Cultural Foundation

About this place

The Cultural Foundation opened in 1981 as one of the country's early purpose-built institutions for libraries, exhibitions, theatre and public learning. Its restored modernist complex stands beside Qasr Al Hosn, creating a useful comparison between the fortified centre of earlier rule and the cultural infrastructure developed after the formation of the UAE. A visitor can use the collections to connect individual objects with larger changes in Emirati life: oasis farming, pearling, dhow trade, household work, education, government and the transition after oil. Read dates and provenances closely and compare reconstructions with original artefacts, photographs and oral testimony. This makes the museum useful historical evidence rather than a display of attractive antiques. Exhibitions and opening arrangements can change, so check the official venue information before planning a journey.