Bastakia Quarter
This district, on the waterfront east of the Dubai Souq and
Diwan, features a number of traditional wind-tower houses. Built
in the late 1800s, the quarter was once the home of wealthy
Persian merchants, most of them from the Bastak district (hence
the name Bastakia) and lured to Dubai by its relaxed trade tariffs.
The quarter has been declared a conservation area and restoration
work has been carried out on several of the houses.
Deira Covered Souq
The Deira Covered Souq has more of an Indian feel than an
Arabic one, with folks hawking textiles, spices, kitchen wares,
clothes and henna.
Dubai Creek
Dubai's waterfront epitomizes the city's personality. If you
do only one touristy thing in Dubai, make sure to visit Dubai
Creek. The best way to see the grand trading port is from
the water. You can book a pricey cruise or hire an abra (small
boat) for an hour or so; ask the captain to take you to Al-Maktoum
Bridge and back.
Also take some time to walk around the dhow wharfage on the
Deira side of Dubai Creek, to the west of the abra dock. Dhows
bound for ports from Kuwait to Mumbai (Bombay) dock here to
unload everything, including kitchen sinks.
Dubai Museum
The Dubai Museum, occupying the Al-Fahidi Fort on the Bur
Dubai side of Dubai Creek, is not to be missed. Thought to
be the city's oldest building, the fort was both the residence
of Dubai's rulers and the seat of government until it was
retired as a museum in 1971.
Aerial photographs show the city's phenomenal growth over
the years. Several nautical items are displayed in the courtyard,
including a shasha, a small palm-frond fishing boat like those
still used on the UAE's east coast. A collection of antique
khanjars (daggers with curved sheaths) and a complete grave
from the Al-Qusais archaeological site are highlights. Multimedia
and interactive displays touch on everything from traditional
and modern methods of water conservation to a presentation
of the city's development.
Dubai Souq
The Dubai Souq, in Bur Dubai, has been beautifully rebuilt
to appeal to tourists, but sells mostly items appreciated
by the Indo-Pakistani expat community. This is the place to
purchase that custom-made sari.
Electronics Souq
The Electronics Souq is known throughout the region as the
place to get the PlayStation of your dreams, and does a roaring
business with those who ship the stuff back home and sell
it for a tidy profit.
Gold Souq
Deira's celebrated Gold Souq, with its intricate wooden lattice
archway and windows filled with glittering gold, attracts
buyers from throughout the world. Dubai's nickname, the 'City
of Gold,' was well earned: any type of gold jewellery, in
any color the craftspeople can coax from the metal, can be
yours for a price.
Grand Mosque
The Grand Mosque in Bur Dubai is home to the city's tallest
minaret. It might appear to be a beautiful example of restoration
work, but was in fact built in the 1990s in the style of the
Grand Mosque, which dated from 1900 but was knocked down to
make way for another mosque in 1960. Ah, the perils of progress,
always perceived too late. But the new Grand Mosque's sand-colored
walls and wooden shutters blend perfectly with the surrounding
old quarter of Bur Dubai.
Jumeira Mosque is also worth a visit. It is known for its
size and elaborate design and, under the auspices of the Sheikh
Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, the 'Open Doors.
Open Minds' tour of the mosque is open to non-Muslims. The
best time to see it is at night, when it is spectacularly
lit up. The stunning Iranian Mosque has incredibly detailed
blue mosaic work typical of Persian building design.
Perfume Souq
Next door to the Gold Souq is the Perfume Souq, with European
designer fragrances, cleverly named knock-offs and strong,
spicy Arabic scents.
Sheikh Saeed al-Maktoum House
The house of Sheikh Saeed has been restored as a museum of
the pre-oil era. For many years, the 30-room house served
as a communal residence for the ruling Al-Maktoum family.
It was built using traditional methods, with coral quarried
in the Gulf that was subsequently coated with lime and plaster;
insulators that along with the wind tower kept the house cool
and comfortable. An exhibition of photographs documents Dubai's
history, and shows just how quickly the city evolved from
a sleepy pearling town into a world-class metropolis.
Next door, the Heritage and Diving Villages have displays
on pearl diving and dhow building, two of old Dubai's economic
mainstays. Another area re-creates traditional Bedouin and
coastal village life, complete with barasti (palm-frond) homes,
a traditional coffeehouse and a small souq where you can buy
freshly made dosa (a flat, grilled bread). A museum with items
from nearby archaeological sites is also interesting.
Spice Souq
The Spice Souq, also known as the Deira Old Souq (it's not
just for spices), sells all sorts of trinkets, clothing, rugs
and glassware. The overflowing bags of seasonings are concentrated
at the eastern end, closest to Dubai Creek; just follow your
nose.
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