In a city of gleaming skyscrapers and artificial islands, it's easy to forget that Dubai has a history stretching back centuries. The Dubai Museum in Al Fahidi Fort is a reminder of that past. It's the city's oldest building, constructed in 1787, and the only place where you can see how Emiratis lived before the oil boom.

Fort History

Al Fahidi Fort was built as a defensive structure and residence for Dubai's ruler. Its walls of coral stone and clay, up to half a meter thick, withstood attacks and scorching sun. Throughout history, the fort served as a residence, garrison, prison—adapting to...