Dubai is much more than skyscrapers, luxury and modernity. Dubai is also tradition and culture, represented in all its glory by the Deira district, the oldest in the city. The history of the city begins in this district, full of souks and the everyday life.
Certainly, if you want to discover a full Dubai and from all points of view, a stroll through this neighborhood is a must. Its souks are, in fact, its main attraction. You shoud definitely get lost in the Gold Souk, consisting of some 300 jewelery stores with history, competing with one another, so it is important to have enough time if you want to buy some jewelry at the best price. These stores are the reason that Dubai is known as the “City of Gold”.
The “Spice Souk” or the “Old Souk of Deira,” is another that one should not miss. The traveler can find it guided by smell. Once in the souk, it is recommended to get lost in its tiny streets and enjoy the variety of colors, flavors and scents of hundreds of spices, dry fruit and condiments. And yet, tourism has made this souk expand, and it now offers from shoes to electronics items.
Besides visiting the souks, Deira is the nightlife area, mainly attended by the locals themselves and less focused on international tourism. A must visit if you want to experience a typically local night, without focus on foreign tourism.
Deira is undoubtedly the historical and traditional district of Dubai. Among the noteworthy features of the district is also the Clock Tower, built in the 60s, which was the start symbol of the power of the emirate. The clock is the first step on land between Deira and Bur Dubai, the other historic neighborhood located on the other side of the Dubai Creek, a natural river that goes inside the ground for about 10 kilometers.
If you want to enjoy Deira, we recommend going through the Dubai Creek onboard an adra, a typical boat that transports people between the two sides. Definitely a different touch to the most traditional district of the city.
Where to stay:
- BlueBay Black Stone****, in the district of Deira, to enjoy the more traditional Dubai.
- Armada BlueBay****, in the modern JLT area. Cross Deira over Dubai Creek onboard an adra.
