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Discover·Dubai

Neighbourhood · Dubai

Al Fahidi

Al Fahidi is the surviving coral-and-gypsum quarter of old Dubai: lanes narrow enough to shade themselves, wind towers instead of air conditioning, and the fort at the end of it holding the city museum. It is the one part of Dubai that can only be seen on foot.

What marks it out

  • Al Fahidi Fort, 1787, and the Dubai Museum inside it
  • Wind towers, which cooled a room before electricity did
  • The abra station, and a crossing for a few fils

Getting there

Al Fahidi metro station is at the edge of it; the creek and Deira are one abra ride away.

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25.2637, 55.2977

Dubai

Experiences in this emirate

Experiences
Dubai · Arts & museums

Burj Khalifa at the hour it turns gold

828 metres, and from level 148 the desert and the sea are both in the same frame. Sunset slots go first, so book the day you decide.

90 minutesAED 179 from
Dubai · Heritage & forts

Cross the Creek by abra

A wooden boat, a bench, a coin, and the oldest working commute in the city. Spice souk on one bank, gold on the other.

20 minutesAED 1 from
Dubai · Mountains & adventure

Kayak the Hatta dam

Turquoise water held between bare Hajar rock, ninety minutes from the skyline. Go early: the wind picks up after eleven.

Half dayAED 120 from

What's on

What is on in this emirate

What's on
Shopping & city

Dubai Shopping Festival

December to January

The retail festival that reshaped the region's winter season: city-wide sales, nightly fireworks and open-air concerts.

Free entry · elements ticketed

Entry to the festival and the city-wide sales is free. The concerts and the ticketed attractions inside it are sold separately.

Dubai
Sport

Dubai World Cup

Late March

The richest day in world racing, at Meydan, and the closing night of a carnival that runs from January.

Ticketed

Enclosures and hospitality are sold by the racecourse, and the raceday fills long before the date.

Dubai