Anybody can enter the family home of Emirati Rashid Yousef Al Hammadi, and every guest who comes in is transported into a different era: those days when houses were made of palm leaves and when television sets with rotary knobs were the biggest hit.
One of the cars parked in their garage dates back to 1923, while some books on a shelf are hundreds of years old.
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Rashid started collecting old items in the early 1990s, shortly after marrying his wife Fatima Hassan, who is also fond of keeping heritage pieces.
In 2006, they decided to open their home as a museum to share their collection with the world. They called it the ‘House of Zayed’ (Dar Zayed Heritage Museum).
“My father, from his young age, always told me the saying of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed: ‘He who has no past, has no present, and no future’,” Rashid’s son Abdullah told Khaleej Times.
“And he explained that our home was turned into a museum so that we can show the younger generation our heritage and let them see with their own eyes their past, and our old life.”
The family lives in the same house in Al Falah, Abu Dhabi, but it is divided into certain areas for their privacy.
Building the collection
The ‘Zayed house’ keeps more than 2,000 rare objects and 17 classic cars, including one from 1923.
There are old passports, too, plus books dating back a hundred years and antique televisions.
One section of the museum showcase the fragrance and aesthetics of traditional Emirati houses with arched doorways. Another part resembles an Al Arish design, a home made from palm leaves.
A special room was kept for Rashid Al Hammadi’s family heritage, specifically memories of his father and grandfather.
“Visitors were always my mum’s responsibility. She was most honoured to see people visit our home. She would always invite her friends and neighbours,” said Abdullah.
Open to all
Beyond neighbourhoods, Rashid’s home is also open to strangers and tourists who wish to know more about the UAE heritage.
“We had school students come in as part of a field trip. Foreign tourists and university students have visited us, too. It takes them back in time as if they were sitting in an Emirati house from the past. My mum even cooks traditional Emirati food for them,” Abdullah said.
Abdullah, now 20 years old, joined his parents in their activities at the age of 13. While his parents focused on collecting old household items, furniture, and memorabilia, he developed a passion for collecting vintage cars.
“My father has always encouraged me. When I was 13 years old, he bought me the first old car that I saw when I accompanied him once to get his car repaired. So, we added it to the museum,” Abdullah said. “Now, at 20, I’m still collecting and searching for old cars to add to the museum.”