Located on the Shindhaga edge of Dubai Creek, which is considered to be the lifeline of the city, this palace was a strategic vantage point for the ruler to control trade within and outside his country. What was previously the residence of Dubai’s leader, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, from 1912 to 1958, has today been transformed into a museum describing the history of Dubai and showcasing 19th-century Arabic architecture.
Built in 1886, Sheikh Saeed’s house, once the seat of local government, today tourists see and appreciate the rare collection of black and white photographs, paintings, coins, artifacts, furniture and important historical manuscripts that are found here. It is also the oldest house in Dubai and is an excellent example of the region’s old 19th century architecture. Built in the traditional Arabian style, often found on the Gulf Coast, the Sheikh Saeed House’s walls are covered in coral with limestone and plaster. It also has a large spacious patio and numerous rooms, terraces and bathrooms that are divided into individual or family units depending on the inhabitants.
Two main entrances to the house can be found, one facing the beautiful Dubai Creek waterfront and the other located at the rear of the house which was probably reserved for family members. The ambitious restoration project carried out by the authorities has preserved the elaborately carved teak wood doors and windows, the wooden lattice screens and the stair balustrades. To provide ventilation in the arid Arabian climate, thick perforated plaster screens that are exquisitely carved and depict floral and geometric designs have been placed on the thick walls.
However, the Sheikh Saeed house’s main attraction is its collection of photographs portraying Dubai in the early 20th century. The rapid progress made thanks to immense oil revenues is truly put into perspective when one looks at old photographs of a sleepy port city with a handful of houses and shops, a far cry from the bustling streets found today.
Some Dubai hotels can be found located near this historical site and the popular Dubai Creek. Without a doubt, a hotel in Dubai would be up there with the best in the world, due to the rapid progress and development of the tourism industry in the region.
