Take a tour of the UAE’s lightning speed development at Dubai’s newest museum…

Remember that museum they were constructing near the flagpole in Jumeirah 1? Well, it’s now open, and it documents the establishment and history of the United Arab Emirates.

The Etihad Museum covers 2.5 hectares and is located next to Union House, where the signing of the treaty establishing the UAE took place in 1971.

The project also involved restoring the Union House to its original state and replacing the existing and famous flagpole with a slightly taller 123-metre mast.

Here’s a tour of the museum’s highlights so you can bone up before you visit…

THE FOUNDING FATHERS

Founding-Fathers

This is the first exhibition in the museum: it’s divided into seven sections, each housing an image of the UAE’s seven founders, their belongings and an interactive screen communicating historical information. This includes their biographies, family trees, unique pictures, special video clips and more.

LOCAL ART

The-Chef-d’Oeuvre

An immense painting by prominent Emirati artist Abdul Qader Al Rais grabs the attention of visitors before they begin their journey into the temporary exhibitions and museum sections.

ITEMS FROM AJMAN

Passport-(1) Khanjar

H.H. Sheikh Amar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, donated this ancient Khanjar & the emirate’s founder’s passport to the museum.

ITEMS FROM UMM AL QUWAIN

UAQ_PassPort-(1) UAQ_Pocket-Watch UAQ_Ring

H.H. Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al-Quwain, donated this ring, UAQ’s founder’s passport, a pocket watch and silver coins to the museum.

THE LIBRARYLibrary

There are more than 3,000 political, social and historical books in the Museum Library, in addition to a variety of magazines, booklets and CDs.

THE CAFE

cafe

The café is on the lower floor in the final section of the museum, and it serves a large variety of hot beverages and snacks to visitors.

AND HERE’S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE ROAD…

Etihad-Museum-27

To help you out when you’re trying to find it!

Union House, December 2nd Street, Satwa. Open daily from 10am to 8pm. More info on Facebook.

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