Sheikha Latifa visits Al Fahidi Fort in Dubai on February 22, 2026. DUBAI MEDIA OFFICE

Dubai’s historic Al Fahidi Fort is preparing to reopen its doors, five years after it closed for extensive rehabilitation works. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed, Chairwoman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, said during a site visit on Sunday (February 22) that the emirate’s oldest surviving structure would reopen “soon,” according to Dubai Media Office. “During a site visit, I reviewed the progress of Al Fahidi Fort rehabilitation works,” Sheikha Latifa said, “As you stand between the walls of Dubai’s oldest surviving structure, you find yourself face-to-face with the earliest beginnings of a city that believed in its dream and continues to move forward with confidence from one achievement to the next." “Soon, when the fort reopens its doors, it will become a space where we reconnect with the spirit of old Dubai. We will share with future generations the story as it began and as it continues, chapter by chapter,” Sheikh Latifa said. Built in 1787 by Dubai’s ruling family, the fort has played many roles over the centuries, serving as a royal residence, prison and arsenal before becoming home to the Dubai Museum. In 1969, members of the ruling family wrote to Sheikh Badr Mohammad Al Sabah in Kuwait requesting the assistance of a museum expert. By 1971, the fort had been renovated and reopened as a museum showcasing Dubai’s heritage. The current restoration project was announced in January 2021 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed. During a visit in 2024, he said the project highlights the emirate’s commitment to safeguarding its heritage while embracing the future. When it reopens in the first half of the year, the revamped museum will feature six main galleries displaying artefacts, archival photographs and historical documents. Advanced digital media will also be used to bring the site’s evolution to life for visitors. For many residents, the reopening will mean stepping back into the story of Old Dubai — this time, with a modern touch. ICA/Expat Media
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