Old Dubai Tour

Old Dubai is an historic neighbourhood full of beautiful old buildings. Full of art galleries and cafes scattered around narrow lanes. Come on an Old Dubai Tour with us to see a side to Dubai before the skyscrapers, glitz and glamour took over.

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If you are interested to learn about some of Dubai’s history before the transformation into a global city then an Old Dubai Tour is the best place to start. This old Dubai tour is a route that we regularly take visitors to Dubai on. It will require a fair amount of walking so wear comfortable shoes and avoid the hottest part of the day. Also an activity to do during the cooler parts of the year (mid October – March)

Be aware if you are visiting on a Friday nothing really opens until the afternoon, traditionally after Friday prayers (around 2pm). This area is probably best enjoyed from Saturday-Thursday.

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How to get to Old Dubai

• Public Transport – Al Fahidi metro or Al Ghubaiba Metro. Start at number 7.
• Taxi – Get the Careem or Uber App. With the Careem App you can order the cheapest RTA (Hala) Taxis only from the app. Get dropped at Al Seef and start at number 1.
• Parking – Al Seef Underground Car Park is the best, walk from there (start at number 1)

1. Start in Al Seef Area

Al Seef is the best area to start an old Dubai tour. Especially if you are driving as it has a huge, free underground car park.

After parking wander alongside Dubai Creek admiring the boats where there is a long promenade with multiple cafes and restaurants. Keep the Creek on your right hand-side as you walk.

The Al Seef district has been built to recreate a fishing area of old Dubai of the 1950s. It is a place where you can see both old and new Dubai together. Wander the streets browsing the souk type shops selling traditional Arabian items like lanterns, handmade crockery and spices. Try a karak tea and eat some traditional Arabic food.

Amongst all of this look out for Al Seef Starbucks which is a popular place due to the unusual old looking Arabic style exterior.

Where to get an alcoholic drink in Al Seef?

A handful of restaurants in this area have an alcohol licence too so you can stop for a beer or lunch/dinner with an alcoholic drink if you like. These restaurants are licensed:

• 961LB – Lebanese food
• Mitra – Indian food
• Canopy – International food (at the Hilton Dubai Al Seef Hotel)

You can take an abra ride (2dhs each way – bring cash!) from here but we will include an abra ride to the spice and gold souk at the end of this old Dubai tour.

2. Walk down to Sheikh Mohammed Cultural Centre

Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding is a great starting point for any visitors to Dubai who are interested in learning about Emirati traditions and cultures. Their moto is ‘Open Minds, Open Doors’ and they invite guests to ask any questions they may have about Emirati ways of life, faith and traditions.

Some of their tours include a walk around the Al Fahidi area and visits inside the Jumeirah Mosque. Breakfasts and lunches are also on offer where you can try local food and listen to stories about the local way of life. Visits to Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding have always been popular with any of our visitors to Dubai. Pre-booking is essential – you can find out more about their packages here.

3. Continue on to Al Bastakiya or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

Also known as the Al Fahidi neighbourhood, it is a village with old buildings that you can wander through. Some of the buildings have been transformed into coffee houses, art galleries or small museums. It makes for an interesting stroll around spotting street art. Recommend a visit to the XVA Gallery and Cafe which is in the stunning boutique XVA Art Hotel.

The next stop is a refreshment stop so you might want to just have a cold drink here before moving on.

Rumour has it that this area was planned to be demolished and turned from old Dubai into new Dubai. However, King Charles (Prince at the time) was in Dubai on a visit. He went to this area and recommended that it should be preserved, so demolition was apparently cancelled!

4. Stop for Refreshments at Arabian Tea House Al Fahidi

After walking around for a while on your old Dubai tour this cafe is the perfect stopping point. It is a famous, traditional Emirati restaurant nestled in the Al Fahidi area. It is instantly recognisable by the white walls, lace, flowers and blue seating. A perfect escape from the heat offering outdoor style seating inside a lovely, cool building.

The Arabian Tea House menu is varied. The food is delicious – chicken kebab, biryani, hummus, falafel and beetroot salad especially. Try the traditional lemon lime drink. It is popular so expect to have to wait for a table during a weekend. They have a buzzer system where you can wait outside. A quaint, calm oasis in the middle of a tourist hot-spot. We love all the old Dubai pictures in black-and-white on the walls at the entrance.

They have other branches around Dubai in Jumeirah, Sharjah and Mercato. Although Arabian Tea House Al Fahidi was the original. You can read more about the Arabian Tea House Al Fahidi here.

5. Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort

The next stop on your old Dubai tour would be the Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort. An inexpensive museum (around 3dhs per adult) with a lot of Dubai history and old Dubai pictures. The museum was built about 200 years ago as the monarch’s premises and fort of defense. It provides a full history of Dubai and its people as well as showcasing monuments, relics and documents.

Unfortunately as of October 2022 the Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort is temporarily closed due to renovations.

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6. Walk through Bur Dubai Souk Market

Continuing on the old Dubai tour you should wander through Bur Dubai Souk Market. To get there you will need to walk past the shops and streets of Bur Dubai, noticing how it is a bit less shiny than new Dubai. However, full of character and lots of bargains to be had!

Bur Dubai Souk Market isn’t the biggest souk and is geared towards tourists with the usual Dubai souvenirs. However it is still a nice, bright colourful place to walk through and maybe buy something. We love the handmade pots and bowls and usually pick one up on every trip! Don’t be afraid to haggle a little bit to get the best price. Another bonus of this walk to the Abra Ride is that it is undercover so you will get respite from the heat!

7. Take an Abra Ride over to the Spice and Gold Souk

This is an experience in itself and something that we always with do with visitors who are coming to Dubai for the first time. When you arrive at Al Ghubaiba Transport station you will see many different types of boats. There will be a lot of shouting and people trying to get you to take a tour or private boat, just ask for the RTA Abra to the Spice and Gold Souk (2dhs each way – carry cash!). Unless you want to go on a tour of the Creek of course! You can take buggies/prams with you, just pass the child and quickly fold it down. I have also taken my aging parents with a walking stick – everyone is helpful! The abra is only a quick 10minute journey from one side of the creek to the other.

It is worth nothing that there is another RTA ferry type boat that arrives here from the Marina. If you get a Metro / taxi to this area you could get the boat back – if you are staying near that area.

8. Do a Spice Market Tour of Old Dubai

Once you get off the Abra you will need to cross the road and will come straight to the Spice Market. You don’t have to be a chef to enjoy the spice souk, not all the spices are for cooking – many are teas/nuts/dates etc. Be ready for a sensory explosion as you wander down the alleyways and smell the pungent array of spices and herbs, the traditional Oud burners and the vibrant colours of the spices catching your eyes. You will also hear the shouts of vendors trying to get you to buy something. This mixed with the noises and lights of plastic toys on display to lure the children can be a sensory overload but it is well worth the trip. Saffron is a very popular spice here – be sure to haggle!

9. Spend your money at the Gold Souk

The first thing you will notice when you enter the gold souk, on the opposite side of the road to the spice souk, is the colour of the gold. Gold in Dubai is very yellow! The jewelry has mainly Indian and Arabic designs. Due to the UAE being tax free buying gold, silver, diamonds and gems in Dubai is cheaper than other countries. Be ready for people calling you and asking you to come and look. Prepare to haggle and bargain if you are going to buy.

If you are window shopping you will be amazed at the size of some of the items of jewelry!

Also watch out for the men offering you business cards with replica bags and sunglasses. They operate with rooms above the souk full of ‘genuine-fake’ designer goods and will lead you up to warehouse type rooms. It is not something I have ever bought but I have heard that there are good copies to be found.

10. Return to the Start at Al Seef

If you got a taxi to start the old Dubai tour then jump in an RTA, use the Careem or Uber App and head back home after this. Alternatively, get an abra back to Al Seef. If you ask the abra guys back at the Creek where to get an abra directly back to Al Seef to save walking through they will show you the way. Another option is to get an abra back over to Al Ghubaiba station where there is a Metro stop or the ferry boat back to Dubai Marina.

11. Finish off with a Sundowner at Canopy

Before heading back to the car why not rest your feet with a drink at Canopy by Hilton Dubai. They have lovely outdoor seating overlooking Dubai Creek and have regular drinks deals. I was drawn in by their bright orange Aperol Spritz umbrellas – my favourite!

Where to stay when in Dubai?

Dubai is FULL of wonderful hotels and resorts. It is an absolute minefield trying to navigate your way through the pages of Booking.com

Over our time living in Dubai we have tried out many hotels on staycations so have listed some of our favourites here to help you decide….depending on your budget.

Luxury Resorts

• Rixos The Palm – stunning all inclusive beach hotel on the palm
• Anantara The Palm – a Thai beach style hotel on the palm, get a lagoon room
• St Regis The Palm – a stunning city hotel at the start of the palm attached to a mall
• The Atlantis – probably the most famous family hotel in Dubai, for a reason!
• Jumeirah Beach Hotel – Jumeirah hotels are incredible, this is the best family hotel
• Al Qasr Hotel – top-end luxurious Jumeirah hotel

Mid Range Hotel

• Five The Palm – a party hotel for more of a young crowd
• Riu Dubai – a family all inclusive hotel with all the entertainment and family entertainment
• Centara Mirage – a very family resort with entertainment
• Jumeirah Creekside – close to the Creek and Irish Village hotel, more affordable Jumeirah service
• Zabeel House – small Jumeirah hotel close to the marina with small rooftop pool
• Grand Hyatt Hotel – an older hotel but a great family option

Affordable Hotel

• Novotel Barsha – it has apartments and a lovely rooftop pool
• Studio One Hotel – a bit further out but great, fun restaurant options and pool
• Park Inn Motor City – overlooking the race course in Motor City
• Premier Inn Ibn Battuta – budget option close to the mall
• Al Seef Heritage Hotel – in the middle of Al Seef

The closest hotels to old Dubai out of these options would be Jumeirah Creekside, Grand Hyatt, Al Seef Heritage Hotel. Also, Riu Hotel and Centara Mirage Hotel are both in this end of Dubai.

Enjoy your old Dubai tour, it is truly our favourite area of Dubai. A place we have returned to many times and taken lots of friends and family on this exact tour of Old Dubai. It is where you will find more character, traditions and history – enjoy!

If you have enjoyed this post of an old Dubai Tour then check out our 50 Activities to do in Dubai post. If you are looking for other different things to do in Dubai have a look at our Day Trips from Dubai page and 6 Family Hikes in the UAE. We know Dubai is an expensive place to holiday so check out our tips on how to have a cheap holiday in Dubai. Here are 17 free activities in Dubai. For more Dubai tips go back to everything you need to know about Dubai.