Explore Dubai

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, also called Al Bastakiya, is the restored old quarter of Bur Dubai on Dubai Creek, with houses from the mid-19th century onwards built of coral stone, gypsum, teak and palm wood and topped by wind towers. Its narrow lanes and courtyards now hold small museums, art galleries, cafés and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.

Dubai Spice Souk is a traditional market of narrow lanes in Al Ras, Deira, on Baniyas Street beside the Gold Souk and near the Old Souk abra station on Dubai Creek. Open-fronted shops sell spices, dried herbs and flowers, frankincense, saffron, tea, textiles and household goods, and most trade is done by bargaining.

Dubai Creek is a saltwater inlet of the Persian Gulf that divides Bur Dubai from Deira and has served the city as a port for trade and fishing since its founding. Wooden abras carry passengers between the stations on both banks, cargo dhows load at the Deira wharves, and walkways run past Al Fahidi, Al Seef and the old souks.

Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House is the former residence of Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum, ruler of Dubai from 1912 to 1958, built around 1896 in Al Shindagha at the mouth of Dubai Creek. The two-storey house has wind towers, carved wooden screens and rooms around courtyards, and was restored as a museum of photographs, coins, stamps and documents of old Dubai.

Al Shindagha Museum is a heritage museum run by Dubai Culture in the historic Al Shindagha neighbourhood on the Dubai Creek. It occupies a group of restored traditional houses: one tells the story of the creek and its trade through artefacts and archive photographs, and the Perfume House shows how Emirati perfumes and oils were made.

Queen Elizabeth 2 is a British ocean liner built by John Brown & Company on the Clyde and launched in 1967, which sailed for the Cunard Line from 1969 to 2008. Moored at Mina Rashid in Bur Dubai, it reopened in 2018 as a floating hotel; the Legacy Tour leads through recreated rooms such as a passenger cabin and the captain's quarters, with original artefacts.

Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is a wetland reserve of about 10 km² at the head of Dubai Creek, declared a protected area in 1998 and managed by Dubai Municipality. Mangroves, mudflats and lagoons draw greater flamingos, herons and other migratory birds, which visitors watch from three bird hides on the edge of the fenced reserve.

Sharjah Fort, or Al Hisn, is a coral-stone fort in the Heart of Sharjah that was the seat of government and residence of the ruling Al Qasimi family. Built in the early 19th century and largely demolished in 1970, it was rebuilt from 1996 and holds a museum with photographs, weapons, a jail cell and the rooms of the ruling family.