In the shaded oases of Al Ain, the forts of Abu Dhabi and Umm Al Quwain, the archaeological sites of Mleiha and the quiet halls of Sharjah’s old souqs the true ancient history of this country is preserved, from the earliest hunter-gatherer camps to the economic boom of the 20th century. These museums are the key to understanding how one of the world’s most ingenious nations emerged from the desert and oases of the northeastern Arabian Peninsula.
Mleiha Archaeological Centre (Sharjah)
In early July 2025, a momentousdecisionfor the cultural life of the United Arab Emirates took place: the Faya Palaeolandscape in the Emirate of Sharjah was officially included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The UAE now has two UNESCO-listed sites, in Al Ain (see below) and in Sharjah.
The palaeolandscape is an open-air territory where evidence of human presence has been preserved, dating back to the Middle Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods (from 210,000 to 6,000 years ago). The archaeological layers reveal how hunter-gatherers and shepherds adapted to extreme climate cycles, which alternated roughly every 20,000 years between arid and wet phases.
The prehistory of this region is brought to life at the nearby Mleiha Archaeological Centre, a modern scientific and museum complex dedicated to the ancient history of the Arabian Peninsula. Opened on 24 January 2016 by the Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, it stands as one of the most significant archaeological initiatives in the region.
Of particular importance were excavations that uncovered tools indicating the presence of anatomically modern humans as early as 130,000–120,000 years ago. These findings support the theory of the southern dispersal route of early humans out of Africa through the Red Sea and across the Persian Gulf region toward Iran, India, Europe and Asia.
The centre features interactive exhibitions with 3D reconstructions, multimedia installations, original artefacts. Highlights include ancient burials, among them ritual graves of camels and horses, as well as tools, pottery and jewellery. Walking trails around the centre lead visitors to archaeological sites and natural landscapes, making Mleiha not only essential to understanding the region’s heritage, but also a key site for tracing the early story of humanity as a whole.
Museums of the Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood (Dubai)
Al Shindagha, sometimes spelled Al Shindagah or Al Shindaga, is the oldest neighbourhood of Dubai. This is where the city began, and where it first gained glory and prosperity. The historic quarter is located at the mouth of Khur Dubai, the natural seawater inlet that flows into the Persian Gulf, well known to many readers by its English name Dubai Creek. This ‘initial Dubai’ began to take shape in the 1830s. Strategically positioned, it allowed for watchtowers to monitor ships entering the port.
The district itself is an open-air museum. If you want to show your friends a side of Dubai they’ve likely never seen ― low-rise, narrow and enchanting ― bring them here. The area retains the atmosphere of a traditional Emirati town from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, with narrow alleyways, mudbrick homes, inner courtyards. And the distinctive ‘windcatchers’, known as malqaf in Arabic and as badgir in Farsi.
One of the main reasons to visit Al Shindagha is its concentration of small, often remarkable museums: the Al Shindagha Museum, the Saruq Al Hadid Archaeology Museum, the Perfume Museum, the Coffee Museum, and the Museum of the Crossroads of Civilizations, to name but a few. Nearly every building holds something unique.
Adjacent to Al Shindagha is another historic neighborhood — Al Fahidi, also known as Al Bastakiya. Once home to merchants, pearl traders and members of the educated elite, this quarter has been beautifully restored and transformed into a vibrant cultural district with museums, galleries, craft workshops, and cafés in traditional style. At the heart of Al Fahidi stands the Dubai Fort, which houses the Dubai Museum. It has been undergoing extensive renovations in recent years and remains closed to the public for the time being.
Qasr Al Hosn and the House of Artisans
Qasr Al Hosn meaning ‘fortified palace’ is the oldest stone building in the UAE capital and one of the most important symbols of Abu Dhabi’s historical heritage. The fort was originally established in 1761 as a watchtower guarding the Abu-Dhabi island’s only source of fresh water. In 1795, Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab Al Nahyan moved his residence from the Liwa Oasis to Abu Dhabi Island, effectively turning the modest settlement into the center of the Bani Yas tribe, to which he belonged. The history of the Emirates during this period is the history of tribes and tribal alliances. And within that kind of Bedouin “Game of Thrones” the role of the Bani Yas tribe cannot be overstated.
It was once an important landmark for sailors, an admnistrative base and home to the ruling family. Today, the restored fort is a museum resting in the shade of skyscrapers at the centre of a modern, thriving city, says Michael Quentin Morton in his book 'Keepers of the Golden Shore: A History of the United Arab Emirates.'
Later, in the 1930s, the palace was expanded using funds from Abu Dhabi’s first oil concession. Until 1966, Qasr Al Hosn served as the ruler’s residence and the political heart of the city. After an extensive restoration completed in 2018, the fort was reopened to the public as a museum and cultural center. Today, its walls house permanent exhibitions, archives, multimedia displays and galleries that trace the history of the emirate.
Next to the fort lies the House of Artisans, an integral part of the same cultural complex. It plays a key role in preserving and promoting the intangible heritage of the UAE, including crafts such as Bedouin weaving, palm braiding, metallic-thread embroidery. The center hosts live craft demonstrations, hands-on workshops, coffee ceremonies and thematic exhibitions. Just 250 meters from the fort lies the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, which includes an excellent children’s libraryoffering books, activities, and engaging entertainment for young visitors.
Historic and Architectural Landmarks of Al Ain (Abu Dhabi)
Until recently, this was the only site in the UAE included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, having gained that status in 2011. There are several sights which are essential to visit in order to get a deeper understanding of the true history of the UAE.
The cultural landmarks of Al Ain themselves form a complex of unique archaeological and historical sites in the eastern part of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, right on the border with Oman. It covers four main areas: the Al Ain Oasis, Jebel Hafeet, Hili and Bidaa Bint Saud. The oases are living monuments of sustainable agriculture. For millennia, date palms, grains and vegetables were cultivated here using underground irrigation systems known as aflaj. These systems were a groundbreaking innovation that made the territory of what is now the UAE suitable for relatively settled living and development.
These oases were not only centres of agriculture but also vibrant hubs of life, trade and rest along ancient caravan routes. One of the oases is home to the Al Ain National Museum — the oldest museum in the UAE — and the Sheikh Zayed Palace Museum. Unfortunately, both are currently closed for renovation.
At the foot of Jebel Hafeet lies one of the oldest burial sites in the country — a necropolis dating back to the late 4th and early 3rd millennium BC. The site features stone tombs with distinctive beehive-shaped domes built from uncut limestone. These graves belong to the early Bronze Age (the so-called Hafeet culture) and are considered the first evidence of human settlement in the region.
The Hili complex contains the largest and best-preserved Bronze and Iron Age sites in the UAE. It features monumental tombs, settlements, irrigation channels and religious structures. One of the most striking highlights is the Grand Hili Tomb, adorned with bas-reliefs depicting humans and animals. These sites offer compelling evidence of a highly developed culture, advanced technologies, and a sophisticated agricultural system that flourished here around 2,500 to 2,000 BC.
Museum of Islamic Civilisation (Sharjah)
Returning to the Emirate of Sharjah, we find the Museum of Islamic Civilization. It is the largest museum in the UAE dedicated to the history, culture and science of the Islamic world. It was opened in 2008 in the building of a former traditional market (souq) on the city’s waterfront.
The museum houses over 5,000 artefacts from various regions, from Spain to China. Its exhibitions showcase Islamic art, calligraphy, ceramics, weaponry, jewellery and scientific innovations in fields such as medicine, astronomy and navigation. Among the highlights are rare Qur’an manuscripts, antique astrolabes, carpets, household items. In addition to its permanent exhibitions the museum hosts temporary ones, as well as educational programmes and workshops. It stands as a key institution presenting Islamic civilization as a living, diverse and culturally significant part of global heritage.
National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah is one of the few places in the world where people have lived continuously throughout all of its history, what makes it one of the oldest permanently inhabited regions on Earth. Archaeological excavations show that complex trading civilizations existed here as early as 5,000 BC. Between 5,500 and 3,800 BC Ras Al Khaimah held a strategic position as a trade hub in its interactions with Mesopotamia. Ancient sources indicate that by the 10th century AD its inhabitants were travelling as far as India, China or Zanzibar. All of this makes the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah a particularly fascinating destination.
The museum is housed in a historic fort in the city centre. Originally built as the residence of the ruling family, the fort suffered destruction twice — first by the Portuguese in 1621, and again by the British in 1820.
Since 1987, the building has served as a museum. Many of its exhibits were donated by the ruling family and local residents of Ras Al Khaimah. The Department of Antiquities and Museums has also carried out numerous archaeological excavations and scholarly studies. The artefacts they uncovered provide valuable insights into the region’s culture and traditions. The museum’s displays include artefacts from the earliest settlements to the late Islamic period. An interactive ethnographic section showcases traditional life in the emirate, including pearl diving, date farming, fishing, agriculture and ancient architecture.
Umm Al Quwain National Museum
The charm of this place lies in its simplicity. While Abu Dhabi, Dubai and now Sharjah continue to develop rapidly, Umm Al Quwain has preserved the traditional appearance of an old Emirati town. The contrast is striking, and that alone makes it worth a visit.
As in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, the museum is housed in a historic fort built by the local sheikh, Rashid bin Majid Al Mualla, in 1768. Until 1969, the fort served as the residence of the ruling family and the political centre of the emirate. It was later used as a police station and officially became a museum in 2000. This is a classic example of Emirati fort architecture, with a central courtyard, wind towers and high walls.
The museum’s exhibition reveals the entire history of the emirate — from ancient civilizations to modern life. The artefacts include pottery, coins, jewelry and sculptures dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages. Of particular interest are the models of traditional boats, fishing and pearl diving equipment, navigation tools, models of historic buildings.
In the section dedicated to the ruling family, valuable relics are displayed: the emirate’s first passport, a passport from the Trucial Oman under British protectorate, the first postage stamps, parchments and a handwritten Qu'ran from the 18th–19th centuries. The sheikh’s and sheikha’s rooms have preserved traditional furnishings, household items, textiles, and jewelry of that era. In the Armoury room, as one might expect, visitors can see weapons and military uniforms. There is also a hall introducing visitors to the workings of the palace kitchen. Finally, the museum features a traditional Emirati arish — a hut made from palm fronds. Emiratis lived in such huts for most of their history.
In short, the absence of pomp has helped this museum preserve an authentic picture of Emirati life.
Ajman Museum
This emirate doesn’t have many historical landmarks, so the Ajman Museum is a must-visit for all history enthusiasts. The museum is located in the city center and, as you might guess, occupies an old fort built at the end of the 18th century. Yes, it also served as the ruler’s residence while also fulfilling defensive functions, and later, in 1980, when the rulers became wealthier, the fortress was converted into a museum.
The museum’s exhibition includes archaeological finds from the Bronze and Iron Ages, traditional household items, tools, fishing gear, ancient weapons and pearl diving equipment, i.e. all the essential elements of Emirati life from the “pre-oil” era. Historical documents, manuscripts, photographs and maps allow visitors to trace Ajman’s development through the 19th and 20th centuries.
Among the most famous exhibits are finds from the necropolis in the Al-Muwaiyat area, including ceramic artefacts and burial jewelry dating back to 3000 BCE.
