Old Dubai – An Enchanting Look at the City's Past

Today, Dubai is all about tall buildings and sophisticated shopping malls, but you can never underestimate Old Dubai! It provides a historic setting, which means reduced speed of living, trade, and cultural and traditional development of the community. This aspect of Dubai's history is something every person who is planning to visit this city should know. 

The Historical Importance of Old Dubai

Old Dubai was, in its first moments, built around traders, pearl divers, and merchants back then. Due to this, Dubai was an essential station for individuals who used to travel through the Arabian Gulf. Dubai Creek was providing mainly the means of connectivity to its city and the outer world, and it was evidently the key factor towards its rise as a trading port city.

In 1833, 800 people started a settlement near the harbour, which was made of a creek flowing through Dubai. These members were from the Bani Yas Tribe led by Sheikh Maktoum bin Buti Al-Falasi and were drawn towards the natural harbour where they settled. They turned the area into a centre for fishing and pearling. After some time, Bedounis, who were the Arabian Nomads of the Middle East, joined them and also settled there in small houses called Barastins.

This is where the city was born, changing from a small fishing village into a big city. With the help of the creek, two neighbourhoods of Bur Dubai and Deira developed as a prosperous trading region. Based on its extensive trade, the main economic activity that benefitted this part of the world was pearl diving. 

The growth and expansion of the Dubai Creek area gave the city the main impetus for successful economic growth. These roads are the cradle of today's Dubai, and the city literally grew from these streets as merchants, sailors, and locals intermingled.

The primary source of revenue generated for Dubai's economy came from trade and oil exploration. According to the history of Dubai, when the major chunk of revenue started to flow in 1969 through trade and oil, Dubai's economy started to flourish. A major development in infrastructure was evident in the construction of hospitals, schools, and other architectural buildings, turning Dubai into a lavish city from a barren land.

Key Areas to Explore

The major areas to explore in Old Dubai are detailed in the following sections. 

Bur Dubai

Bur Dubai is one of the major areas of Dubai. It is situated on the western side of Dubai Creek. People used the creek for trading purposes, where ships or dhows frequently anchored to discharge and take on merchandise essential to the growth of Dubai into a most famed trading centre. 

This combines residential and business places, mainly with narrow roads and full market days. There are popular historical landmarks in the area as well. One of these is the Dubai Museum, which was established in Al Fahidi Fort, where people can acquire basic knowledge about Dubai. The Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood next to it presents the typical architecture of the Emirates with houses with wind towers and narrow streets. 

Bur Dubai is a symbol of the courtyard of the old and new Dubai. The other places to visit are the Textile Souk and the pier at Dubai Creek. The proper tour reveals that the city has preserved its historical spirit. Even today, it continues to draw visitors who want to get a close look at Dubai history.

Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood

Dubai's Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood is a fascinating look into how Dubai used to be. Located beside Dubai Creek, this area retains most of the buildings that were put up in the early decades of the twentieth century. The narrow, twisting passages take guests through a series of now-renovated wind tower buildings that were historically characteristic of the Emirates. 

Dubai's early residents also used these wind towers, called barjeel, as air conditioning before they became mainstream. The low-rise structures have been constructed from sandstone, teak, and palm wood and depict the simple mid-19th-century British lifestyle. 

To get more insight into local culture, one has to visit local cultural establishments like the Sheik Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU). The SMCCU entices people to come and participate in things such as Emirati cuisine, learning Arabic, and learning about the culture. 

Also, Al Fahidi has several galleries with artists and hosts events such as the Sikka Art Fair. Art galleries that are active and contemporary, opened in renovated structures, exhibit artworks of the present era by Emirati and international artists that link the past to the future. 

Dubai Creek

Dubai Creek is actually the major waterway that has for many years been the source of life in the city and, therefore is the soul of Old Dubai. Earlier on, they acted as a source of water. The creeks were actually the first ports of Dubai and supported the pearling trade. Being a central point, it served a crucial role in linking Dubai to the rest of the globe for commerce. 

Famous for its antiquity, Dubai Creek is still working today with the same energy as before. Travelling across the creek is one of the most original and native feelings that you can get. The traditional abra rides can actually take you across for as little as AED 1 and will give you a view of both Bur Dubai and Deira. Formerly made of wood, those boats are now motorised and ply the waters between the two sides regularly as cheap means of transport and a way to get around the area. 

You can also take a private abra at a reasonable price of AED 120 per hour to attain a fun boat ride. For a longer stay, there are larger dhows which can also be arranged so that everybody can discover both the traditional side of Dubai and the current one. These cruises take tourists past the barasti houses, wind towers, and mosques, as well as the new-generation tall buildings, including the Deira Twin Towers. 

Traditional Souks

Traditional souks located in Old Dubai are vibrant markets where the culture and history of the city start. Below are the main souks to explore: 

• Gold Souk: Popularly referred to as the 'City of Gold,' the Gold Souk has all things gold, silver, and diamonds, including ornaments. This market is equipped with an assortment of products, from customised products to Arabic touch designers. The price range is also negotiable here. 
• Spice Souk: An olfactory delight, the spice souk is full of sacks of spices, herbs, sweets, spices, and nuts. Expect to see saffron, organic dates, and spices that the best chefs look forward to cooking with. The atmosphere represents a trading ambience of Dubai history in which Dubai used to be engaged in trading spices. 
• Textile Souk: It is essentially a shopper's haven for lovers of fabrics. Shelves of neon-bright silken fabrics, crisp, pure cotton fabrics, and rich exotic weaves are displayed to attract people interested in clothing and fashion design. Customising T-shirts, caps, and accessories is possible within several days. 

Just as with the Al Fahidi souk and Dubai textured walls, every traditional souk showcases an exemplary aspect of cultural Dubai in terms of trade, craftsmanship, and market movement. Each of the souks is associated with buying something different: gold, spices, or fabrics and each of them gives a unique opportunity to plunge into the history of Dubai.

Cultural Experiences in Old Dubai

Cultural Tours in Old Dubai give diverse and numerous experiences in terms of history, culture and food. The Al Seef promenade is also a popular attraction and is a very pretty place that can offer the old mixed with the new. Here, tourists can also take a walk along the waterfront, admiring the beauty of Dubai Creek and visiting open-air bazaars and shops. 

This has been done for every building's façade to give the learners a feel of the historical culture of Dubai. It's not only a shopping centre, as many still believe, but the promenade is also a platform for heritage events and festivals. Over the years, many occasions occur, and they not only represent the liveliness of the people of UAE but also get celebrated in UAE. 

The Qasr Al Hosn Festival and Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival are specific annual or periodical events by which the community comes together and has an opportunity to enjoy traditional melodies, dances, and paintings. The performances usually comprise the interesting ayyala dance in which the dancers dance holding bamboo poles. 

Food is one of the must-do activities for anyone visiting Old Dubai at any time of the year. Here, it is possible to try some local Emirati dishes, which provide an overview of the traditions of the countries. Try camel meat, the most famous one, which is cooked with rice, and fouga deyay, which is similar to jollof rice, served with grilled chicken. 

Also, try the karak chai, spiced tea, and the luqaimat, sweet dumplings dyed in date syrup. Several cafes and restaurants are presented in Al Seef, and many restaurants serve these traditional meals, offering exquisite culinary experiences. You can also order from these places and avail discounts using Noon Food coupons from DealsandCouponsmena. 

Preserving the Heritage

The Dubai Government has initiated and implemented several measures not only to conserve history but also to increase awareness about it. It has achieved this through holding festivals and events and forming clubs. The following are the main policy objectives of conserving Heritage sites: 

• Festivals and events like the Qasr Al Hosn Festival, the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival, and the Sultan bin Zayed Heritage Festival. 
• Clubs like the Emirates Heritage Club and Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage 
• Heritage villages are integrated units of buildings that comprise homes, schools, markets, and social places, among others. 
• Museums that exhibit paintings and aged photographs, cutleries, armours, marine equipment, coins, and other items from the past. 

Travel Tips for Visitors 

When to Go: The best season to visit Old Dubai is from November to March. This is because the temperature of the place is comparatively low. It is also a period that attracts foreign tourists and thus offers a bevvy of other cultural experiences. 

What to Wear: Light-coloured and loose fabrics should be carried for any form of physical activity during the day. Essential items include a swimsuit, flip flops, and a jacket, and women wear that will not show belly, shoulder, cleavage, or any other skin for visiting mosques,  

Tips for Shopping at Souks: Just to note, verbal bargaining is expected when shopping in the souks. To get a better price, one should have to wander around the stalls before buying. Offer 50% of the quoted price, then negotiate the desired price. Make sure to know the gold prices at the Gold Souk that have already been fixed by the government. 

Suggested Routes: Your first stop should be Deira – The Gold Souk, the Spice Souk, and The Perfume Souk are all in the same vicinity. When done, cross over to the other side of Dubai Creek by abra to Bur Dubai and visit the Textile Souk. The best time to get there is early morning or in the evenings because the souks are open from 9 in the morning to 10 at night upto the weekend only, but they close from 1 PM to 4 PM. 

Conclusion

Old Dubai is a fascinating presentation of how the city used to be before the discovery of oil and modernisation, which brought architectural changes to the Emirate. A beautiful city with beautiful streets, oriental bazaars, and significant attractions and sights makes a traveller feel like he is in another century. Here, you can feel the force of the Gold Souk, smell the Spice Souk, and taste non-Emirati food. 

Aside from the towering, sparkling modern structures, Old Dubai welcomes everyone to taste the spirit of the city and its incredible evolution. The trip to this wonderful region will create memories that you will cherish for life.