Pottery, radios, televisions, old coins, and antiques from “the good old days” along with many heritage collectibles, have been gathered over more than 20 years by the determined Emirati, Yousef Ali Al Naqbi, who transformed his home in Ras Al Khaimah into a museum filled with the essence of authenticity. He inherited this passion from his father, who was fond of collectibles. Following in his father’s footsteps, he collects items that tell stories of the past, documenting local heritage to preserve it for future generations. He opened his home to visitors interested in learning about Emirati identity, especially deaf and mute individuals who communicate in sign language like him.

Yousef Al Naqbi’s journey began with collecting heritage items, starting with an old television he received from his father. He then decided to start his own collection, telling Emarat Al Youm in an interview: “After receiving that TV from my father, who has a great passion for collecting old items, I decided to start my own journey with antiques and establish a home museum similar to what my father did. I collected items from old markets, in addition to my love for books, especially those about the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul.”

He added: “I tend to collect items related to Emirati heritage, especially maritime or mountainous. Also, due to my passion and work in photography, I collected many old cameras. I saved money to buy my first camera at age 15, worked as a wedding photographer, and over time, I now photograph events and occasions.”

Rare Coins

Al Naqbi confirmed that the museum is now his most important project. He opens it for free to visitors, especially people of determination and his deaf and mute friends who visit frequently and sometimes guide him to heritage items to increase the collection. He also collects old coins, including many rare Emirati coins, the oldest dating back to 1973. His collection also includes foreign coins from various countries.

He did not hide that this hobby has some challenges, but what facilitates his collecting is the cooperation he receives from his deaf and mute friends who support each other, as well as support from family members who are keen to help him.

Diverse Antiques

The collectibles in Al Naqbi’s home vary, each piece telling a chapter of “the good old days.” The pottery is among the oldest, along with old televisions, cameras, radios, and license plates from several Emirates. He selects what to display to the public and constantly buys additional heritage pieces. He also plans to buy a classic old car to place at the house entrance as part of his exhibits.

Al Naqbi welcomes visitors to his museum, introduces it through his friends and social media platforms, and dreams of his home becoming a destination for heritage lovers and those wishing to learn about Emirati identity.

He noted that through establishing the museum, he fulfilled his dream of displaying his old collectibles and invited the public to visit. He aspires to expand his collection to include old pieces from Gulf countries, especially license plates, including an old plate from sisterly Qatar.

Visits and Impressions

Yousef Ali Al Naqbi opens his home to those wishing to see the collectibles, with visits by appointment a day in advance so he can be present to welcome them and explain in sign language. He confirms he faces no communication difficulties with visitors using sign language and sometimes relies on his son to provide comprehensive answers to all questions.

He also keeps a visitor log, receiving guests from outside the country of various nationalities, encouraging them to write their impressions of the museum.