Dubai Culture unveils ‘Al Maktoum Hospital Museum,’ a tribute to modern medicine

The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated Authority for culture, arts, and heritage, has unveiled ‘Al Maktoum Hospital Museum,’ a first-of-its-kind tribute to Dubai’s first hospital. 

Preserved through the eyes and experiences of a subset of the hospital’s very first doctors, healthcare professionals, and patients, Dubai Culture collated the first phase of data to pay homage to the site through a crowdsourcing programme, encouraging people to share their stories. 

The Authority will continue to engage in the crowdsourcing initiative in various phases, giving people across the country the opportunity to share their insights through ‘Al Maktoum Hospital Museum.’ 

Situated in Al Wasl District and developed in collaboration with Wasl Properties, ‘Al Maktoum Hospital Museum’ marks the first milestone in Dubai Culture’s mandate of building museums to preserve the rich Emirati heritage. 

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said: “Built on the power of storytelling, ‘Al Maktoum Hospital Museum’ is a living testament to the importance of the community’s involvement in preserving and promoting our history and heritage. Embodying the very ambitions of the nation, which strives to showcase its cultural essence to people across the world, ‘Al Maktoum Hospital Museum’ marks a crucial milestone in Dubai Culture’s mandate to strengthen awareness of the Emirate’s national identity, as witnessed by its own residents’ and citizens’ experiences and memories.” 

‘Al Maktoum Hospital Museum,’ located within the confines of the original building, paves the path for the city to conserve its history, even as future strides of progress are being made. Built in the 1950s, Al Maktoum Hospital treated patients from across the region. The hospital was built through patronage from several Emirates, although they were not unified at the time. 

In April 2013, the ownership and management of Dubai’s museums fell under the aegis of Dubai Culture, who was mandated with the goal of developing the current sites on par with its international counterparts. 

The museum will shed light on the evolution of Al Maktoum Hospital, going beyond the story to highlight the role of the people in collaborating with organisations, and identifying regional and global trends to create a world-class healthcare facility. 

‘Al Maktoum Hospital Museum’ is a demonstration of the Authority’s vision to integrate members of the community into the grassroots growth story of its artistic and cultural industries.