Pictures from the past

Heritage House with its traditional elegance and striking decorations is about the old way of life

A snapshot into the past is what the Heritage House, hidden among the winding lanes of Al Raas area in Deira, offers visitors. Located near the Gold Souq, the edifice is a window to Dubai's way of life nearly a century ago.

The house was built in 1890 as a normal residence by a well-established fisherman, Matar bin Mazenah. Located close to the coast, the house was also right in the middle of a traditional market - perfect for his livelihood.

The structure is now a state-of-the-art museum showcasing the Emirate's ancient culture, managed by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) as a heritage site.

The house was initially built as a single-storey building with three rooms, which was sufficient for the family. "It was bought over a few years later by Sheikh Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Dalmouk, the founder of Al Ahmadiya School, which is located close by," said Awadh Al Seghayer, Manager of Heritage Sites and Events, DTCM. The man was a very wealthy merchant. He had made his money from the pearling industry.

He added several rooms over the years along with increasing the number of floors. "Over the course of next 35 years, an additional six rooms were made. The structure was used to house teachers who had come from outside to teach at the school," he said.

"It was enlarged to accommodate the increasing number of teachers as the students grew in numbers at Al Ahmadiya school.

"The Heritage House includes rooms to stay in, two majlis, kitchen and store area... basic requirements that you would see in either a barsati or a mud structure. It was complementary to the school."

He explained that the second floor of the building has a wide verandah, which was built to allow residents to sit out in the evenings and watch the sea.

"Today as development has grown into the creek, the sea is a bit farther away. In the old times, the house was closer to the sea and could be seen," Al Seghayer said.

"So people would sit and watch sunsets and enjoy the pleasant breeze. They could also watch the activities in the marketplace below."