Etihad Museum is a beautiful place where you can learn about the history of the United Arab Emirates UAE. The area of the museum is around 25,000 square meters.
It has some exhibitions which tell the story of how this country came to be. You will also have a chance to see the pictures of its founding fathers. So, if you plan to visit Etihad museum Dubai, you are at the right place. I will share a complete tourist guide about this museum in this article.
So, let’s begin
Where is Etihad Museum located?
The Etihad Museum is located on the site of the former Union House, generally known as Jumeriah road. It was the meeting place for the rulers of the seven emirates that formed the UAE in 1971. You should ensure familiarity with this information as all the taxi drivers may not know the location name due to its recent opening.
Etihad Museum opening hours
The museum opened to the public on February 18, 2017.
Currently, Etihad museum’s opening hours are from 10 am until 8 pm. The final entry to the museum is at 7 pm. However, it would be best if you tried to be there at least 2 hours in advance to enjoy it fully.
Etihad museum tickets
Etihad museum tickets can be purchased online or at the museum ticket office. Online tickets are valid for one year from the date of purchase. Talking about the ticket prices, adult tickets cost 20 AED per ticket.
However, if you are a group of around 10 people or more, you can pay a discounted price of 20 AED per ticket. The museum offers a discounted rate of 10 AED for students, seniors, and military members.
Etihad Museum Library
The museum also has a library where visitors can borrow books and DVDs. The museum library has over 3000 political, social, and historical books.
Additionally, it has various magazines, booklets, CDs, and other educational items related to the UAE. Etihad museum library is a great place that will inspire you to learn.
10 Exhibitions you will see at Etihad Museum
When you enter the Etihad Museum, you will come across various museum exhibitions.
Let’s learn and discuss each of them in detail below
Exhibition #1 – THE ETIHAD MUSEUM FOUNDERS
As soon as you reach the museum, you will be welcomed at Section 1 i-e, the founders of the Etihad museum. There is the first exhibit, and you will see a fantastic picture gallery of the UAE founding fathers. Every picture of the founding fathers comes with an interactive screen to tell you about the founding fathers’ complete biography.
Exhibition #2 – DREAMS OF THE UNION
Dreams of the Union are the museum’s second exhibition that briefs the Union’s story through imagery and music. It is sectioned as the ‘Dreams of unity.
Exhibition #3 – INTERACTIVE MAP OF THE UAE
As you move from section 1 and section 2 of the museum, you will see an interactive map where you can see the realistic view of the country before the unification of the seven emirates. While exploring through the map, the visitors can activate the informational audio and visual clips about the historical events of the UAE.
Exhibition #4 – THE BEGINNING YEARS
Section 4 is a smaller exhibit in the museum. It highlights through the interactive screen of videos and audio the early years’ negotiations with the Arabs and other foreign countries.
Exhibition #5 – ROAD TO UNIFICATION
The road to unification is the exhibit of the UAE that showcases some steps taking place during the foundation of the UAE.
Exhibition #6 – SEEDS OF UNITY
The sixth exhibition helps you explore the museum. Here you will see an extraordinary visual display about Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who is having a meet-up with Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed at Sayh Al-Sadira. This technology makes you feel like both rulers are physically present on the spot.
Exhibition #7 – THE UNIFICATION AND CHANGE
In the seventh exhibit, you play a game. Yes, you heard it right. In the exhibit, you are required to expose the hidden messages. You can do it with the help of seven cubes that align with the interactive screens available in the room. These cubes illustrate a unique theme that helps reveal the informative content and the pictures that relate to that theme.
Exhibition #8 – UNIFICATION OF THE EMIRATES
The 8th exhibit helps you know about the challenges and how the founding fathers faced them before 1971. It is done with the help of audio-visual messages and also through a series of photographs present there. To establish the nation’s unity, the visitors are facilitated to see some important formal and informal meetings in the museum.
Exhibition #9 THE UAE’s CONSTITUTION
The 9th exhibition is a remarkable exhibition that displays the UAE’s constitution, which the founding fathers signed. You can view the constitution in both Arabic and English languages. Moreover, Sheikh Zayed signed a friendship treaty between the UAE and the United Kingdom (UK), which is also available for visitors.
Exhibition #10 – THE ONE NATION AND ONE FUTURE OF THE UAE
The last section of the exhibition is known as United Arab Emirates – One Nation, One future. This open exhibition hall is facilitated with an interactive screen. This interactive screen has educational material that helps you explore interesting insights like the united UAE’s passport development. This section provides a summary i-e the present, past, and future of the Union.
What is inside Etihad Museum?
Besides the beautiful exhibitions of the Etihad museum, it comprises 3 integral parts: The Union House, The guest house, and the visitor’s Pavilion. Each of these attractions is an essential part of the history of the UAE.
What is there to see at Etihad Museum?
Besides the mentioned attractions above, the Etihad museum has a beautiful garden and a café where you are served delicacies such as camel milk ice cream. Of course, you will enjoy being there at the museum.
How can you reach the Etihad museum?
You can get to the Etihad museum by hiring a taxi or by bus or metro.
Bus:
Taking the bus for reaching to the museum is a bit more convenient as the buses drop you closest to the Etihad Museum. You can take the buses named Lines 8, X28, C10, C9, and X13.
Taxi:
Taking a taxi is expensive but one of the easiest too. If you are taking a taxi, you can ask the driver to drop you off at Union House. As the museum is new and the drivers may also not be aware of it. So, it is better to use apps like Uber and Careem while ordering a taxi.
Metro:
There are different metro stations in the museum. However, the closest one is Al Jafaliya on the Dubai Metro red line. It is at a distance of 2.8 km away from the museum. In addition, there is a bus named X28 which you can take from outside the metro station. The bus can drop you at a distance of 350 meters away from the museum. If you are looking for the easiest way, I recommend you take a taxi from the metro station to reach the museum.
Tips for Visiting the Etihad Museum
- The museum does not have any official website. So, you can buy the tickets in person, or you can purchase the tickets online using online sources other than the website.
- On the weekend, the museum is often crowded, so you can visit during the weekdays to have more space for yourself.
- If you do not have enough time to go there, you can see Etihad museum virtual tour offered by Dubai culture.
- You are recommended to spend at least 3 hours enjoying the museum at full length.
Etihad Museum Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is the Etihad Museum open to the public?
A: Yes, the museum is open to the public and welcomes visitors worldwide.
Q: How do I get to the Etihad Museum?
A: The museum is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The best way to help you get there is by your vehicle or by hiring a taxi.
Q: How much does it cost to enter the Etihad Museum?
A: Admission to the museum is free for all visitors.
Q: Who can visit the Etihad Museum?
A: The museum is open to the public and welcomes visitors from all over the world.
Q: Who is the Etihad museum architect?
Two Canadian architects designed the Etihad museum, namely Moriyama & Teshima.
Q: Is the museum interested in the children?
Yes. People of all ages, including children and senior citizens, can enjoy Etihad museum Dubai.
Final Thoughts on Etihad museum – The ultimate guide
Etihad Museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in the history of the UAE. It provides a fascinating insight into the country’s past and its future. The Etihad Museum is well worth the entrance fee, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Dubai.
Thanks for reading!