Museums of the UAE: A celebration of Emirati women in the heart of Dubai’s Gold Souq
Small, thoughtfully curated and easy to overlook, the Dubai Women's Museum – Bait Al Banat, or House of Girls – sits in Deira , in an older but bustling part of the city, where traditional perfume shops and hole-in-the-wall bakeries line the busy, winding roads. It occupies a 1950s heritage building near the Gold Souq and was founded by Rafia Obaid Ghubash, a psychiatrist and former university…
Dubai Women's Museum – Bait Al Banat sits in Deira, tucked away in a bustling part of the city. The 1950s heritage building houses the first women's museum in the Middle East, founded by Rafia Obaid Ghubash. The curation within is thoughtful, focusing on the contributions of women to Emirati society, culture, and the arts. The museum, spanning three floors, begins with a section called Memory of the Place, focusing on the history of the Gold Souq area and the women intertwined with it.
On the first floor, striking installations of niqabs and burqas prompt reflection on their cultural significance. Personal histories and objects of individual Emirati women, past and present, are showcased throughout the galleries, including Muneera bint Ahmad Bin Salem Al Mazrou and Hajar Al Khaja. The final floor is dedicated to Ousha bint Khalifa Al Suwaidi, celebrated as one of the UAE's most renowned poets.
The museum's design, a contrast between traditional architecture and forward-looking stories, adds to the experience, making it worth the short visit time of about an hour. Admission is Dh20, and it's open daily except Sundays, conveniently located near the Gold Souq and other attractions in Deira.
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