Okay. So, the third part of the series on kid-friendly places around the lovely UAE is here, and if you’ve been looking forward to this final part, I thank you and hope you’ll accept my very-tight and cuddly hug!
I think you’ll agree that once in a while when the weather in this part of the world turns lovely, we all want to go out and explore the less-urban, and the more natural parts of the country. And one of the best things to do is to be a tourist in your own country, walk the old streets, smell the traditional cooking and and relearn how this country came about. And so today let me share with you a different part of the UAE, which will take you along the heritage route.
Needless to say, but in case you missed reading the first two parts in the series: ‘The Great Outdoors’, ‘City Wonders’, you can click here.
Heritage route:
1. Dubai museum
Located in the bustling Bur Dubai locale, the Dubai Museum is a popular destination with the tourist, but often overlooked by the residents of the UAE. This museum is located in the Al Fahidi Fort, the oldest existing building in Dubai built in 1787 and has beautifully preserved and presented the traditional way of life in the UAE. You will come across an array of exhibits well distributed inside the Museum, such as traditional Arab houses, pottery, and exhibits of pearl diving and antique shops from the 1950s.You will see photographs of Dubai in the early 80s and how rapidly the landscape of the city changed with the emergence of oil discovery and the emphasis on tourism.
2. Heart of Sharjah
The city of Sharjah has an extensive collection of museums, from the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation to the Sharjah Art Museum. However, on a fine day when the breeze is lovely to be walking out and exploring on your feet, I’d recommend a trip to the Sharjah Al Hisn Fort Museum. The fort , built in 1820 by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimiis situated at the end of Heritage district, stands firm and bold with canons outside. With lots to explore inside, the children will love taking a peek into the various rooms in the fort adorned with various artifacts.
The trip doesn’t have to end at the fort. Walk further towards the corniche, and on the way spot large scale mural paintings on buildings. A new Souq Al Shanasiya has been constructed on the old foundations of the souq. You will feel transported back in time as you walk along this low lying, earth coloured building with palm tree leaves on the ceilings and wooden framed shop doors. (Swipe on the Instagram post to see more photos) Feel free to do some shopping, while getting to practise your haggling skills, or refresh at one of cafes. Also present are more well preserved archeological sites and a small kids play area.
3. Ajman Museum
This museum is easily overlooked, but a trip to this museum will be an afternoon well spent. From the outside, you won’t be able to get much of a view, but step inside and you will be pleasantly surprised at how big and well preserved this fort is. Complete with a central courtyard, wind tower and castle towers, the ‘rooms’ have well preserved history of lives from the early 18th century.
For a more details, read my post about this museum here.
4. Fujairah Fort, Al Bidayah mosque
Not as large as the other forts in the UAE, but beautiful nonetheless. Set against the backdrop of Hajar Mountains, and considered to be one the oldest forts in UAE established in 1670, this fort has stairs to jump off and winding towers to climb. A few exhibits about the traditional life are on display, but my favourite has to be the 360 views from this fort.
Another place not to be missed when exploring the city of Fujairah, is the Al Bidayah Mosque. Located 35kms north of Fujairah is this mosque, the oldest in the UAE. It is interesting to see this
simple mud and brick structure with four pointed domes and a single internal pillar supporting the structure.
Something else we stumbled on once, while on our staycation is the bull fighting that takes place at a designated arena close to the Fujairah Corniche. This usually happens on Friday afternoons, but always best to check beforehand.
5. Al Bastakia, Old Dubai
Want to walk into a neighbourhood that’s a cultural hub, and understand how life must have been in Dubai before urbanisation took place? In that case, a visit to al Bastakia is a must. Spread over 300 square meters, this neighborhood, also known as Al Fahidi Historical District, is well and truly the essence of Old Dubai. Apart from the maze like streets, narrow alleys and earth-coloured houses with beautiful architecture, other points of attraction in this place include art galleries, wall murals, coffee museums and traditional tea houses.
What’s more around UAE:
There are more historical places to visit that are extremely budget friendly: Al Ain museum, Fujairah Museum, Bur Dubai Souq, Dubai Gold Souq, Al Mahatta museum (Sharjah), Bait El Serkal (Sharjah), Qasr al Hosn (Abu Dhabi), National museum of Ras Al Khaimah
Timings, pricing, recreational activities and more can change from time to time. Therefore, it is advisable to stay up-to-date by checking the website information of the above mentioned individual places.
I’m hoping you’ve got some ideas for your weekend plans after reading until here. Should you wish to read back on the previous two posts, please click here: Great Outdoors and City Wonders
Disclaimer: All opinions and photos mentioned in this post are of my own. Historical facts have been taken from other websites. You can follow more about our kid-friendly journey on my Instagram page.
What? You’re still here, reading my post! Awww, thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me. What did you think of the places I mentioned? Did you like the pictures I shared? Have I missed any outdoor spots? Do you know of any hidden gems worth mentioning, then please leave a comment below.
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