Exploring Dubai
Al Fahidi Fort, which houses the Dubai Museum once guarded the city's landward approaches. Built around 1799, it has served as a palace, garrison, and prison. Colourful and evocative dioramas, complete with life-size figures and sound and lighting effects, vividly depict everyday life in days before oil discovery changed the land.
One of the most spectacular exhibits portrays the underwater world of pearl-diving, and is accompanied by sets of pearl merchants' weights, scales and sieves. Also on display are artifacts such as fine copper, alabaster and pottery objects found in 3,000-4,000 year-old graves at Al Ghusais. The main fort is a fascinating military museum.