Dubai: The UAE is unique in that it has its shiny towers and skyscrapers on one side and historic villages and towns on the other – giving residents and visitors the chance to appreciate the rich culture of the country while applauding its growth over the years. Here are seven locations in the UAE that offer a deep insight into how the people in this region used to live in the ancient times.
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Jebel Hafeet Tombs: Go on a guided hike organised by the Jebel Hafit Desert Park to see these incredible tombs. Archaeologists have found and documented a thriving civilisation that existed in the Hafeet area in the Stone and Bronze Ages with a distinctive culture and character. The remains of an ancient cemetery were discovered in the northern and eastern foothills of the mountain that date back to 3200 to 3000 BC. The finds in this area show that the cemetery belonged to a community that lived in the region around 5,000 years ago.
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Al Bidya: The oldest mosque in the UAE has kept traditions alive for 600 years. To this day, the Al Bidya Mosque hosts all five prayers on a daily basis. Al Bidya is currently the oldest standing mosque in the UAE. It is located at the coast of Fujairah in the village of Al Bidya. That's where the mosque gets its name from. While most mosques around the world are characterised by one large circular dome, you will notice that Al Bidya has four. The Al Bidya Mosque is located in the village of Al Bidya in Fujairah.
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Al Fahidi Neighbourhood: The Al Fahidi neighbourhood is a great place to go for a dose of history with its various museums. Opened in Dubai in 1971, the Dubai Museum aims to showcase the traditional Bedouin way of life. Located within Al Fahidi Fort, which was built in 1787, the Dubai museum housed life-size dioramas of the pre-oil era, several galleries with old maps and historical finds as old as 3000 BC. The area is also home to the UAE’s first every museum dedicated to coffee.
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Ajman National Museum:The best way to learn the history of the UAE and of Ajman is to head to Ajman National Museum where you can discover tombs, jewelry, and pottery dating back to as old as 3000 BC. The 18th-century fort, now a museum, was built from coral stone and gypsum. The museum also has photos and illustrations depicting the history of the fort and the emirate.
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Al Ali Fort: Built in 1768, the oldest building in Umm Al Quwain was once the royal residence and the seat of the government there. As can be expected this historic palace has been converted into a museum and is called the Umm Al Quwain Fort, or the Al Ali Fort.
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The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation: It is situated at the Majarrah Waterfront, which was previously known as the Souq Al Majarrah that is located on the Sharjah Creek. The museum consists of six galleries in a two-storey building and includes the Islamic Faith Gallery, which explores the Five Pillars of Islam and the main principles of the faith. The Islamic Museum is devoted to Islamic Art, that also displays ceramics, metalwork, glass and minor arts made in the Muslim world between 7AD and 13AD.
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Jazirat Al Hamra: Located 18 kilometres southwest of Ras Al Khaimah, Jazirat Al Hamra (Red Island) is the last authentic and traditional town still standing in the UAE. It was once a small island but is now a long and narrow peninsula that backs on to the port and further along, with new developments. Its inhabitants subsisted on maritime and pearl trades. The town was occupied since the 16th century and was abandoned nearly 40 years ago, before the discovery of oil and gas in the region — that's when the rush to modernise started. This abandoned village is of great interest to archaeologists, tourists and photographers, and includes a fort and watchtowers, mosque, souq and a courtyard.
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