Bait Al Naboodah Museum

Bait Al Naboodah Museum in Sharjah’s historic district was built in 1845 and belonged to the pearl merchant Obaid bin Eissa bin Ali Al Shamsi, known as Al Naboodah. The house remained the family residence for three generations until 1972, and in 1995 it opened as a museum of Sharjah’s history and culture. Following restoration in the 1990s and a major renovation in 2018, the building once again welcomes visitors. The two-storey house, designed in a traditional Eastern style, surrounds a spacious courtyard onto which all rooms open. Its walls are made of shell limestone and coral, while decorative elements feature carved wood and plaster. Unlike traditional houses of the period, it has no wind tower; ventilation is provided through openings in the side walls.

The museum contains 16 themed rooms displaying jewellery, traditional Eastern clothing and other artefacts. There is a children’s room with a collection of antique toys and a restoration room explaining the materials and techniques used to build the house. Two models depict the residence itself and the old Sharjah neighbourhood, helping visitors imagine how Bait Al Naboodah fitted into the urban landscape. One room preserves original financial records documenting Al Naboodah’s business dealings with companies, merchants and influential members of society at the time.