Dubai City Guide
Art & Architecture
Art and Architecture
A boat ride along the creek is an ideal way to take in the city’s architectural gems. Moving from the wind-tower houses in the Bastakia Quarter to the pointed roof of the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht club, the contrast of East and West makes the city a startling sight.
As well as the incredible growth of the architectural landscape the number of art galleries is also on the increase, offering local and resident artists the opportunity to display their work. New and unusual spaces are opening up mostly in the Bastakia Quarter.
Architecture
Burj Al Arab
Completed in 1999, it is set on an artificial island about 300m from the shore, near the southern end of the Jumeirah Rd in Umm Suqeim. The 60 floor, sail shaped structure is 321m high, including the thin spire at the top. A bar restaurant and helipad extend from side to side at the top of the building.
Emirates Tower
Rising 350 metres high, the Emirates Towers Office building is the tallest building in the Middle East and Europe and 10th tallest in the world. The twin triangular, gunmetal-grey towers on Sheik Zayed Rd soar from an oval base.
Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Situated close to the city on the banks of the Creek . The buliding was designed in 1993 with the idea to incorporate an element of tradition in to the design – the white sails of a traditional Arab dhow.
National Bank of Dubai
Completed in 1997 this shimmering building looks like a long thin D shape. The façade of the building is made up of bronze windows reflecting the activity of the creek and at sunset when the light is right it is a magical sight.
Dusit Dubai
This is one of the most eye catching sky scrapers on Shiekh Zayed Road. At the top of the building there are two pillars that join to form a tapering tower in an inverted ‘Y’ shape. It was designed to resemble the hands-joined Thai gesture although it also resembles a tuning fork stuck into the ground.
Museums and Galleries
Green Art Gallery
51 St, behind Dubai Zoo, Jumeirah
Tel: 349 6444
www.gagallery.com
This gallery displays original art, hand crafted items and limited edition prints from artists all over the world. The work exhibited is particularly influenced and inspired by the heritage, culture and environment of the Arab world and its people.
Majlis Gallery
Al Fahidi Roundabout, Bur Dubai
Tel: 353 6233
http://dwc.hct.ac.ae/expatinfo/majilisgallery/themajlis1.htm
This gallery is housed in a traditional Arabian house and is as distracting as the art on show. The majority of the work is by local artists and most, not all the paintings have some sort of local connection. There are also some handicrafts on display such as cushion covers, ceramics, sculptures and glassware.
Sharjah Art Museum
Al Shuwaiheyn, tucked in behind the bazaar, close to Al Boorj Avenue and the waterfront.
Tel: 568 8222
The Sharjah Art Museum has state-of-the-art interior facilities. The building is displays a permanent collection of Orientalistic painting and contemporary art. Within the museum there are 72 different galleries and 8 of which hold a permanent collection of 19th century European paintings and lithographs from Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed al-Qasimi’s own collection.
Sultan bin Ali al-Owais Cultural Foundation
Al-Rigga Rd, Deira
Tel: 224 31111
This cultural centre is aimed at publicizing Arab and Islamic culture. The changing exhibitions focus on calligraphy, Islamic art and photography. Within the centre there is a stunning theatre and Arabic-language library.
Total Arts
Courtyard, Al Quoz, Jumeirah
Tel: 228 2888
http://www.courtyard-uae.com/footer/02_about.html
The gallery occupies two floors of the Courtyard with more than 10,000 square feet of space. Total Arts has more than 300 paintings on permanent display and holds changing exhibitions of traditional handicrafts, antique furniture, painting, calligraphy, mixed media, rare Persian carpets and sculptures.
›› read about London next
