UAE Cultural Destinations

teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi is an immersive art museum where nature, technology, and human interaction converge. It features ever-evolving installations by teamLab that respond to movement and environment, offering a unique, transformative experience with each visit, no two journeys through this living artwork are ever the same.

Website

Zayed National Museum honours the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his enduring values of education, identity, and legacy. Through immersive exhibitions, research, and public programming, it invites citizens, residents, and visitors to connect with the evolving story of the nation and Sheikh Zayed’s legacy and vision.

Website

Qasr Al Watan is a working Presidential palace in Abu Dhabi and a majestic cultural landmark, discover the rich legacy of knowledge and tradition that has shaped the UAE. The palace contains a library and stands as an icon of Abu Dhabi’s skyline, reflecting the city’s Arabian heritage and artistry.

Website

Abu Dhabi’s oldest building, once served as the ruling family’s home. Now a museum, it showcases the city’s journey from an 18th c. fishing village to a modern, global metropolis. Visitors to House of Artisans can purchase mementoes and witness c.s – old skills in action such as Sadu, Khoos and Talli.

Website

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is the first universal museum in the Arab world. It explores connections between civilisations and cultures that might at first seem distant in time and geography. Visitors are guided through a chronological and theme-based display of periods and civilisations.

Website

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque mirrors the moderation of Islam. It is one of the largest mosques in the world and a prominent landmark in the UAE. The “Light and Peace” Museum offers an array of rich content, sensory and interactive experiences, precious artifacts, and artworks that blend tradition with creativity.

Website

The Abrahamic Family House is rooted in the UAE’s values of peaceful coexistence and diversity. It embodies the country’s longstanding history of bringing people and cultures together. Bridging common humanity through the exchange of knowledge and the practice of faith.

Website

Located inside Al Ain Zoo, the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre is a fun educational facility that combines knowledge and learning about the UAE’s natural environment through interactive exhibits, multimedia and visual materials that are designed by worldclass specialists.

Website

Hili Archaeological Park is one of the bestknown archaeological sites in the UAE. The park is part of the Hili Cultural Site and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Al Ain. It contains Bronze Age (3000-1300 BCE) and Iron Age (1300-300 BCE) villages, burial grounds and agricultural infrastructure.

Website

Qasr Al Muwaiji is a fort in the central part of Al Ain. It was reportedly built in the 20th c. by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, during the reign of his father. The fort opened as a museum in 2015. It served as a place where officials met with the community to discuss issues and provide support.

Website

Al Jahili Fort, one of the largest forts in the UAE, was built in the late 19th c. by Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa the First, both as a symbol of power and as a royal summer residence. The original fort consisted of a square fortified enclosure and a distinctive fourstorey circular tower.

Website

Al Qattara Arts Centre, established in 2011, aids creativity in Al Ain through art galleries, studios for music, painting, pottery, and calligraphy, and archaeological exhibits. It serves as a key venue for cultural events, exhibitions, and heritage exploration.

Website

Al Ain Oasis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, offers an educational experience with its Eco-Centre, shaded pathways, and 147,000 date palms. It features diverse vegetation, working farms, the Oasis Garden, Miniature Oasis, and interactive exhibits on irrigation and history.

Website

This park opened in 2020, visitors can expect model-based interactive displays that explore Sharjah’s mountains and sand dunes, learn about the origins of the limestone mountain ranges of Jebel Buhais. Visitors will have the opportunity to examine local rocks and fossils.

Website

This museum offers comprehensive information on species and ecosystems in the Arabian Peninsula. Visitors will gain insight into the natural history and geology of the planet and region. It also provides knowledge about desert plants and animals.

Website

A Sharjah Art Foundation exhibition venue, the Flying Saucer is a uniquely constructed landmark. As a community hub, it offers an outdoor space for social events, performances and art installations, as well programmes of film screenings, workshops, and readings. It also has as a public art library and cafe.

Website

Learn about the principles of Islam and the Holy Quran, and the accomplishments of Museum scholars and their great contributions, in addition to a collection of over five thousand rare pieces in Islamic Art. The museum carries all of this under one roof throughout display areas in seven spacious galleries. It is mainly distinguished by the gold dome in the center, with a mosaic interior depicting the night sky and prominent constellations. The museum provides an opportunity to hold your events in the conference room as well as in the dome.

Website

Discover Sharjah’s deep-rooted history and admire the artefacts the past residents of this land left behind. The museum contains all the archaeological artifacts that were discovered in the Emirate of Sharjah, through which you can learn all about the civilizations that developed in the region since the Stone Age up until today through artifacts, currencies, jewelry, pottery and ancient weapons. The museum offers a conference room fit to host various types of events such as lectures, seminars and many more.

Website

The Sharjah Science Museum offers interactive exhibits and hands-on displays, exploring topics in physics, space, biology, and technology. Sparking learning, it makes science fun and accessible through engaging, educational experiences for all visitors.

Website

This unique museum offers art lovers and all visitors the opportunity to admire the splendor of the museum’s permanent Arab Art collection, as well as temporary exhibitions hosted by the museum throughout the year. In addition, the audience will get the chance to participate in the museum’s programs and workshops.

Website

The Sharjah Maritime Museum, originally opened in 2003 in the Heritage Area and relocated in 2009 to Al Khan. It showcases Sharjah’s rich marine history and heritage, traditional fishing methods, pearl diving, sea songs, trade trips, and the customs of Sharjah’s inhabitants.

Website

Originally built in the 19c., Bait Al Naboodah, reopened on April 8, 2018, after renovation. Showcases traditional Emirati architecture and culture. The house, a model of Sharjah’s architecture, tells the story of Obaid Al Naboodah and how his home’s design was influenced by pearl trade.

Website

Set in a restored 18th-century pearl merchant’s house, Sharjah Heritage Museum explores all aspects of Emirati culture, from religious traditions to living in the desert. The six galleries cover the landscape, lifestyle, celebrations, livelihoods, traditional knowledge and oral traditions of the emirate.

Website

At Sharjah Fort, visitors can learn about the modern history of Sharjah, the ruling family, the history of the fort, the historic defence strategies and Sharjah’s life 200 years ago. Originally built in 1823, it was once Sharjah’s government headquarters and the residence of the ruling Al Qasimi family.

Website

The Sharjah Art Foundation is an advocate, catalyst and producer of contemporary art, through exhibitions, commissions, residencies, and the Sharjah Biennial, while preserving regional culture and supporting global dialogue in the arts through innovative, experimental projects.

Website

The Rain Room is a unique and creative modern art installation. The experience is centred around audience interaction, enveloping a person in water without wetting them. With 2,500 litres of self-cleaning, recycled water, the Rain Room uses trigger sensors to pause the falling water wherever it senses motion.

Website

The House of Wisdom, built as the living legacy of Sharjah winning the ‘UNESCO World Book Capital’ in 2019. A cultural hub that offers various means of learning, shifting the focus towards people, interactions, and experiences. It has a futuristic and appealing architectural design.

Website

BEEAH is redefining what it means to build a sustainable, smart future. With groundbreaking environmental innovations and advanced solutions, we empower futureready businesses, cities, and economies to thrive. Specialises in the sectors of environment, energy, technology, healthcare and real estate.

Website

Meliha Archaeological Centre is a visitor centre and exhibition based around the history and archaeology of the areas surrounding the village of Mleiha in Sharjah. It blends history, nature and culture tocreate a unique leisure experience in a spectacular natural setting.

Website

Mleiha Palace, located in Sharjah’s Mleiha archaeological area, is a beautifully restored desert palace, serves as a gateway to the broader Mleiha archaeological site, showcases traditional Arabian architecture and offering insights into the region’s royal heritage and ancient pre-Islamic history.

Website

Offers an ecotourism experience, featuring the UAE’s oldest mangrove forest. Can explore diverse wildlife, including rare birds, turtles, and marine life, while learning about conservation efforts. Serves as a haven for wildlife and an educational/research facility.

Website

Dhayah Fort is the only hill fort remaining in the UAE. It dates back to the Late Bronze Age (1600 – 1300 BC). The twin-peaked golden mudbrick fortress was built during the 19th c, and restored in the late 1990s. It’s worth climbing the 239 zigzagging steps to bear witness to the spectacular views.

Website

The national museum is located within Fort ‘Husn’, used to be the home of the ruling family in since the 20th century, before being converted into a museum in 1987. Many historical material, artifacts have been donated by the ruling family. It contains a scenic garden, wind tower and a smaller tower to visit.

Website

Al Jazeera Al Hamra is the only remaining historical pearling village in the entire Gulf region. Al Jazeera Al Hamra includes all the traditional elements for such a site, including a fort and watchtowers, mosque, souq and extensive courtyard houses of various designs.

Website

Opened in 1991 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, the museum showcases archaeology and local history. It features a lab for archaeological excavations, an antiquities and heritage section, and exhibits on traditional local occupations.

Website

Fujairah Fort, built in the 16th c., is one of the UAE’s largest and most renowned forts. It features three circular towers and one rectangular tower, standing nearly 20 meters above sea level, making it a captivating landmark in the city’s skyline.

Website

A unique destination that bridges the old with the new, reflecting the history, civilisation and ecology of the emirate of Umm Al Quwain. The island is nearly 10 km long and is a habitat for seagulls and flamingos, avicennia plants, various desert flowers.

Website

Sinya Monastery is an ancient Christian monastery discovered by archaeologists. The complex includes a church, refectory (dining hall), cisterns and cells for the monks where they spent time in solitude. This site sheds light on a time where Christianity and Islam coexisted in the region.

This museum is considered one of the oldest structures in Umm Al Quwain and is located inside Al-Ali Fort. It exhibits countless artifacts dating back to hundreds of years, as well as the artifacts found at Ed-Dur Archaeological Site, one of the largest archaeological sites in the UAE.

Website

Ed-Dur Site is one of the largest archaeological sites in the UAE, overlooking Al Beidha Lake and naturally surrounded by a series of high sand dunes. Human settlements at the site span several periods, including the Obeid, Bronze Age, Stone Age, Iron Age, and PreIslamic periods.

Website

A multi-period archaeological site dating back to around 2500 BCE, thought to have been inhabited until around 300 AD. Archaeologists have uncovered many interesting artifacts, such as a pottery jar containing ‘imitation’ Roman coins, locally minted bronze coins, and a bronze bracelet.

Website

An 18th-century fort turned museum. The exhibits offer a compelling glimpse of Ajman’s past, from centuries-old manuscripts and weaponry to models of wooden dhows and ingenious irrigation systems. Displays an excavated cemetery discovered in the Al Muwaihat area, featuring artifacts from 3000 BC.

Website