Coins Museum

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.

What can you see at the Coins Museum?

Curious visitors can inspect coins through special display cabinets and magnifying screens, and learn more about them though touchscreens containing detailed information on each coin, including its shape, size, metal, method, date of minting, wording, and any images it might feature.

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.

To discover more of Dubai’s rich heritage, pay a visit to the Museum of the Poet Al Oqaili or take a trip to the famous Spice Souk.