My Hidden Agenda behind the Dubai Museum Visit

I think this sign is here permanent, not only for the Ramadan month.

The Dubai Museum
Website: Dubai Museum (they actually charge a few dirhams)

I was in Dubai last year July, during the height of SUMMER and RAMADAN. Perhaps not the best combination and timing to travel to this part of the world. But I was here on a layover and wanted to make the most of it like I always do in all of my travels.

In my previous posts about Dubai, I have just browsed the gold souk, the herbs and spices souk as well, and then I took the Abra boat crossing over the Dubai Creek and browsed another market, the textile souk until I was literally souked-out. Aside from that I was drained from the heat and totally parched. The temperatures were rising over 43C and I desperately need to seek shelter before I melt down and wither away. Moreover, it is Ramadam so I cannot even sneak a little sip from the water bottle hiding inside my bag. Ugh. I must find a way.

Dubai Museum came to the rescue. It really felt like the heavens opened up for me when I saw the sign on the building–DUBAI MUSEUM. Hallelujah! Alhamdulillah!

Remains of the Wall of Old Dubai on the Al Fahidi Fort circa 1787. The museum is located inside the fort.

This is the entrance.

I quickly went inside and bought a ticket. Then I positioned myself near the electric fan because I am dying from the hot spell and excessive sweating. I had to sit there for a good 15 minutes to fully recover, the fan blowing on my face. What a reprieve. That could have been orgasm on a different level.

FIRST HIDDEN AGENDA â€” SEEK SHELTER and recover from the heatwave. Check.

Afterwhich, I started exploring the inner courtyard of the museum. There are displays of heritage settlements of Old Dubai but everything is open. So I further checked the inner rooms along the walls and found that one of the rooms with an audio visual, although the door is open, somehow bids some privacy, and there was no one inside as well. Hiding behind the door and from the camera (if there was), I drank the water from the bottle like a drunk fish. As fast as I could!

SECOND HIDDEN AGENDA â€” DRINK WATER and recover from dehydration. Check.

*huge sigh of relief* OK, DO NOT JUDGE ME. Nobody saw me. I was being respectful by HIDING.

Note: During Ramadan, no one is allowed to eat, drink, smoke, even eat a candy or chew a gum publicly. The Muslims do not eat until sundown. Non-Muslims must obey and follow this rule as well publicly otherwise there will be repercussions. Like perhaps, going to prison. Eating and drinking in private for Non-Muslims are acceptable though.

Anyway, I can now further tour the museum. I mean, I have paid for it already, might as well check it out =)

The inner courtyard of the museum.

Dubai during summer is like a one big sauna.

Example of settlements and how the Emirates people lived before.

The wooden boats that they use as well back then.

After having a look-see around the courtyard I went to the main exhibit center. There is an audio visual show, a diorama about Dubai’s history, from a humble fishing village to an adult Disneyland theme park of sorts (the tallest building, the world islands, 7-star hotel, the palm island, ski dome in the desert and there is more of the unthinkable).

Dubai is definitely ambitious, just like its leader who had a vision. Nothing wrong with that really but these kinds of spectacular attractions are not for everyone’s taste and budget.

There is also an exhibit about the Dubai/Emirati life before the discovery of oil and all these modern out-of-this-world development took over. I managed to take pictures of these heritage display exhibits.