Fly into space and eat with the locals. Why you need to visit Dubai’s collection of museums.
Thought Dubai was just glossy skyscrapers and hotels dripping in luxury? Think again. The emirate has serious cultural appeal. You’ll find acclaimed festivals and thoughtfully curated museums to add to your bucket list.
Discover Dubai’s culture and traditions
Calling all culture vultures
Futuristic skyscrapers, vast manmade islands and glittering shopping malls, Dubai is overtly shiny and switched-on. But scratch beneath its glossy veneer and you’ll find an emirate with a rich, storied soul and a fascinating backstory. And despite the naysayers, its cultural heart is easy to find. Just look to its collection of museums. All of which tell their story of Dubai, past, present and future through profound galleries, meticulously restored spaces and sci-fi-esque visions. And time your trip with its lively calendar of events for the ultimate cultural trip to Dubai.
The best cultural events in Dubai
Dubai pulls off art and culture with aplomb. But it can be hard to know where to start – from avant-garde performances at Art Dubai to heartfelt poetry readings at Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. These are the cultural events in Dubai to add to your diary
Art Dubai
A haven of art, design and creativity
Madinat Jumeirah
April
This international art fair has garnered a loyal following since its inception in 2007 and has grown into one of the most prominent contemporary art events in the Middle East thanks to its commitment to bold and transgressive creativity. Every year more than 90 galleries from across MENA and South Asia land in Dubai’s collection of gallery spaces to showcase specially commissioned projects and performances by acclaimed artists. Artist and curators’ residencies and educational workshops are also on the bill, with a packed programme climaxing in the unveiling of works by winners of the annual Abraaj Group Art Prize and the critically acclaimed Global Art Forum.
Look out for:
- Artist-led children’s programmes
- Artists, architects, academics and curators at Global Art Forum
- Art Dubai Collector Talks
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
A celebration of storytelling
This event brings together some of the world’s best-known authors, local writers, performers and thinkers before an audience of literary enthusiasts. There are book launches and free-to-attend lectures led by some of the best literary minds in the business, as well as poetry readings, performances and activities for readers great and small. Ultimately it’s a celebration of storytelling – whatever the genre – from romantic comedies to investigative journalism, conjured by a line-up of creatives who have an enthralling way with words.
Look out for:
- Booker Prize-winning authors discussing their literary journeys
- Investigative journalists on writing award-winning exposes
- Explorers and seasoned travellers on their transformative experiences
Cultural fact file:
The fishing settlement of Dubai was established in 1883
Before oil was discovered, pearl diving was the main trade here
Al Fahidi Fort is the oldest building in Dubai
Sikka Art and Design Festival
Offbeat creative energy
Al Shindagha District
February/March
A highlight of the emirate’s cultural calendar, this renowned festival is a colourful oasis of visual arts, leftfield performances, music and film from Middle East-based artists and creatives. And it’s completely free to enter, granting you access to everything from culinary workshops and pioneering digital projects to mesmerising classical music performances and strolls through the neighbourhood with acclaimed photographers.
Look out for:
- Innovative food menus at Sikka supper clubs
- Stalls of crafts and arty trinkets
- Try your hand at painting at emerging artist programmes
UAE National Day Festival
Patriotic and colourful
Dubai
2 December
Arrive in Dubai for this annual party when the glitz and glamour of the emirate is turned up full throttle. Fireworks flare up across the night skies and elaborate parades take over the city as locals and expats commemorate the unification of all seven Emirates into one nation. Expect plenty of flag-flying, aerobatic displays, theatrical dancing along the waterfront, live music and funfair antics for the kids. Don’t miss the spectacular LED show with a backdrop of the Burj Khalifa or the fireworks in the skies above the iconic Burj Al Arab.
Look out for:
- Car rallies along the streets
- The light show at the Dubai Fountain
- Fireworks at Burj Al Arab
Dubai Design Week
Cool and contemporary design
Waterfront Terrace
November
Organised in collaboration with the Dubai Design District – an enthralling corner of concept stores, local designer showrooms and cafes – this festival hosts workshops, exhibitions and installations. As well as talks spotlighting craft, furniture making, cultural design and materials. A key highlight is always the furniture fair, Downtown Design, bringing together global makers and thinkers to foretell the future of how our spaces are evolving. Don’t miss the innovative installations, such as portal-like entrances and dreamy amphitheatres inspired by the sky and the clouds.
Look out for:
- Pop-up furniture installations from global brands
- Creative-led hands-on workshops
- Large-scale outdoor installations
Discover the best museums in Dubai
You may be surprised that Dubai has a bounty of acclaimed institutions, whether you want to walk through the emirate’s past or imagine the future of this ever-evolving global powerhouse. Here’s our guide to the best museums in Dubai.
Etihad Museum
Formation of UAE
1 Jumeirah St
Not an affiliate of the airline (Etihad simply translates as union in Arabic) but a thorough unwrapping of the formation of the United Arab Emirates and its journey towards becoming a nation in 1971. Interactive exhibits, multimedia displays, timelines and rare artefacts tell the story of the country’s founding fathers and their vision for the future. There are also free tours of the circular Union House next door, where the agreement was signed.
Al Fahidi Fort
Life before luxury
Al Fahidi
Before the oil boom, Dubai was a simple fishing village in the middle of the desert. And this iconic fort, built in 1787, gives visitors a window into its life before luxury. Once a monarch’s base, a fortified residence, weapons arsenal and a prison, its traditional wind towers and courtyards have been meticulously restored. It’s a fascinating place to linger for an afternoon.
Dubai Museum
Traditional Emirati Life
Al Fahidi Fort
Deep-dive into Dubai’s history in this museum pitched in Al Fahidi Fort – the oldest remaining building in Dubai. Visitors can explore the galleries and exhibits that showcase traditional Emirati life. Walk through a mock souq. Explore Bedouin life in the desert, as well as pearl diving and trade. It brings to life the emirate’s meteoric rise from fishing village to the global powerhouse it is today.
Cultural Fact File
Do not drink excessively or appear drunk in public.
Avoid public displays of affection – in severe cases it might result in prison.
Use your right hand for eating and drinking.
Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Customs and traditions
Al Mussallah Rd
To get to grips with Dubai’s customs and traditions, pop into this centre whose cultural tours and experiences have been curated with breaking down barriers in mind. Head out on a tour of the Al Fahidi Historic District, peeking inside a mosque and wandering around a souq. Or hunker down for a proper Emirati meal with dishes such as balaleet (sweetened crunchy vermicelli) or chabab (cardamom-spiced pancakes).
Dubai Frame
Past, present, future
Zabeel Park
Head for heights? Whisk yourself up to the 150-metre-high observation deck of this iconic ‘picture frame’ for killer views of historic Dubai on one side and modern Dubai on the other. Start downstairs in the fascinating galleries telling the story of Dubai’s past, before heading up to the viewing deck (the present), and culminating in a final gallery visualising what the emirate may look like in the future.
The Museum of the Future
What life could be
Sheik Zayed Rd, Trade Centre
Opened to much fanfare in 2022, this futuristic museum takes you on a journey to the year 2071 using interactive exhibits, exploring what our world might be like and what humans may have achieved by then. Gaze down at the earth from a space station, imagining how the moon might be used as a renewable energy source. And find yourself in the Amazon, where you’ll learn how artificial intelligence and bio-design can help to repair the Earth’s ecosystems.
Average costs in Dubai
On your cultural trip to Dubai, expect to pay:
Taxi ride from Dubai International Airport to downtown Dubai: AED 50-70
Meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: AED 200-300
Souvenir from Dubai Museum gift shop: AED 20-50
One-day pass for public transportation (metro and bus) AED 20-25
Beyond the luxury and sci-fi-like innovation, Dubai has a deep cultural soul that deserves to be explored. From avant-garde arty festivals to fascinating museums visualising the future, it’s time to get planning that cultural trip to Dubai.
Thinking of exploring Dubai? Skyscanner can help you find the best flights, hotels and car hire deals for your next trip.
