The Diving Village

The ethnographic museum The Diving Village is located on the shore of the Persian Gulf in the historical district Al Shindagha. Here you will find out what traditional Arab life was like before the moment when oil was found in the country in the 1960s and the UAE became what it became.

The museum building is built in the classical Arabic style: light-colored stones, low towers to redirect wind currents, and special Arabic decor. In front of the entrance, you will see the traditional Arab boat jelbut. Arab fishermen fished for shells on such boats looking for pearls for centuries. In the museum, you will see several types of fishing boats, such as shashi reed boats, small baggaru boats, larger samaa boats, as well as familiar abras, which are still used for sailing along the canal, as well as large dhows.

After a stroll around the museum, you can go to the trendy Dubai Marina and book The Dinner on a traditional Arabic dhow for only $69 per person.

In addition to boats and ships, you will see many types of nets, such as the original domed net called mshedd. Several mshedds were set up on the bottom of the sea, and cages were set up around, the fish thought they had fallen into the reef, and the fishermen did not waste time filling the nets.

Also, there is a small pool in the museum, where you will be shown exactly how pearls were caught, and if there will be not enough information, you can go to the hall with photographs, which depict the real life of fishermen. The name of the village sounds very romantic, in fact, there was nothing romantic in such work. It was hard work, and pearl divers rarely lived to old age. From frequent diving, the brain had to constantly experience oxygen starvation, and saltwater corroded the mucous membranes and even the skin. Often the fishermen became blind or deaf. But there was no other work, and large families had to be fed. All this is told by the museum exposition and guide.

There are also souvenir shops to buy original souvenirs, such as pearls. And a little further, delicious coffee will be brewed for you and you will be treated with tasty oriental sweets.

Opening hours and admission prices

The Diving Village is part of the unified Al Shindagha Museum complex, which unites more than 20 restored historic houses of the district. The complex is open Saturday to Thursday from 8:00 to 20:30, and Friday from 15:00 to 20:30.

A single ticket for the whole complex costs around AED 50 (≈$14) — the Village used to be free to enter, but it's now included in the paid complex.

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