Dubai: Etihad Museum – Where it all started

// I was invited to Etihad Museum. I didn’t pay for the tour and the lunch//

Etihad Museum opened in January this year, and the impressive building now showcases the United Arab Emirates’ short, but fascinating history. The United Arab Emirates was formed in 1971 after the British pulled out of the region. Initially, Bahrain and Qatar were also invited to join the table, but they pulled out quickly and formed independent states themselves.

The lobby of the museum was light and airy, and upon arrival we were spoiled with mocktails and luqaimat (a kind of sweet dumplings) from the museum’s restaurant. The museum itself is located underground, and it is impressive in size as well as appearance. There’s no doubt that a lot of money has gone into this project, and I think it’s one of the most high-tech museums I’ve ever been to. At the various stations, you can either listen or read information about what you are seeing and there’s plenty of interactive features, but the museum also offers guided tours at no extra cost.
Etihad Museum is located on the exact site where the United Arab Emirates was established on December 2, 1971, so you can go and have a look into the rooms, where it all took place.

After the museum tour, we had lunch at Seven Sands, which is an Emirati restaurant owned by the Dubai World Trade Centre. There’s also a Seven Sands down at JBR The Beach, where I have eaten several times. The food is traditional Emirati food with a modern twist, and Seven Sands is a great place to start if you are interested in exploring more of the local cuisine.

PS: Etihad means union in Arabic, so the name of the museum doesn’t have anything to do with the airline in Abu Dhabi.