The House of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum served as the residence for the late monarch and his family until 1958 the house. It was constructed in the Al Shindagha area overlooking Dubai Creek in 1896. If you are fascinated by the details of the traditional society of Dubai, this is the right place to be. You can know about many facades and details of the golden days. A visit to this place will endorse a close relationship between the citizens of Dubai and the Maktoum family. This kind of relationship is exhibited in the strong harmony, peace, symmetry, and proximity between the houses.
The ancient structure has been constructed in such a manner that the surrounding houses and areas are closely knit. One could have easily contacted rulers. There were low barriers of connection and hence rulers and people were reachable round the clock. This has been very well exhibited in the architectural designs of the area. Every local heritage of Dubai stems the beautiful architectural designs and exemplary houses. This house is one of the oldest buildings in Dubai, it was then transformed into a museum.
Here you can have a detailed view of the documentation of the development of Dubai, private photo collection, and admire the typical Arabic architecture and interior design among others. The original governmental documents are especially highlighted in display aside from historic objects, coins, jewelry as well as other interesting elements. Because of its building location of the Al Shindagha area, The House of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, the traditional district as well as the other buildings were constructed to face Mecca.
Here you can enjoy a beautiful view of the skyline from the first floor. Here you can witness the lifestyle of the ruling family (at that time), local heritage and the Dubai prior fossil fuel discovery with the Dubai City Pass. While strolling in the house you may notice a rosy glow when you’re walking around. That’s the coral. The house was built using coral treated with lime and plaster, the standard building materials back in the day. The coral gives the whole building a pink hue – dusk, in particular, is a wonderful time to see it. The house was built with extremely thick walls to keep things cool. These days it’s fully air conditioned, making it the ideal home for displays of Arabic paintings, lithographs and artifacts. Ideal for any culture vulture seeking to learn more about Dubai’s history.
Other interesting facts about Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum’s House are that Sheikh Mohammad the current ruler, is the grandson of Saeed Al Maktoum. The house has a large courtyard and is now divided into a number of independent family units. Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum lived here until his death in 1958. The house of Sheikh Al Maktoum represents the best example of the Arabian architectural design of the 19th century. Vaulted high-beam ceilings, arched doorways, and sculpted window overhangs can be seen in this specific architectural design. You can visit the downstairs majlis (meeting room), living room, kitchen, and courtyard, as well as the upstairs bedrooms and balconies.
The house exhibits rare photographs of Dubai in its pre-oil days, as well as paintings, lithographs, and art objects that capture the emirate’s development. There is also a collection of rare coins, stamps, and historical documents. A national monument, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum’s House was once the center of local government.
So want to explore more about Dubai? Then plan your trip to Dubai and make your holidays more memorable!
