Abstract: The historic settlement of Jumeirah, located in Dubai’s modern neighbourhood of the same name, is well known for its elaborate architecture, but it has remained poorly dated, and its function within the cultural landscape of the Persian Gulf and Eastern Arabia is still poorly understood.

Recent results of the Jumeirah Archaeological Research Project (JARP) have provided refined dating of the site, and it is now believed that it was occupied continuously, though with varied intensity, from the Umayyad period until the 20th century. In line with previous research, JARP’s work has confirmed that the site flourished during the Abbasid era, when many buildings were erected and decorated as part of a centrally organised effort.

Still, many questions about Jumeirah’s role in the cultural landscape of the Persian Gulf and Eastern Arabia remain unanswered, while the application of traditional research methods offers limited potential for changing this picture. A promising perspective, in turn, comes from using computational methods in the analysis of material culture. In particular, the possibility of applying a multiplex network analysis approach will be discussed.