Al Ain National Museum is the oldest museum in the United Arab Emirates. It houses the very popular Sultan Fort of Al Ain. The Sultan Fort also known as the eastern fort is one of the major attractions of the Al Ain National Museum. This museum has artefacts from civilisations as old as 8000 years back. The museum houses products of archaeological excavation found from sites scattered around the region. It includes flint tools and arrowheads dating back to some 6th millennium BCE.
Past and Present of Al Ain National Museum
The museum was built from 1969-1970. The artefacts in the exhibition were initially exhibited at the Palace of Sheikh Sultan Bin Al Nahyan, the Sultan Fort. It was a temporary exhibition during the construction of the current museum. The museum was inaugurated by his highness Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.
The 3 sections
The Al Ain National Museum is majorly has 3 sections based on the insight it provides into the history. They are the archaeological, the ethnographical and the gift sections.
Archaeology
The archaeological section exhibits 5000 years old, imported pots from modern Iraq. It also portrays artefacts found from the tombs excavated from the nearby Jebel Hafit mountain, the highest peak in UAE. This section of the museum also documents the rise of the bronze age dating back to 4500 years. The Bronze Age society had mud brick structures.
Several large Iron Age pottery can be seen here in the museum. Some excavation unearthed Falaj, an innovative irrigation technology proving the use of advanced irrigation technology back in time as well. The archaeological section of the museum depicts how Al Ain flourished as an oasis in the desert.
Ethnography
The ethnographic section portrays the traditional life of locals in the UAE. It especially showcases the objects that depict the lifestyle, education, farming, irrigation, and medicine. To witness the traditional Arabian culture, visit the Al Ain National Museum now. Experience the difference of lifestyle just some decades ago and now at the very same place.
Gifts
The gift section is solely dedicated to portraying the love his highness has received from people all over the world. This section exhibits various gifts from kingdoms and rulers, and other ambassadors given to Sheikh Zayed in his lifetime. Especially, this section is home to the moon rock gifted to the late Sheikh Zayed by NASA.
Conclusion
The study of history might be a mundane thing for many people, but it is quite insightful for a lot of people. When you witness how your ancestors struggled and created a lot of things that come in handy for you in modern times, you realise the importance of struggles. The historical museum at Al Ain gives an insight into the traditional world of Arabian people. The museum houses ancient pictures of Al Ain and nearby regions as well. All these things help in the understanding of how things change over a period of time. Besides, we also get to know what precious things we have lost in the urbanisation race.
Visit this beautiful place, the Al Ain National Museum in Abu Dhabi and consequently witness the heritage value of the UAE. Book our Abu Dhabi city tour which provides you with the opportunity to visit Abu Dhabi from Dubai easily. Your Abu Dhabi trip is going to be memorable with the list of places to visit in this city.
FAQs
Q. Is there a parking space available for visitors?
Yes, the Al Ain National Museum certainly provides some parking space for visitors.
Q. Is the museum accessible to people with determination?
Yes, the museum is accessible to all visitors, with wheelchair ramps and other facilities. Additionally, staff here is available to help visitors with special needs.
Q. Can we buy souvenirs from the museum gift shop?
Yes, plenty of souvenir items are available at the museum’s gift shops that you can buy following this beautiful Abu Dhabi trip.
Q. Can we indulge in photography in the museum?
Yes, generally personal photography is fine in the museum. However, you may not do flash photography and professional shoots.
Q. Generally, what is the usual duration of the Al Ain National Museum tour?
If you are a history enthusiast, you must have 1-2 hours in hand to explore the whole museum. However, the duration of the trip depends on personal interest in history.
Q. What is the timing of the museum opening and closing?
The museum typically remains open from 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM from Saturday to Thursday. While on Fridays, it opens from 3:00 PM to 7:30 PM.
