Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Sikkat al-Khail St; Al-Ras)
Steps from the Deira Old Souq
abra
station, the guttural sing-
song of Arabic bounces around the lanes of the small, covered
Spice Souq
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(Btwn Baniyas Rd, Al-Sabkha Rd & Al-Abra St)
as vendors work hard on you to un-
load aromatic frankincense, dried lemons, chillies, exotic herbs and spices. A stroll away,
on and around Sikkat al-Khail St, awaits the enormous
Gold Souq
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(Sikkat al-Khail St, btwn Souq Deira & Old Baladiya Sts)
whose stores overflow with
every kind of jewellery imaginable - tasteful diamond earrings to over-the-top golden In-
dian wedding necklaces. Bonus: the people-watching. You'll see everyone from touts
hawking knock-off watches to hard-working Afghan guys dragging heavy carts of goods,
to African women in colourful kaftans.
Wrap up a souq tour in the 'fragrant' but fabulous
Fish Market
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(off Al Khaleej Rd)
where you'll observe vendors and customers haggling
wildly over shrimp the size of bananas, metre-long kingfish and other wriggling wares.
The
fruit and vegetable souq
next door isn't nearly as exciting but great for stocking up on
bargain-priced produce. Note that the current fish market was scheduled to reopen in a
brand-new facility opposite Dubai Hospital, some 2¼km further east on Al Khaleej Rd, in
2014.
OPEN DOORS, OPEN MINDS
Such is the enlightened motto of the
Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
353 6666;
www.cultures.ae
; Al Mussalah Rd, eastern edge of Al
Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood; centre free, breakfast/lunch Dh60/70; 8am-6pm Sun-Thu, 9am-1pm Sun;
Al Fahidi) , a unique institution founded by Sheikh Mohammed in 1995 to build bridges between cultures
and help visitors and expats understand the traditions and customs of the UAE. Aside from guided tours of the Al
Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and Jumeirah Mosque, the centre also hosts a hugely popular
Cultural Break-
fast
(admission Dh60; 10am Mon & Wed) and a
Cultural Lunch
(admission Dh70; 1pm Sun & Thu)
where you get a chance to meet, ask questions of and exchange ideas with nationals while tasting delicious
homemade Emirati food. Book ahead.
TOP OF CHAPTER
1
Downtown Dubai
Burj Khalifa is the crowning glory of Dubai's new vibrant and urban centre that is also
home to key tourist sites and prestigious five-star hotels, restaurants and bars.
