The first phase of Al Shindagha Museum includes the Perfume House. Courtesy Dubai Culture
The first phase of Al Shindagha Museum includes the Perfume House. Courtesy Dubai Culture
The first phase of Al Shindagha Museum includes the Perfume House. Courtesy Dubai Culture
The first phase of Al Shindagha Museum includes the Perfume House. Courtesy Dubai Culture

Dubai Culture to open first phase of Al Shindagha Museum


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The first spaces in what will be one of the largest open-air museums in the world are set to open on the banks of Dubai Creek.

Al Shindagha Museum will encompass much of the Shindagha area, on the Bur Dubai side of the Creek, and consist of 23 museums that will open as part of the Dubai Historical District project, which was first announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in 2015. The project is being developed by Dubai Municipality, Dubai Culture and Dubai Tourism.

The redevelopment project involved converting many of the historic houses in the area into museums to highlight and preserve different aspects of Emirati culture. They will also be also reconstructing more buildings while staying true to the traditional architecture. In the future, spaces will play host to exhibitions, organised events and public learning programmes.

The Shindagha neighbourhood is known today for its coral-clad houses, traditional wind towers, and attractions such as the Heritage and Diving Museum, and the Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House. This was the residence of the Al Maktoum family until as recently as 1958, and was the home of the Dubai monarch at the time, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, the grandfather of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

The project is expected to attract 12 million tourists a year.

The Perfume House

One of the first museums to open will be the Perfume House, which is expected to open in the first quarter of this year. It pays homage to the history of all things scented in the UAE.

The museum is housed within the former home of Sheikha Shaikha bint Saeed bin Maktoum, who was an avid perfumer. Many of the items inside were part of her personal collection. This includes her perfume application and a 28kg piece of oud she had in her house and which she donated to the museum just a few weeks before she died in 2017, as well as other artefacts from other notable Emiratis, and those sourced from sites such as Saruq Al Hadid, an archaeological site in Dubai.

The 'Dubai Creek: Birth of a City' pavilion and the Perfume House are now open. Courtesy Dubai Culture
The 'Dubai Creek: Birth of a City' pavilion and the Perfume House are now open. Courtesy Dubai Culture

Outside the Perfume House, you'll find the ‘Windows of Dubai’, a display that will be part of all Shindagha’s museums and is intended to offer a glimpse of what’s inside. The Perfume House's iteration shows exactly how many oud chips are needed for one tola (the equivalent of 12 grams) of perfume. Spoiler alert: it’s a lot.

Inside, the museum uses technology and interactive elements to tell the story of perfume in the UAE. You enter through a courtyard, where you'll find descriptions of all of the most common sources of perfume; you hear via video interviews from first, second and third-generation Emiratis, who talk about their family’s perfuming traditions.

There's also a perfume workshop where you can learn how to mix your own fragrance using an interactive mixing table.

'The Dubai Creek: Birth of a City'

‘The Dubai Creek: Birth of a City’ pavilion will open at the same time as Perfume House. It serves as a starting point for visitors by introducing them to the history of the emirate.

It will showcase Dubai's journey, from a small village on the banks of the Creek to thriving metropolis.

The future of Shindagha

There are many elements of Al Shindagha Museum set to open in the coming months. There will be an exhibition area focusing on different land environments in the UAE – the desert, coasts and mountains – explaining the importance of their co-existence, and other pavilions outlining important Emirati traditions such as navigation and astronomy.

Abdul Rahman Al Owais, chairman of Dubai Culture, said: “The opening of Al Shindagha Museum commemorates the historical city of Dubai and our ancestors’ footprints to ensure they continue inspiring future generations, strengthening their sense of pride in their country and heritage.

"This major landmark allows us to spread our rich heritage and introduce it to visitors, underlining our vigorous efforts to safeguard Emirati heritage."

Saeed Al Nabouda, acting director general at Dubai Culture, added: "The museum is part of our ongoing efforts to establish Dubai as a global cultural hub and support Dubai’s Tourism Vision 2020 by inviting the world to discover our rich heritage.”

Sinopharm vaccine explained

The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades. 

“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.

"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."

This is then injected into the body.

"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.

"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."

The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.

Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.

“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.

What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.

There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.

Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.

People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.

There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.

The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.

 

While you're here
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Pakistan require another 139 runs with 10 wickets remaining

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  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
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Price: Dh380,000

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

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The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe


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• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

  • September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
  • October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
  • October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
  • November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
  • December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
  • February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.