Bur Dubai

Getting there

Bur Dubai and rest of Dubai is connected to Deira by five crossings over the creek, namely Al Maktoum Bridge, Floating Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge, Business Bay Crossing and Al Shindagha Tunnel. All the crossings charge the Salik road toll. The Metro Green and Red Lines run through Bur Dubai, as does Sheikh Zayed Rd. Small ferries called heritage abra cross the creek from Deira. One route is from 1 Deira Old Souk Station near the Spice Souk in Deira to Dur Dunai Station the west end of the Textile Souk in Bur Dubai. The other main route is from 2 Al Sabkha Station, further up the creek at Al Sabkha Rd in Deira, to Dubai Old Souk Station in the middle of the Textile Souk. The trip costs 1 dirham, payable to the driver after the boat has left the station. Abras set off very regularly, and the service is available round-the-clock. On the inner side of Dubai Creek, a modern motorized abra route was opened from 3 Al Jaddaf Marine Transport Station (250m from Creek metro station) to 4 Dubai Festival City Marine Station. These motorized abras are operated by RTA every 10 to 20 minutes from 7AM to midnight and costs 2 dirhams per person. It is recommended not to travel by taxis, as other public transportation modes are much affordable.

See

1 Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (Bastakiya District), Al Fahidi (19th) St crossing ManKhool Rd, north-east of Al Souk Al Kabeer community (east of Dubai Museum), ☏ +971 4 515 5000. One of the last remaining pockets of Old Dubai, home to many reconstructed buildings in the traditional style. While information on the structures is slim here (see the museum in preference), the atmosphere is very evocative and there are plenty of delightful art galleries and cafes to explore. Free of charge. Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, Al Musalla Rd, ☏ +971 4 353 6666. If you want to learn and understand the customs and traditions of UAE, this is the best place to go. The Centre hosts cultural meals for between 70 and 95 AED, with discussion of UAE culture, customs and religion. They run walking tours through the Bastakiya district for 60 minutes (35 AED) and 90 minutes (55 AED), starting at either 9 or 10:30AM daily except Friday. 2 Creek Park, Al Riyadh St, Umm Hurair 2 (between Al Maktoum and Al Garhoud Bridges, 15 min from Oud Metha metro station), ☏ +971 50 856 5101. Su–W 8AM–10PM, Th–Sa 8AM–11PM. A great place to hang out in the evening when the park is visited by people of different nationalities, all looking for calm place to enjoy the time. It has all the facilities of a modern park and is one of the best parks in Dubai. The cable car is closed. 5 dirham. (updated Apr 2017) 3 Dubai Dolphinarium, Creek Park gate 1, ☏ +971 4 336 9773, 800 365 7446 (domestic)Country code missing. Several showtimes from 11AM to 7PM. The only indoor dolphinarium in the Middle East offers live shows of dolphins and seals. Swim with Dolphins is possible. Dolphin show 120–140 dirham/adult, 50–100 dirham/child. (updated Apr 2017) 4 Dubai Museum, 11c Al Ibn Abi Talib St and 19 Al Fahidi St, Al Souk Al Kabeer community, ☏ +971 4 353 1862, [email protected]. Sa-Th 8:30AM–8:30PM, F 2PM–8:30PM. A must-see for anyone interested in the social history of the Emirate

Do

Sailing at Wind Rises: Lessons are AED 300 (weekdays) or AED 380 (weekends). 1 Dubai Ferry trip, Al Ghubaiba Marine Transport Station, Al Ghubaiba Rd, Al Shindagha community (250m from Al Ghubaiba metro station). 3PM, 5PM. The Dubai Ferry makes a sightseeing circular trip to Jumeirah Beach (deep sea side) or to the Floating Bridge (toward the creek). There are also a one way trips towards Dubai Marina at 1pm and 6pm (duration: 2 hours). 50 dirhams/person in regular, 75 dirhams/person in gold class. (updated Jan 2023)

Buy

Markets 1 Dubai Textile Souk (Old Textile Souk), between the creek and Ali Bin Abi Taleb (11C) St, Al Souk Al Kabeer community. A lot of shops selling scarves and keffiyeh. A few of the shopkeepers can be quite forceful in trying to get you in to their shop. (updated Apr 2017) Two other historic markets, Spice Souk and Gold Souk, are located in Deira just on the other bank of the creek, reachable via heritage abra ferries for 2 dirham.

Malls 2 BurJuman, Sheikh Ralifa Rd, Al Mankhool community, ☏ +971 4 352 0222, +971 4 409 3110 (management), +971 4 409 3120 (security), [email protected]. Sa-W 10AM-10PM, Th-F 10AM-11PM. A 4-floor shopping mall housing more than 300 stores. It is one of the oldest, and still one of the largest, malls in Dubai, but has become less popular. (updated May 2017) 3 Computer Plaza @ Al-Ain Centre, Mankhool Rd, Al Mankhool community (200m from Al Fahidi metro station, along from the Ramada Hotel, heading towards the creek). Sa–Th 10AM–10PM, F 2PM–10PM. A mall specializing in computers, laptops, computer parts and computer add-ons like monitors, VoIP phones, hard drives, etc. Prices aren't particularly low, even after haggling, and choices are limited (for example very few shops sell AMD hardware). There used to be an internet cafe here and it may return in 2014. Other malls in this area are also good for computers and computer equipment. (updated May 2017) 4 Lamcy Plaza, Sheikh Rashid Rd, Oud Metha community, ☏ +971 4 335 9999, fax: +971 4 335 9996, [email protected]. Sa–W 10AM–11PM, Th–F 10AM–midnight. A 3 story shopping mall housing more than 150 stores. One of the oldest malls. 5 Wafi Mall & Khan Murjan Souk, Sheikh Rashid Rd, Oud Metha Rd, Umm Hurair 2 community, POBox 721 (600m from Dubai Healtcare City metro station), ☏ +971 4 324 4555, +971 4 324 5454, [email protected]. Sa–W 10AM–10PM, Th–F 10AM–midnight. Includes Marks & Spencer, Goodies. Focus is almost entirely on luxury brands, jewellery and expensive boutiques

Eat

Gharana, Sheikh Zayed Road (Al Barsha), ☏ +971 4 323 4333, [email protected]. 7PM-11:30PM. Gharana an Indian Restaurant in Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha hotel brings you flavors of various spices and herbs with live entertainment.

Budget 1 Basta Art Cafe, Bastakiya, ☏ +971 4 3535071. Set in a lovely garden courtyard in a restored house. Great place to take a breather with a cold drink and write some postcards. The sandwiches-and-salads menu is aimed squarely at tourists, but if you are sick of kebabs, they will cater to your salmon-avocado wrap and mango smoothie cravings. The "Basta Special" drink of mint and lemon is also excellent. (updated Jan 2026) 2 Gazebo, Kuwait St, ☏ +971 4 3598555, +971 4 3599712, fax: +971 4 3599713. noon-midnight. Very nice and warm welcome given by the waiters. Food as good too. Not so expensive when compared to the quality of food. (updated Jan 2026) 3 Ravi Restaurant, near Mussala Tower, ☏ +971 4 3315353. A Pakistani restaurant that provides cheap Pakistani & Indian food. Good for anyone with a spicy tooth. (updated Jan 2026) 4 Student Biryani, Kuwait St, Al Karama, ☏ +971 4 3369992, fax: +971 4 3666649. A Pakistani restaurant serving the country's most popular birya