Crossroads of Civilizations Museum

Bur Dubai

LoginSave

This private museum in the Shindagha Historic District provides a fascinating glimpse of Dubai's historic role as a trading link between East and West. On display are hundreds of artefacts from the Ubaids, Greeks, Romans, Babylonians and other civilisations that passed through the region.

Highlights include a 7500-year-old bull-shaped vase and a 16th-century Kaaba curtain, as well as a 1st edition of the 1590 book that first mentions 'Dubai'. Other galleries display swords, daggers and other historical weaponry used across the region.

Transportation

  • metro: Al Ghubaiba

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • United Arab Emirates, Dubai, Jumeira beach, Hotel Mina A'Salam Madinat Jumeirah with View of Burj Al Arab hotel

    Burj Al Arab

    10.87 MILES

    The Burj Al Arab's graceful silhouette – meant to evoke the sail of a dhow (a traditional wooden cargo vessel) – is to Dubai what the Eiffel Tower is to…

  • Dubai

    Burj Khalifa

    4.97 MILES

    The Burj Khalifa is a stunning feat of architecture and engineering, with two observation decks on the 124th and 148th floors and a restaurant-bar on the…

  • Souk Madinat Jumeirah

    Madinat Jumeirah

    11.27 MILES

    One of Dubai’s most attractive developments, Madinat Jumeirah is a contemporary interpretation of a traditional Arab village, complete with a souq (market…

  • Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Gold Souq

    0.52 MILES

    All that glitters is gold (and occasionally silver) along this covered arcade where dozens of shops overflow with every kind of jewelry imaginable, from…

  • 11/30/2014. Kite beach in Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A stretch of the beach designated for the kite surfers. The iconic Burj Al Arab is seen on the background.; Shutterstock ID 664989337; Your name (First / Last): Lauren Keith; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Authentic Dubai Article

    Kite Beach

    8.64 MILES

    This long, pristine stretch of white sand, a little way north of Jumeirah Public Beach, is a major draw for sporty types, with a range of activities on…

  • IMG Worlds of Adventure

    IMG Worlds of Adventure

    12.93 MILES

    Housed in an air-conditioned hangar the size of 28 football fields, IMG Worlds of Adventure is the world’s largest indoor theme park. The US$1 billion…

  • Dubai Museum

    Dubai Museum

    0.62 MILES

    The city's main historical museum charts Dubai's turbo-evolution from fishing and pearling village to global centre of commerce, finance and tourism. It…

  • Etihad Museum

    Etihad Museum

    2.23 MILES

    Opened in 2017, this striking modern museum engagingly chronicles the birth of the UAE in 1971, spurred by the discovery of oil in the 1950s and the…

View more attractions

Nearby Bur Dubai attractions

1. Shindagha Historic District

0.05 MILES

Strategically located at the mouth of Dubai Creek, Shindagha was where the ruling sheikhs and the city elite lived until the 1950s. While a few of the…

2. Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House

0.08 MILES

Recently restored as part of the new Shindagha Historic District development, this grand courtyard house served as the residence of Sheikh Saeed, the…

3. Perfume House

0.09 MILES

This waterfront museum is part of the Al Shindagha Museum restoration project and is the former home of a Dubai sheikha who loved all things perfume. The…

4. Saruq Al Hadid Archaeology Museum

0.09 MILES

Only discovered in 2002, Saruq Al Hadid sits deep in the desert sands of the southern reaches of the Dubai emirate and is believed to have been an iron…

5. Dubai Creek House

0.11 MILES

Step back in time to retrace history at the Dubai Creek House, part of the Al Shindagha Museum restoration project. The Birth of a Nation exhibit takes…

6. Heritage House

0.36 MILES

Closed for renovation until the end of 2019, this 1890 courtyard house once belonged to Sheikh Ahmed Bin Dalmouk, a wealthy pearl merchant and founder of…

7. Museum of the Poet Al Oqaili

0.46 MILES

In 1923 this beautifully restored home tucked into the narrow lanes on the edge of the Spice Souq became the home of Saudi-born Mubarak Bin Al Oqaili …

8. Bur Dubai Souq

0.46 MILES

Dubai's oldest souq (market) flanks a central arcade canopied by an ornately carved wooden roof. Friday evenings here are especially lively, as it turns…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "united-arab-emirates/dubai/bur-dubai/attractions/crossroads-of-civilizations-museum/a/poi-sig/1505584/1336051",
  "destination": "Bur-Dubai",
  "continent": "Middle-East",
  "country": "United-Arab-Emirates",
  "city": "Dubai",
  "neighborhood": "Bur-Dubai",
  "position": "superzone"
}