Past the skyscrapers of Dubai lies a historical and artsy side of the city

These areas, having escaped excessive retouching, still bear some semblance to the city’s early life.
Published June 15, 2017

Long before The Palm Island was put on the map and the Dubai Marina was dotted with upscale yachts and boats, there was one main waterway in Dubai, the Dubai Creek, joining two of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods — Deira and Bur Dubai.

In contrast to Dubai’s more recent and luxurious developments that thrive on pulling in more tourists, these areas, having escaped excessive retouching, still bear some semblance to the city’s early life.

A view of old Deira's skyline from across the creek.
A view of old Deira's skyline from across the creek.

A man takes a break by the creek.
A man takes a break by the creek.

For a change of scenery from gleaming glass high-rises to coral and mud stone houses with wind towers, my two friends and I took the squeaky-clean train heading to Al Fahidi in Bur Dubai, avoiding the usual traffic in the busy area.

We started off our tour of old Dubai with a brief history lesson at the Dubai Museum, which is housed within the walls of the restored Al Fahidi Fort, built in the late 1700s.

The museum is worth a visit for its wax statues and interactive displays that give a background into how Dubai and its six sister emirates came together to form the United Arab Emirates in 1971.

The entrance of the Dubai Museum.
The entrance of the Dubai Museum.

The Dubai Museum is one of the most recognised landmarks in Bur Dubai.
The Dubai Museum is one of the most recognised landmarks in Bur Dubai.

At the back of the museum is the Grand Mosque, open only to Muslims, and behind the mosque is the Hindi Lane that’s home to temples for Hindus and Sikhs, as well as numerous small shops selling garlands, bindis, and other paraphernalia used in worship.

Walking out of the alley, we knew we were approaching the Bur Dubai Souk as the crowds and number of shops started to multiply and the smell of herbs and spices became stronger.

The road leading to the Grand Mosque in Bur Dubai.
The road leading to the Grand Mosque in Bur Dubai.

The Hindi Lane is home to many members of the Hindu and Sikh community.
The Hindi Lane is home to many members of the Hindu and Sikh community.

Items of worship for sale near the temples.
Items of worship for sale near the temples.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find many locals around in the area; as is the case with most of the city, you’ll see a mix of nationalities that have influenced and shaped the Emirati culture over the years.

Most of the shopkeepers are South Asian but have picked up enough Arabic and English to market their prices as “the best you’ll get”.

We stopped at one of the tea shops, where the seller told us reassuringly that he won’t charge us “anything extra”, adding that he saves the most exorbitant prices for the foreigners.

The *souks* in Dubai are famous for fragrant herbs and spices.
The souks in Dubai are famous for fragrant herbs and spices.

The busy shops selling various paraphernalia at the *souk*, which runs parallel to the Dubai Creek.
The busy shops selling various paraphernalia at the souk, which runs parallel to the Dubai Creek.

The shops at the souk sell everything from rugs and knock-off designer wear to spices and ceramics. Pakistani and Indian snacks, such as pakoras and dosa, are popular among the locals as well as visitors, and are sold at small cafeterias along with fresh juices and the famous karak chai.

Since the souk runs parallel to the creek, we stopped at the Creekside café and found a table by the water to have a cold lemon and mint juice while taking in the view of the abras (traditional boats made of wood) against the backdrop of Deira’s old buildings.

Pakistani and Indian snacks are popular among the locals as well as visitors and are easily found in the *souk*.
Pakistani and Indian snacks are popular among the locals as well as visitors and are easily found in the souk.

The Creekside café is an ideal place to take a break from exploring the alleyways of the *souk*.
The Creekside café is an ideal place to take a break from exploring the alleyways of the souk.

The lemon and mint juice was very refreshing.
The lemon and mint juice was very refreshing.

A few steps away from the Creekside café is Bayt Al Wakeel (“Agent’s Home” in Arabic), one of the oldest houses in Dubai that was built in 1935.

Earlier a shipping office, the building now functions as a restaurant that serves Arabic food — and while the food isn’t anything exceptional, the view from the jetty that has been transformed into a dining terrace certainly is.

The manager was nice enough to let us explore the inside of the building where pictures showing the creek and Bayt Al Wakeel in their original form have been put up.

Signboard for Bayt Al Wakeel, one of the oldest houses in Dubai that was built in 1935.
Signboard for Bayt Al Wakeel, one of the oldest houses in Dubai that was built in 1935.

A view of the Dubai Creek and Deira from the first floor of Bayt Al Wakeel.
A view of the Dubai Creek and Deira from the first floor of Bayt Al Wakeel.

We found an abra station just a few steps away from Bayt Al Wakeel to cross over to Deira; the five-minute ride took us past the traditional houses, wind towers and minarets into the heart of Deira, where we stopped by the Spice Souk and the Gold Souk.

Tired from our souk-hopping, we called it a day, got juicy shawarmas from Ashwaq Cafeteria (one of the best in town) for dinner, and decided to return to Bur Dubai the next day.

The *abra* water taxis taking passengers across the creek to Deira.
The abra water taxis taking passengers across the creek to Deira.

Tourists take a break and sit by the creek, watching the *abras* go by.
Tourists take a break and sit by the creek, watching the abras go by.

Day two started with breakfast in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (also known as Bastakiya); we got off at the same metro stop and walked past the Dubai Museum towards Al Fahidi street to the Arabian Tea House, where we had the Arabic breakfast tray with hummus, fried halloumi cheese, and olives —the holy trinity of local cuisine.

A number of eateries have cropped up in the neighbourhood but be wary of tourist traps (an elaborately decorated camel outside is an easy giveaway); if you don’t mind being touristy, then the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding will take you on a tour of the area and host a traditional breakfast for you, complete with Emiratis to converse with.

Our delicious Arabic breakfast platter at the Arabian Tea House restaurant.
Our delicious Arabic breakfast platter at the Arabian Tea House restaurant.

The courtyard area of the Arabian Tea House.
The courtyard area of the Arabian Tea House.

In contrast to the bustling and noisy souk, this preserved quarter is quiet and you don’t feel hassled to rush through the alleys. Built in the mid 1800s, Al Fahidi is one of the city’s oldest heritage sites where you can get a sense of the life of the early Emiratis.

Traditional courtyard houses made of coral or sea stone and mud are marked with the wind towers (barjeel), which allow hot air to rise out and cooler winds to flow down.

One of the traditional courtyard houses in the area that have wind towers, which provide ventilation.
One of the traditional courtyard houses in the area that have wind towers, which provide ventilation.

An Arabic *majlis* (sitting area) outside one of the cafes in Al Fahidi.
An Arabic majlis (sitting area) outside one of the cafes in Al Fahidi.

Today, the neighbourhood has become an art hub with many houses having been converted into cafés and art galleries, and it is also the venue for the annual Sikka Art Fair that usually takes place in March during Art Season.

We made our way through the labyrinth, stopping at the XVA Hotel and Gallery, Make Art Café, Coffee Museum, Art Connection, Mawaheb Art Studio (for artists with special needs), and anything else which looked remotely interesting.

All the places welcome visitors who are not necessarily customers, so you can walk in and roam about without feeling the need to buy anything.

The seating area at Make Art Café, which operates as a studio, eatery and library.
The seating area at Make Art Café, which operates as a studio, eatery and library.

One of the three courtyards of the XVA Gallery and Hotel where you can enjoy some shade from the sun.
One of the three courtyards of the XVA Gallery and Hotel where you can enjoy some shade from the sun.

Coffee brewing and roasting instruments at the Coffee Museum.
Coffee brewing and roasting instruments at the Coffee Museum.

You can also see a small portion of the Bur Dubai wall, dating back to 1800 A.D., in the area and for the history buffs, there’s a Restoration House, dedicated to preserving original architecture and artefacts, where I saw some gorgeous traditional, wooden doors.

One of the best ways to get an idea of how Dubai has changed over the years is to strike up a conversation with the shopkeepers or the abra drivers, many of whom have been in the city for decades.

The Restoration House in Al Fahidi showcases historical artefacts.
The Restoration House in Al Fahidi showcases historical artefacts.

One of the beautiful, antique wooden doors on display.
One of the beautiful, antique wooden doors on display.

In the evening, we went back to the Creekside café to watch the sun set over the abras, which went about their routes as they have been for years, taking commuters across the creek for a mere one Emirati dirham.

Sunset over the creek.
Sunset over the creek.


All photos by the author.


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