Bur Dubai

It all started in Bur Dubai, the oldest neighbourhood in the city. Long before Dubai transformed into an urban metropolis, this area to the west of Dubai Creek was the site of the city’s original settlement.

While the settlement continued to expand inland, the creek remained as Bur Dubai’s anchor, with dhows mooring along its banks to load and unload the goods which drove Dubai’s growth as a trading hub. And despite the development of modern ports for huge ships, the shores of Bur Dubai continue to see dhows arrive laden with everything from textiles to technology.

Because of its age and history, Bur Dubai is a dense blend of residential and commercial areas, with narrow streets and busy squares – making it a great place to explore for a taste of Old Dubai. The neighbourhood is also home to consulates, a temple and the Ruler’s Court, making it a major cultural hub for Dubai as well.

The best thing to do in Bur Dubai, if the weather is right, is to go for a walk. Bur Dubai is one of the most walkable areas in the city – in fact, it’s often faster than driving. A stroll through the neighbourhood lets you experience its lively atmosphere at your own pace.

A great walking route starts at Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood – see below for more about this heritage area – then takes you towards the mouth of Dubai Creek. Keep following the path, and you’ll pass through the Textile Souk – stick to the shore of the creek, and you can watch the boats chug along the water and the birds fly overhead as you go.

As the creek curves around you’ll reach Al Shindagha, and a perfect point to stop for a break; enjoy a meal at Bait Al Jeyran (or see below for more suggestions of great places to dine in Bur Dubai). Then you can carry on further along the creek – or cut inland and head to the Queen Elizabeth 2, once the world’s most renowned cruise ship, and now a permanently moored attraction in Dubai’s Port Rashid.

The redeveloped creekside district of Al Seef is another easy-to-walk area, and packed with great shops and restaurants, with the fascinating Museum of Illusions nearby – or for more mindblowing immersive entertainment don't miss AYA at Wafi Mall. To enjoy some greenery, head to Creek Park – then to Al Boom Tourist Village, for an experience aboard a traditional dhow.

A must-do activity in Bur Dubai is taking the abra across the creek to Deira. You can catch abras (traditional wooden boats) at a few different points along the creekside – and while you can always hop straight back on to return to Bur Dubai (especially as the fare is only AED1 per person), why not continue your exploration of the city on the other side of the creek?

A small but perfectly-preserved area just by the creek, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood captures the essence of Dubai as it was before the boom times. Here you can explore narrow alleys, walking between buildings topped with distinctive Arabian wind towers – an early but surprisingly effective method of cooling.

Throughout Al Fahidi you’ll find more than 50 houses, some of them empty (and great for snapping pics), others occupied by working artists or artisans, who often give demonstrations of their craft – make sure you see the Calligraphy House (Dar Al Khatt). And make time to stop and contemplate the world in one of the many shaded courtyards – a perfect respite from the city’s normal bustle.

You can also find places such as the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU), where you can learn about Emirati traditions and culture through tours and meals. Then why not enjoy some regional art and a cup of coffee at XVA Gallery – or, speaking of coffee, head to the Coffee Museum to learn about this traditional beverage.

There are plenty more museums in Bur Dubai, including Al Shindagha Museum, which tells the story of the growth of Dubai, and has a multimedia experience dedicated to Dubai Creek. Nearby is the Perfume House, where you can explore the role of scents in local culture – and further up the creek is Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum’s house, preserved to show how life used to be in Dubai.

Dubai is famous for shopping, and it all started in the city’s souks – traditional covered markets. One of the most famous of these is Bur Dubai’s Textile Souk, where dozens of merchants show off all sorts of fabrics, from workaday cotton to the finest silks.

The Textile Souk is a great place to pick up a souvenir or some clothing – or you can go a step further and get a custom garment made with your choice of material by one of the area’s skilled tailors. Don’t be afraid to shop around and haggle (and make sure you get the quality you need), and you can come back from your trip to Dubai with some stunning bespoke items.

Another great shopping destination is Meena Bazaar, often known as Dubai’s “Little India”. Here you can find all sorts of things from South Asia, including fashion, food, perfumes, spices and more – along with jewellery at the famed Meena Jewellers.

Elsewhere in Bur Dubai you can find shopping malls including BurJuman, home of high-end fashion and other mall staples, the Egyptian-themed Wafi, and “Computer Plaza” (real name the Al Ain Centre), where you can find pretty much any tech-related product you can think of. There’s plenty more shopping to be found in Bur Dubai, especially in the crowded streets near the creek – so make time to explore if you’re after a bargain.

Once you’ve explored Dubai’s cultural heritage at Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, enjoy a taste of the city’s culinary heritage at the area’s restaurants. Arabian Tea House serves, yes, tea, as well as snacks and delicious Emirati cuisine – also the speciality of Local House, based in the oldest building in Al Fahidi. Meanwhile, Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant is featured on Dubai's 2023 Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand list and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in traditional Emirati style in Al Fahidi.

Next to the creek, near the entrance to the Textile Souk, sits Mazmi Casa. This boutique hotel with a renowned café is run by an Emirati-Italian couple, who bring the best of both cultures to their dishes. At the other end of the Textile Souk, Bayt Al Wakeel offers Lebanese cuisine, along with a splendid maritime museum.

Only a little way down the creek, Al Seef is one of Bur Dubai’s culinary hotspots, with dozens of great restaurants to choose from, and a fantastic view over Dubai Creek. Some highlights include Doors Freestyle Grill for steaks, Greek and Mediterranean food at Skafos, Al Fanar’s seafood, stunning views from SOL Sky Bar – and possibly the only Starbucks in the world with a thatched roof.

Elsewhere in Bur Dubai you can find Al Ustad Special Kabab, famed for its affordable and delicious Persian cuisine in a no-frills setting. But if you’re wanting to show off a bit, head to Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor near Port Rashid, or the celebrity Indian chef’s other Dubai outlet, Sanjeev Kapoor’s Khazana near Al Nasr.

Not far from Al Nasr is Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk, which is home to some of Dubai’s best restaurants, including Brasserie Boulud for French gastronomy, Taiko serving contemporary Asian dishes and Bijou Patisserie for fine pastries and other goodies. You can also find fine-dining options at Raffles Dubai, such as Italian food at Solo and authentic Japanese cuisine at Tomo.

If you’re planning to stay in Bur Dubai, you can take the opportunity to experience some of Dubai’s best boutique hotels. Mazmi Casa, located right next to Dubai Creek and the Textile Souk, is set in one of the area’s traditional buildings, with each room offering a unique experience and view.

XVA Art Hotel is based within Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, blending the area’s heritage with contemporary work from regional artists throughout the hotel. And Al Seef Heritage Hotel, part of Hilton’s Curio collection, is also based in a series of traditional houses, and offers the best of heritage and international hotel chain service.

And floating just off the coast of Bur Dubai, permanently docked at Port Rashid, is the Queen Elizabeth 2 – once the pride of Cunard’s cruiseship fleet, and now a four-star hotel. Fully refurbished but with its mid-century period charm retained, staying aboard the QE2 offers you a little slice of maritime history.

Bur Dubai also has some great five-star hotels to choose from. Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk, as its name suggests, is in a striking obelisk-shaped tower rising above the neighbourhood. For a different take on Egyptian architectural styles, the nearby Raffles Hotel takes its pyramid design from Wafi City mall, to which it’s attached.

Grand Hyatt Dubai is one of the city’s most striking hotels, with its curving buildings designed to form the word “Dubai” when seen from above. Its recently-developed sister property, Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights, is less striking but no less luxurious.

If you want to be close to Al Fahidi, the four-star Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa is a great choice, while Canopy by Hilton Dubai Al Seef is ideal for the redeveloped Al Seef area. And Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Al Mina offers the same Hilton service close to Port Rashid.

There are also comfortable four-star properties from international chains such as Accor, with the Mercure Gold Hotel Al Mina Road and Novotel Bur Dubai. And Hyatt Place Dubai Jumeirah and Element Al Mina by Marriott offer all the amenities you would expect from their brands.

In the heart of Bur Dubai’s residential area you can find a trio of four-star sister hotel apartment properties – Savoy Suites, Savoy Crest and Savoy Park – along with plenty of other aparthotels in the area. These can be ideal if you need to cook and wash, or for longer stays. 

There are plenty of budget hotel options in Bur Dubai, with the area being one of the best for cheaper hotel stays in the city. Offerings from some bigger names include Hampton by Hilton Dubai Al Seef, Aloft Al Mina from Marriott and Howard Johnson by Wyndham Bur Dubai – with good independent options including Majestic City Retreat Hotel, Fortune Atrium Hotel and Omega Hotel.

By public transport: Bur Dubai is very well-served by public transport, with both the Red and Green Dubai Metro lines passing through the area, along with plenty of bus routes. Al Ghubaiba is a major transport hub, incorporating a metro, bus and water transport station. To reach Bur Dubai by metro, catch a Red Line train and get off at BurJuman – from here you can change to the Green Line, or exit to reach the heart of Bur Dubai.

You can also catch Dubai Ferry to and from Bur Dubai, with ferry services departing from Al Ghubaiba Marine Transport Station. And the traditional abras cross Dubai Creek between Bur Dubai and Deira constantly, for a fare of just AED1 per person. For more information on all Bur Dubai public transport routes, check out the RTA's website.

By car: Bur Dubai is linked to most of Dubai’s main highways, including E11, which enters Bur Dubai from Garhoud Bridge and continues through Trade Centre Roundabout to become Sheikh Zayed Road. Part of E11 is known as Sheikh Rashid Road, and this highway continues into Bur Dubai as D75, which runs all the way to Port Rashid. Dubai’s main intra-city coastal road, D92, runs through Bur Dubai, connecting it with Jumeirah to the west and Deira on the other side of Dubai Creek, via the Infinity Bridge.

Be aware that, due to the narrow streets in parts of the city near Dubai Creek, traffic in Bur Dubai can be slow, especially at rush hour. At these times you may find public transport faster.

By taxi: As a busy commercial and residential area, taxis are easy to find across Bur Dubai, and all taxi drivers will be familiar with the area’s landmarks. If you’re headed to a specific point within some of Bur Dubai’s residential areas, it’s best to check the route with your driver first, to make sure they know where to go.