Al Oqaili, the Nabati Poet
Located in the Al Ras area of Deira, Museum of the Poet Al Oqaili was a traditional house built in 1923.
A traditional Emirati Majlis (main guest room) (2020) by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Poet Mubarak bin Hamad bin Mubarak Al Manea Al Oqaili (1875-1954), moved from Saudi Arabia to live in Dubai. Al Oqaili is considered to be one of the most prominent poets and luminaries of Dubai, writing Eloquent and Nabataean poetry.
Al Oqaili brought a group of skilled builders from the Al Ahsa region, in the east of the Arabian Peninsula, to build this house.
Alleys leading to the museum of poet Al Oqaili (2020) by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Those builders crafted both artistic ornaments and artistic writings, which elevated the aesthetic aspects of the house and granted its unique historical value.
The house was built using coral stone, plaster, chandal wood, teakwood, fronds and trunks of palm trees as well as the traditional building material sarooj.
Traditional Emirati building in Al Fahidi District (2020) by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
It consisted of two floors; the rooms were distributed around an internal courtyard.
A traditional Emirati Majlis (main guest room) (2020) by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
The Museum of the Poet Al Oqaili consists of nine main wings: Al Oqaili’s life; his Eloquent poetry; his Nabataean poetry; his correspondence; his cultural and social life; his manuscripts; his majlis; the house restoration, and writings about Al Oqaili.
An original manuscript by the poet's handwriting (2020) by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
The museum also houses a valuable collection of documents, correspondence and his commandments, in addition to the original collections of poems, some of which are in his own handwriting.
Museum of the Poet Al OqailiDubai Culture & Arts Authority
The other objects on display are a valuable set of collections; personal tools belonging to the poet; furniture and household items – which are considered as precious artefacts representing the era from the last quarter of the nineteenth century, until the first half of the twentieth century in the region.
A collection of documents, correspondence and poems (2020) by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
The museum houses original documents and collections belonging to the poet Al Oqaili – all telling the story of one of most renowned poets in the region, who had come across many famous contemporary figures; attended international events and was appreciated by the rulers of his time.
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