Old Dubai: Deira and Bur Dubai

Souks, street food and abra rides across the creek, busy long after dark.

A wooden abra crossing Dubai Creek between Deira and Bur Dubai

Old Dubai covers both banks of Dubai Creek: Bur Dubai on one side and Deira on the other. It is the part of the city where an evening out feels most like a neighbourhood night, with shoppers in the lanes, families on the waterfront and boats crossing the water until late.

On the Bur Dubai side, Souk Al Seef runs along the creek with heritage-style lanes of shops, cafés and restaurants. From there an abra, the small wooden ferry, takes you across to the Deira side for one dirham. Dinner cruises on traditional dhows also sail this stretch of the creek in the evening.

Old Dubai works well without alcohol and with children, and it is the cheapest part of the city to spend an evening in. It is a traditional area, so cover shoulders and knees.