The ‘other’ side to Dubai

I spent many years living in Dubai and it has experiences to offer all types of travellers, not just the glitzy 5 star hotels you may see in the press or on TV – although those are definitely worth visiting!

One of the best locations I always took my visitors to was the Al Fahidi historical neighbourhood and the gold and spice souks in Deira.

Located along the Dubai Creek, in Al Fahidi you can see what life in Old Dubai was like and this area includes the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) which is a great place to start for an immersive experience. There are over 50 houses to explore and shops and cafes to escape the heat and enjoy a cool drink out of the strong Middle Eastern sun. Much of the original infrastructure is preserved and intact, including the traditional wind towers – the old form of air conditioning!

Then take a wander through the textile souks in Bur Dubai until you get to one of the Abra stations and take an Abra (a traditional small ferry-like boat used to ferry people across the Dubai Creek) over to Deira, one of the few places in Dubai that only costs 1 Dirham (cash only)! When you dismount the Abra the sights and smells of the spice souk will hit you, a perfect place to pick up spices from all over the world and particularly good prices for saffron and vanilla. Wander a bit further into Deira and you will find the gold souk, full of priceless jewellery and stones and the window displays will take your breath away. Silver and other precious metals are also available so don’t be put off visiting if you don’t usually like gold.

All of these souks are great for practicing your haggling techniques and you can come away with some real bargains and products that you wouldn’t necessarily see in ‘new’ Dubai.

Another great place to visit, is the Dubai institution that is Ravi’s, serving cheap and cheerful Pakistani food since 1978. Don’t expect table clothes and five star service, but do expect freshly cooked flavoursome food with no frills and friendly waiters who are more than happy to suggest what is best to eat that day.

Jumeirah Mosque located on Beach Road in Jumeirah 1 is also worth a visit. This mosque, with the style of architecture originating from Syria and Egypt, is open to non-Muslims and you can have an informative guided visit and enjoy some light Emirati refreshments. I used to live near the mosque and loved hearing the call to prayer across the day.

I always encourage people to visit this ‘other’ side of Dubai to get a real feeling of being in the Middle East and away from the usual tourist haunts. My visitors always loved exploring and these are definitely places to add to your list when you travel there.

Contact me directly for more information on Dubai in general and other tips to help you experience the more authentic side of Dubai which is there if you are happy to dig a little deeper to find it.