The scents that helped to make up the fabric of the emirate of Dubai are set to linger on with the opening of a new perfume museum in the Dubai Creek.
Entrance of Perfume House at Al Shindagha Museums. Image by Dubai Culture Authority
The former home of a royal princess has been converted into the Perfume House where visitors can discover more about the ancient roots of oud and perfume in Middle Eastern culture. The late sheikha who lived in the house was a perfume expert so it’s fitting that the building has now been transformed into an exhibit all about perfumes. Find out more about the natural ingredients used to make Emirati scents and discover how it serves an important role in many Emirati cultures and traditions. Check out the huge 28-kilogram piece of oud and the ancient traditional incense burner that dates back some 3000 years.
During a media tour of the site, Dawoud Al Hajiri, director general at Dubai Municipality, said the project was an important development for tourism in Dubai and one that had been created at the request of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. Al Hajiri also mentioned ambitions plans for visitor numbers to the new site, stating that ‘the project reflects Dubai’s vision of creating cultural platforms to celebrate the emirate’s history and heritage and it will attract 20 million visitors by 2020.’
Interactive exhbits at the Dubai Creek House. Courtesy Dubai Culture Authority
The regeneration project is taking place in one of Dubai’s most historic neighbourhoods, and the Perfume House is phase one of the plan, alongside the Dubai Creek House, which is also now open as a place where visitors can find out more about the origins of the city.
Dubai Creek House will tell the story of the people who helped make Dubai the city that it is today. Visitors can enjoy exhibits and displays that focus on Emirati culture and a history that dates from 3000 BC to the mid-20th century. Multimedia features will depict tales of merchants, engineers and builders who helped both to lay the foundation of commerce in the emirate and to propel it at great pace over a short period of time.
Find out about the lives of people from Dubai’s infancy at Dubai Creek House. Courtesy Dubai Culture Authority
As well as being home to more than 150 historical artefacts, photographs and movie clips, the Dubai Creek House also contains a miniature version of the creek where viewfinders give animated glimpses of how the first local bank, police station and trading market once looked.
Discover the stories of the people who helped to make Dubai what it is today. While the story is centuries old, the museum is ultra-modern with open plan, interactive exhibits, plenty of natural light and accessible artefacts. Entry to the museums is Dhs15 (US$4). Find out more here.
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