Al Fahidi and Al Seef in 8 places.
Four courtyard houses in Al Fahidi, then the Creek: an Emirati lunch on the floor from AED 130, a gallery, a coffee museum and an abra across to Deira for AED 1.
Eight placesChecked 6 November 2026Prices in AED
The old town fits into a morning. Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is a few lanes of coral-stone houses and wind towers on the Bur Dubai bank of the Creek, with a gallery, a museum and a cultural centre inside the houses. A short walk away, the Creek itself is crossed by wooden abra for AED 1, cash.
At the weekend, book the 10:30am brunch at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding first, since it is the one fixed appointment, and arrange the rest around it. The centre's lunch, AED 145, runs Monday to Thursday only. Walk the lanes early, before the tour groups, and dress with shoulders and knees covered.
Opening hours inside the neighbourhood are each venue's own. Dubai Culture lists the lanes themselves as 7am to 8pm daily.
Hours and prices change. Check with the venue before you go.
Old merchants' quarter, Bur Dubai
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
The merchants' quarter of coral-stone houses and wind towers, restored lane by lane. Many of the houses are now galleries, small museums and cafés. Walk it before 10am, while the lanes are quiet.
The facts
- Where
- Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Bur Dubai. A few minutes on foot from Sharaf DG station on the Green Line
- Open
- Dubai Culture lists 7am to 8pm daily. Venues inside keep their own hours
- Price
- Open access
- How
- Walk in
- For
- Anyone new to the city, and long-term residents who have never walked it
Contemporary Arab art in a courtyard house
XVA Gallery
A contemporary art gallery in a courtyard house, with a small hotel around it and a café that serves vegetarian and vegan food.
The facts
- Where
- Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
- Open
- Gallery daily 10am to 6pm. Café daily 7am to 10pm
- Price
- Open access
- How
- Walk in. Enquiries on +971 4 353 3462
- For
- A quiet half hour of art, or coffee and a vegetarian lunch in a courtyard
Emirati meals on the floor, with questions welcome
Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Emirati cultural presenters lead a meal of traditional food, served on the floor, with open discussion of local customs, daily life and the influence of Islam. Each sitting lasts 90 minutes.
The facts
- Where
- House 26, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Al Musallah Street, Bur Dubai
- Open
- Lunch Monday to Thursday, 1pm. Brunch Friday to Sunday, 10:30am. Fuala (Emirati tea time) Tuesday, 1pm. Dinner Tuesday, 6:30pm
- Price
- Lunch AED 145. Brunch AED 130. Fuala AED 150. Dinner AED 160. Children 7 to 12, AED 65 to AED 80. Under 7, no charge
- How
- Booking required on cultures.ae. Questions on +971 4 353 6666
- For
- Anyone who wants to ask questions about Emirati life over a proper meal
Old roasters, grinders and pots
Coffee Museum
A house of antique grinders, roasters and brewing pots from across the coffee world, with a shop on the ground floor. Listings mention a coffee tasting.
The facts
- Where
- Villa 44, Al Hisn Street, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
- Open
- Listings disagree. Dubai Culture: Sunday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, closed Friday, Saturday not stated. Call +971 4 353 8777 first
- Price
- Dubai Culture says no charge. EMIRARTS and The National say AED 10 with a coffee sample
- How
- Walk in
- For
- Anyone who takes coffee seriously, on a weekday
Bur Dubai to Deira Old Souk, AED 1
The abra crossing
Wooden abra have crossed the Creek for generations. The abra leaves when it fills, takes about five minutes and lands at the Deira Old Souk side. The RTA runs the route as CR1.
The facts
- Where
- Bur Dubai Abra Station, Dubai Creek
- Open
- 6am to midnight daily
- Price
- AED 1 a person, cash only
- How
- Queue at the station and pay on board. A whole boat can be chartered for AED 120 an hour
- For
- Everyone, as a way to see the Creek from the water
The other 3
06Bur Dubai
Textile Souk
- Open
- Reported Saturday to Thursday, 10am to 10pm. Shops set their own hours
- Price
- Varies by shop
- How
- Walk in
- For
- Anyone shopping for fabric or a tailor
07Al Seef
Al Seef
- Open
- All day. Shops and restaurants keep their own hours
- Price
- Open access
- How
- Walk in
- For
- A slow walk to finish the day
08Al Seef
Al Fanar
- Open
- Daily 1pm to 10:30pm
- Price
- Menu on alfanarrestaurant.com
- How
- Walk in, or book on the restaurant's page or on +971 4 396 6669. The restaurant recommends booking at weekends
- For
- Lunch or dinner on the Creek after the walk
How we checked
Every fact here comes from the venue's own website, menu, booking page or Instagram, or from the Michelin Guide and official listings. Nobody paid to be in this guide, and nobody knew we were writing it. If something has changed, write to [email protected] and we'll correct it. How we pick a place →
Photos
- Lead photo: Ankur Panchbudhe / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
- Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood: EditQ / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
- XVA Gallery: @xvagallery
- Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding: Lyleham / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Coffee Museum: Clemens Schmillen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The abra crossing: Guilhem Vellut / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
- Textile Souk: Chris Waits / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
- Al Seef: Alan & Flora Botting / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Al Fanar: RPSkokie / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
