personal belongings of the Sheikh’s family members, rare photographs, documents, and stamp and coin collections. Other rooms contain exhibits about Dubai’s history.
Conclusion
As you can see, there really is a lot to see here. Come to Dubai with your loved ones or on your honeymoon, rent a car https://drive.yango.com/ , and go on your own unforgettable tour of outstanding cultural heritage. Use our guide as a navigator and don’t forget to savor Dubai’s exquisite cuisine.