Jumeirah Archaeological Site

Jumeirah Archaeological Site is an excavated settlement in Dubai containing residential buildings, a trading center, and religious structures from the medieval period. The remains are distributed across a large area where living spaces, courtyards, and storage areas sit side by side.

The settlement was inhabited from the 10th to the 12th century and played a role in the network of trade routes connecting distant regions. Archaeological work between 1969 and 2008 uncovered these layers of the past.

The excavated complex shows how people lived and traded here, with an impressive courtyard surrounded by mud-brick rooms that housed families, merchants, and traveling traders. The rooms surrounding the courtyard suggest this place served as a vital stop for merchants passing through the region.

The site is located near the coast and is best reached by taxi, as Dubai's sprawl and heat make exploring on foot difficult. The best time to visit is during cooler months when temperatures are more pleasant.

The site earned its name "White City" because of white plaster covering eight buried buildings that were uncovered during excavations. This unusual coating helped clearly identify and protect the structures in the ground.