Coins Museum

“We came here during a food and cultural tour of old Dubai on a cool Friday morning in late December. This tour was part of a two night visit to Dubai. We initially had no idea the museum existed nor we were aware that this museum would be a stop on our tour. I am not aware of paying any kind of admission to enter the museum unless that was our arranged by our tour guide prior or after visiting the museum. I work in banking and find the global monetary systems we utilize fascinating. I think this museum does a great job of showing the evolution of currency, specifically coins in the Middle East and the UAE. The museum is not overly expansive or overwhelming. We spent about 25 minutes in the museum and it was not at all crowded. The museum is very clean, modern, and comfortable. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the museum for younger children. I don’t believe the museum as a public restroom. I’m also not aware of what tours or programing the museum offers but I would be interesting in finding out more if I was back in the area. If you are in the Dubai old city, I highly recommend stopping in this museum! I learned a lot of things I was not expecting to learn!”

“Located in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, the Coins Museum presents over 470 rare coins from significant eras throughout the Middle East's history, the oldest of which date back to the 7th century. Visitors can browse through eight rooms and see various coins that have been used in Dubai through the ages, as well as discover the close links between the monetary systems of the former British Empire, India and other countries. Opened in 2004, the museum is housed in a traditional Arabian building constructed of coral, stone, plaster, sandalwood, and the leaves and trunks of palm trees. The structure itself offers an intriguing glimpse into the past that shows how early inhabitants lived in one of the city’s most bustling historic quarters. Each of the eight display rooms covers a different theme, with the first exploring historical significance, the second displaying coins from the Arab-Sasanian period and the third focusing on the Umayyad Caliphate era. The remaining five rooms take coin enthusiasts through the Abbasid Caliphate era before moving on to currency minted in Egypt, the Levant, Turkey, North Africa, Andalusia, Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula.”

“Totally renewed and renowated museum, great collection of rare coins with explanations of how they reflect the history of Dubai. Interesting presentation, AC, toilet, historical building. Highly recommend! Free entrance too.”

“Located at Al Fahidi historical neighbourhood. Free entry. Very informative exhibits. Upon entering, learned about the architecture of the museum. Learned about how coins came about and became a portable wealth. Realised how coins were made in the olden days and read the history and saw real exhibits in the different rooms - The Coins of Antiquity, The Coins of Islam, The UAE currency.”