Al Ahmadiya School

Here you are in front of the first school ever built in the Emirate of Dubai, dating back to 1912—long before the city’s many skyscrapers that only started appearing in the late 20th century. Traditional and authentic, this school is now open to all those willing to discover what education looked like in early Dubai. You’ll get to see its classrooms and inner courtyard, where students once played during recess. In 1956, the school revolutionized education in the region by introducing new subjects such as English, sociology, and science—attracting some of the brightest scholars and scientists of the time. It closed in 1958 but was later restored at the end of the 20th century, serving as a museum since. Today, you can walk through its classrooms, browse the library, and take a look at past school objects.