The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) is based in the Bastakia Quarter/Al Fahidi area of Dubai and was established with the aim of removing the barriers between people of different nationalities and to raise awareness of the local culture, its traditions, customs and Islam among foreign residents and visitors. They do this by organising numerous tours and activities.
Jumeirah Mosque Tour
Jumeirah Mosque Tours
Jumeirah Mosque is the only Mosque in Dubai open to non-Muslims. Visitors must be accompanied by a SMCCU guide. Tours are every day (except Friday) at 10 am. No booking necessary. Appropriate conservative dress required. The meeting point is outside the Jumeirah Mosque.
Cultural Breakfast
Experience a traditional home made U.A.E breakfast in the ambience of the SMCCU’s centre, a typical wind tower house in the Bastakia quarter. The breakfasts are held on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 am. Bookings required.
A traditional tour of the historical Bastakia Quarter (Al Fahidi). Bookings are essential.
Cultural Lunch
Enjoy a freshly prepared lunch of local dishes with an explanation of the region’s tradition and culture by a UAE national. Every Sunday and Tuesday at 1 pm. Bookings required.
Spoken Arabic Courses – Gulf Dialect
Arabic language course are held on a rolling basis. Contact the centre for more details.
Nearby Attractions
Tourist attractions and things to do near Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding include:
Dubai Museum (0.2 miles) - Offers a fascinating insight into the city's heritage and culture
Heritage and Diving Village (0.7 miles) - Living museums where visitors can look back in time and explore Dubai's past
Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House (0.7 miles) - Once the home of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai between 1912 and 1958
Nearby Cinemas
Cinemas near Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding include:
VOX Cinemas BurJuman (0.7 miles) - 14-screen cinema at the BurJuman shopping mall.
BurJuman (0.8 miles) - Located in Bur Dubai, BurJuman is a classic, family-friendly community mall with an eclectic mix of stores to suit every taste.
City Centre Al Shindagha (0.9 miles) - Shopping mall in Al Shindagha. Stores include Carrefour, Babyshop, Max, and Splash.
Nearby Restaurants
Restaurants and places to eat and drink near Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding include:
XVA Cafe (0.1 miles) - Courtyard restaurant at the XVA Art Hotel. Peaceful atmosphere. Offers vegetarian Arabic dishes.
Arabian Tea House (0.1 miles) - Outdoor cafe in Bur Dubai. Relaxed courtyard setting with tables shaded by canopies. Offers more than 100 varieties of tea from all corners of the globe. Food menu includes Arabic breakfasts, salads, sandwiches, and BBQ dishes.
Al Ustad Special Kabab (0.3 miles) - Legendary Iranian restaurant. One of the best budget restaurants in Dubai. Founded in 1978. Aka Special Ostadi Restaurant.
Danial Restaurant (0.5 miles) - Buffet restaurant. Good range of dishes. Good value for money.
Sind Punjab (0.6 miles) - Hole-in-the-wall restaurant established in 1977. Offers authentic Punjabi cuisine. Great butter chicken. Located in Meena Bazaar.
Karachi Darbar (0.6 miles) - Cheap restaurant offering a variety of Pakistani, Indian, and Chinese dishes.
Aseelah (0.6 miles) - Arabic restaurant at the Radisson Blu. Licensed. Entertainment and belly dancing.
The Pub (0.6 miles) - British-style pub. Cosy interior with wood-panelled walls.
Yum! (0.6 miles) - Pan-Asian restaurant with open kitchen. Dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore etc.
Creekside Japanese Restaurant (0.8 miles) - Japanese restaurant at the Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers in Deira. Buffet nights feature various Asian cuisines. Terrace offers good views of the Dubai Creek.
Doors Freestyle Grill (0.9 miles) - Steakhouse and seafood restaurant at Al Seef. Offers super juicy steaks, lamb chops, and more. Overlooks the Dubai Creek. Unlicensed.
Rasoi Ghar (1 miles) - Vegetarian restaurant offering Gujarati and Rajasthani thali. Located opposite BurJuman.
Nearby Hotels
Hotels near Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding include:
Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa (0.2 miles)
Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Hilton (0.3 miles)
Grand Nova Hotel (0.3 miles)
Al Khaleej Grand Hotel (0.3 miles)
Best Western Plus Pearl Creek (0.4 miles)
Downtown Hotel (0.4 miles)
Al Khoory Inn Bur Dubai (0.4 miles)
Hyatt Place Dubai Baniyas Square (0.4 miles)
York International Hotel (0.4 miles)
Carlton Tower Hotel (0.4 miles)
OYO 578 Oasis Deira Hotel (0.5 miles)
Galaxy Plaza Hotel (0.5 miles)
White Fort Hotel (0.5 miles)
OYO 314 24 Gold Hotel (0.5 miles)
Phoenicia Hotel (0.5 miles)
TANHA HOTEL (0.5 miles)
OYO 140 Al Hashemi Hotel (0.5 miles)
Landmark Plaza Hotel (0.5 miles)
Holiday Inn Bur Dubai - Embassy District (0.5 miles)
Sun and Sands Plaza Hotel (0.5 miles)
DreamWhite Hotel (0.5 miles)
Mount Royal Hotel (0.5 miles)
Sahar Hotel (0.5 miles)
Orchid Vue Hotel (0.5 miles)
Better Living Hotel Apartments (0.6 miles)
Raviz Center Point Hotel (0.6 miles)
Central Paris Hotel, Baniyas Square (0.6 miles)
Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek (0.6 miles)
Gateway Hotel (0.7 miles)
Ascot Hotel (0.7 miles)
Fal Hotel L.L.C (0.7 miles)
New Penninsula Hotel (0.7 miles)
Mark Inn Hotel Deira (0.7 miles)
Zagy Hotel (0.7 miles)
Hyde Park Hotel (0.8 miles)
Deema Hotel (0.8 miles)
City Seasons Towers Hotel Bur Dubai (0.8 miles)
Grayton Hotel (0.8 miles)
Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel (0.8 miles)
Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers (0.8 miles)
Grand Square Hotel (0.8 miles)
Majestic City Retreat Hotel ( Formerly Majestic Hotel Tower) (0.9 miles)
Hampton by Hilton Dubai Al Seef (0.9 miles)
Africana Hotel (0.9 miles)
Le Wana Hotel (0.9 miles)
Royalton Hotel (0.9 miles)
Canopy by Hilton Dubai Al Seef (0.9 miles)
Jonrad Hotel (0.9 miles)
Howard Johnson Bur Dubai (1 miles)
Nearby Metro Stations
Metro Stations near Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding include:
Just a quick update on the information above on the programmes offered by SMCCU. Jumeirah Mosque visit is at 10am every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. 10 AED pp, no advance booking required. Cultural Breakfasts are every Monday and Wednesday at 10am. 60AED pp, advance booking is essential. Cultural Lunches are every Sunday and Tuesday at 1pm. 70 AED pp, advance booking is essential. Bastakiya Walking Tours are operated on a frequent basis upon demand. Booking is essential. NO NOT SHOW UP WITHOUT A BOOKING as the schedule is subject to change. Spoken Arabic Courses are held on a rolling basis. Please contact the centre for more details. Please contact smccu@cultures.ae or 04-353-6666 for booking information.
Excellent job with the informative images and small descriptions of Islam and Muslims that are placed in several malls around Dubai. This is a tiny mistake in one of the pieces I was reading that might confuse many people so if possible make the change. One of the slabs should say "through the angel Jibrail" rather than "though the angel". I spotted this mistake at festival city shopping mall (near second cup).
The Jumeirah Mosque tour with the Centre for Cultural Understanding costs dhs 10. Don’t forget you’ll have to cover up. You can also just turn up, there’s no need to book.
I would like to enroll for Arabic classes. Kindly provide me with further information.
New rates from SMCCU
Products
CULTURAL MEALS –
Duration: 90 minutes
CULTURAL BREAKFAST – AED 120 per person
Every Monday & Wednesday at 10am
CULTURAL LUNCH – AED 130 per person
Every Sunday to Thursday at 1pm – AED 130 per person
CULTURAL BRUNCH (Morning Fuala) – AED 150 per person
Every Saturday at 10:30 am
CULTURAL DINNER – AED 150 per person
Every Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday at 7pm
EMIRATI FUALA (Afternoon Tea) – AED 150 per person
Every Tuesday & Friday at 4:30 pm
– WALKING TOURS –
Heritage Tour – AED 100 per person
Duration: 90 Minutes
Creekside Tour – AED 315 per person (minimum 5 persons) Prior booking is required
Duration: 150 Minutes
– JUMEIRAH MOSQUE VISIT –
Mosque Visit – AED 25 per person
Daily at 10am (Except Fridays)
This is a great tour where you get to learn a lot about Arab culture. Good explanations were provided and all questions answered.
Just a quick update on the information above on the programmes offered by SMCCU.
Jumeirah Mosque visit is at 10am every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. 10 AED pp, no advance booking required.
Cultural Breakfasts are every Monday and Wednesday at 10am. 60AED pp, advance booking is essential.
Cultural Lunches are every Sunday and Tuesday at 1pm. 70 AED pp, advance booking is essential.
Bastakiya Walking Tours are operated on a frequent basis upon demand. Booking is essential. NO NOT SHOW UP WITHOUT A BOOKING as the schedule is subject to change.
Spoken Arabic Courses are held on a rolling basis. Please contact the centre for more details.
Please contact smccu@cultures.ae or 04-353-6666 for booking information.
Excellent job with the informative images and small descriptions of Islam and Muslims that are placed in several malls around Dubai. This is a tiny mistake in one of the pieces I was reading that might confuse many people so if possible make the change. One of the slabs should say "through the angel Jibrail" rather than "though the angel". I spotted this mistake at festival city shopping mall (near second cup).
The Jumeirah Mosque tour with the Centre for Cultural Understanding costs dhs 10. Don’t forget you’ll have to cover up. You can also just turn up, there’s no need to book.