Dubai museums to reopen to visitors in phases from June 1

Heritage sites in the emirate closed in mid-March to help stem the spread of the coronavirus

Etihad Museum will reopen after being closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy Dubai Culture

Dubai’s museums are to reopen in a phased manner, starting from Monday, June 1, the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has announced.

The initial phase includes the reopening of Al Shindagha Museum and Etihad Museum, which will both operate between the hours of 10am and 5pm daily, while the Coins Museum in Al Fahidi Historical District will be open from 8am to 2pm, Sunday to Thursday.

There will be a number of safety measures in place to ensure the safety of visitors.

The sites will have a visitor capacity of 50 per cent and anyone under the age of 12 and over 60 will not be permitted.

Groups of no more than five people will be permitted, while events and celebrations of any type will be prohibited on-site.

On top of this, there will be routine sterlisations and all guests will be asked to maintain a distance of two metres from other people. Everyone will have their temperature checked before entering, and staff members and visitors will be required to wear face masks at all times while on the museums’ premises.

Designated isolation areas have been earmarked for anyone who is suspected of having Covid-19.

While ticket offices will be operational, Dubai Culture urges visitors to use their Nol cards or credit cards to buy entry, so to avoid any handling of cash or paper tickets.

Tickets can be bought online via the At The Top, Burj Khalifa ticketing portal.

All historical and heritage sites in the emirate were closed from mid-March in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The reopening of the sites is "aligned with Dubai Culture's efforts to reconnect people to the country's rich history," a statement read.