The best place for anyone who wants to understand something about the UAE. During the Heritage Tour you get a short tour with a visit to a mosque, but the most interesting is question time. You can ask anything and people do their best.
A place that tells the history and customs of Dubai society in the past
For first timers to Dubai, this is the best place to visit as they share with you the cultural aspects of the Emirati people. They hold a very open discussion about the Middle East people so you can ask all kinds of questions. Go for the full experience, with the lunch and photo sessions. Highly recommended.
Excellent place to meet local customs and culture. They offer a breakfast based on local specialties. Very interesting.
Great cultural experience and breakfast which my grandchildren thoroughly enjoyed. After breakfast we were invited to dress up in traditional dress. Recommended for everyone interested to learn the local culture
Very cultural environment, speakers are amazing and tell the history of Dubai in a very interesting way
Absolutely amazing place. Great food, even better education and great laugh.
They brought us here our first day in Dubai and the experience was very good.
They presented us with their typical food and then there were several native people to whom we could ask everything about their culture. Very pleasant and helpful.
Recommended experience
A very good place to learn and enjoy the culture of the place in an open and relaxed way
Nice beautiful old house, good presentation on emirati culture, food is average
A visit to the SMCCU is a must for anyone who wants to learn more about the culture of the United Arab Emirates. There are several programs available that you can choose from. We have a traditional Emirati breakfast. It was a fun experience and we learned a lot from it. The "supervisor" of the breakfast told very enthusiastically and you also felt free to really ask everything you wanted (including sensitive things). We didn't like the breakfast itself, but that's personal. There were plenty of people who enjoyed all the local delicacies. For those who still have doubts: do it! It is a special experience.
We were not able to take advantage of any of the center's programming. My 5 stars are based on how pleasant and helpful the staff was in general. There is WIFI, and bathrooms. Their presentation and dining space was beautiful. Thank-you for your general assistance!
Good cultural experience if you want to learn about the UAE history, culture food
We did the guided tour in the morning. The guide was good and funny. The main issue was the cost. We paid 400 aed for two adults plus one child and my father of 71 years old. I found this price expensive for the tour itself, that lasted less than 90 minutes. If I knew this in advance, I will not have done it.
Serves as a tourist guide centre of some sort. I came here and manage to get some information about touring the area from the reception staff. She recommended me a food place to have traditional meals and also gave me a map of the place. Thumbs up to the staff who speaks good English and really professional in her work.
Nothing here except a few galleries, tiny museums & nice cafe. The neighbourhood offers a glimpse of old Dubai but it is pretty much rebuilt. Touristy area. Walk towards the Bur to catch an abra (boat) and you will pass by a bazaar with plenty of shopping to do. Traders can be really insistent and won't easily let you go past.
I was very impressed and it's good that they keep some of the old buildings so that the children can see them in the future.
Been here for dinner. The indigenous "emirate" Salama issued a super-frank story about morals, religion, family relations and other ways of life of the local population. Our small motley group of Indians, Italians, British, Japanese and Russians tormented her with questions for a long time, and it seems that she absorbed and understood everything. Super! Recommend!
Extremely hospitable people. Must visit to learn more about emirati culture
A must visit not only for visitors but also for long term residents of Dubai. Amazing Emirati experience with great insights and relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Real treat for heritage lovers. Lunch is delicious and the area is very traditional and relaxing. Highly recommended for everyone.
Located in the corner of the Al Fahidi historical area.
Dubai's Traditional Intercultural Experience
We received a traditional emiraty lunch at the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU).
Here you can learn about Dubai culture with food.
While sitting on a Bedouin-style carpet, I was taught about the Emirati culture and the Dubai culture.
Dubai style " Open Doors, Open Minds"
What I was most concerned about is women's clothes! ! ! In Dubai, it seems to be selectable by "personal selection". I heard the explanation in English, so I do not know how to translate it (laughs)
According to the thought of each family and individual, it is in the state of choosing! It was interesting.
People in the area also told us about the actual condition of Dubai that I was worried about, and the image of Dubai changed further.
We had arabic-style coffee (like tea) in traditional container and had many cross-cultural experiences ^ ^
The food was delicious too.
Cultural dinner at the center is highly recommended for visitors to Dubai
I'm so interest, very happy to see the place. Because the amazing old nostalgic feelings. Great attraction is FALCON.
Cultural center Dubai, amazing history, good food. A must while in Dubai!
This was a wonderful educational & sociable event.
The historic district is a must visit area, in Old Dubai. It really does open your eyes & your mind to the Emirati culture, which is the intention.
Informative, in a civilised, relaxing, engaging manner.
I experienced the Emirate breakfast (good if you are vegetarian) Plenty of Arabic coffee, delicious dates, food, water, tea. I felt very welcome and looked after. You can ask any question, the host will answer you.
You learn about the religion of Islam, the dress, relationships, traditions, smell the insence etc.
I did this experience as a single, female, visitor, so no need to worry about visiting alone.
The people at the centre are so friendly & helpful, I recommend a visit here.
You can book breakfast, lunch, or, dinner.
It is located just up from the Arabian Tea House.
Take time to explore the nearby Coffee Museum, Calligraphy Museum and art galleries.
Valuable sharing of Emirati life and culture. Learnt a lot.
Very nice people with a very deep understanding and also very open to questions and great food
Loved the way they explain about their traditions. And the way they answer questions and serve the tourist
A fantastic historical experience and a must visit for tourists and residents alike. Authentic food, smooth conversation, provocative questions and a welcoming ambiance makes you feel at your good friends' house, the one who is always happy to see you.
Great place. Nice oportunidade to get to know more about the local culture. You can also enjoy delicious lunch while you hear all about their own history.
We decided to go to The SMCCU via the Metro and it was very difficult to find, we got off at the Al-Fahidi station and asked the locals where the centre was, no one was able to point it out.
Outside the building the centre doesn't have the best of signs and it seemed we walked around the vicinity of the building forever before actually entering, the centre.
Once we were in and seated we were offered Arabic Coffee and some fresh dates, the experience was amazing as the host explained the Emirati culture and also took questions from the guest before being served dinner which was superb.
Learn about Emirati food & culture. Fun experience & a nice lunch.
We enjoyed the little snacks, the great introduction of Islam and being able to touch some falcons.
I felt the walking tour was really rushed and wished there was more time spent on what Emarti life was like before tourism sky rocketed. For ex. Talking about how men used to live in the desert, etc. There were many other buildings in the area but it was unclear if we were allowed to visit them or had to pay extra
Otherwise its a bit in the middle of nowhere so if its a hot day make sure you take water and give plenty of time to find the location.
Sheikh Mohammed Center, commonly referred to as SMCC.
It is a cultural center where you can experience the old look and culture of Dubai, which is a small fishing village in Arab.
A great place to get to know life in the UAE. Mandatory to visit
Amazing Iftar experiencing the Emirati way. They explain everything about Islam, habits and culture. You can interact, ask questions to a very friendly and knowledgeable people. I highly recommend....food is also good but it is the whole experience which matters.
If you want to know anything and everything about Dubai and their culture, this is the place to go!
Great for an evening out with meal. Arrive early or stay after to give yourself time to walk around.
The presentation and Q and A were informative and very well done.
Loved the traditional architecture and how the whole layout seems authentic. Learnt quite a lot from the experience
Must visit. Get the history of how Dubai was built and learn about their way of live, culture and get to try their local food.
The best experience we had in Dubai. There is no better place to know the culture of the place. The people are very nice and the food delicious. It is a bit expensive for what the area is, but it is worth it. You have to make an appointment online.
Excellent cultural tours, incredibly friendly, recommend a visit and a tour or a meal with them.
Special experience in Dubai, definitely recommended if you want to learn more about the culture.
Unexpected. Very nice. A place to visit for lunch. You can book it and you won't regret it. I would recommend to go there with some time to spend.
The place is very nice and the best in restaurants and shops and very suitable for photography
It was the first one of the two days and one night in the Arab world, and it was the place that made me feel hot.
If you are a person who eats well in the heat, be careful as you fall down after going here.
I went for a package, but it's really pretty, but I was dizzy until I went to Korea because of the heat.
There is no shade.
Still, if you come to the Arabs, a photo of these flags is a must, right?
historical place old memories and attractive old building
Wonderful experience, great food and such great information
The food was disgusting, I think they use seagull meat in their food ... I don't recommend coffee to even more disgusting hickims. The local food pehhh tourists stake .. I threw all the food from the garbage he liked from there): (But you can not be us anyway)
Good time. A chance to talk to real Emeraties, ironically hard to do in UAE.
Amazing experience to immerse yourself into the culture of this country.
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Absolutely fantastic place. Cultural lunch with locals is just super experience. You will spend great 1-1.5 hours here!
Highly recommend.
It was just ok for me. The experience probably depends on who s there and what kind of questions they ask.
I have visited Dubai several times but this experience is one of the best and should not be missed.
Truly a hidden gem of the city! Must visit. The arts displayed are fantastic
Great place to learn about the Emirates culture and history. Great lunch and company.
the right place to understand the emirati culture and religion
Excellent experience - a must try if you are new to Dubai. Make sure you arrive early so that you can find a good spot to sit and watch the host as they take you through the history and answer questions from the crowd. Ever had a question about the uae, dubai or Islam? Make sure you ask it here, its an excellent learning opportunity
Entrance is free. You can experience Emirati culture in all its beauty: meals, guided tours, heritage tours as well as have cultural meals (90 dirham). Quiet and just lovely to spend time here.
You can study about the culture in Dubai while having authentic lunch. The atmosphere is great. Being here is definitely a lifetime experience.
Went for the delicious traditional lunch, 1pm-2:30pm. A great presenter and a very relaxed setting to learn about Dubai and UAE culture. Any questions are OK here and honestly answered. A must-do experience for foreign/western visitors.
This center is near the Dubai Museum. It is a wonderful location that has many things to offer tourists. There are tours that is hosted by the center that promotes Arab culture and provides delicious food. There are art shops and a Coin and Coffee museum. Take a stroll outside and eat a camel burger in an Arab restaurant or take a different view of the Dubai Creek.
I learnt so much about the culture... will go again soon.. this time for the lunch.
People are very polite and give a very good understanding about UAE culture
I imagined something bigger and you have to take a Heritage Tour but they are happy to answer any questions about Islam
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