Bur Dubai district
Bur Dubai
25.2631, 55.2972 The historic heart of the city on the western bank of Dubai Creek, with museums and old quarters.
About the district
Bur Dubai is the historic part of the city on the western bank of Dubai Creek. This is exactly where Dubai began as a trading port, and today it preserves the atmosphere of the old town: narrow streets, traditional markets, museums and a waterfront with abra boats.
The area is densely populated and multinational — it is home to a large Indian and Pakistani community, with affordable cafés and fabric shops. Bur Dubai is ideal for getting to know the 'real' Dubai that contrasts with the skyscrapers of Downtown.
The charm of Bur Dubai lies in its contrasts: in five minutes you can move from shopping centres to narrow lanes lined with fabric shops and the smell of spices. Tourists come here for the museums and old quarters, and in the evening for the cheap and tasty food in Indian and Arab cafés.
District photos
Фото: Unsplash
Who the district suits
Lovers of history and local colour on a budget — museums, old quarters and authentic food.
+ Pros
- ✓The historic core of the city and its museums
- ✓An abra across the creek for a couple of dirhams
- ✓Affordable hotels and restaurants
- ✓The green metro line
− Cons
- •Crowded and noisy
- •Run-down in places
- •Little of the 'glossy' Dubai
- •Hot without wide waterfront promenades
How much Bur Dubai costs
Price benchmarks — from a cup of coffee to renting a home — to estimate your district budget.
Prices are approximate and depend on season and conditions — verify before your trip.
District on the map
Interactive satellite map — zoom and pan to explore the area.
District infrastructure
Transport access
Things to do in the district
The Fort and Dubai Museum
Al Fahidi, the oldest fortress, in the heart of Bur Dubai
Al Fahidi quarter
Wind towers, galleries and atmospheric coffee houses
Textile market
Meena Bazaar — fabrics, souvenirs and haggling
Abra crossing
A traditional boat to Deira for ~1 AED
Old streets
A Hindu temple and multinational quarters
Where to stay
Mövenpick Hotel Bur Dubai
5★A comfortable hotel in the centre of the old town
Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa
4★Opposite the Al Fahidi Fort
Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai
4★A business hotel by the creek
2–3★ hotels
BudgetA wide choice of budget accommodation
Where to eat
Arabian Tea House
Emirati cuisine in the green courtyard of Al Fahidi
Meena Bazaar
Indian and Pakistani cuisine of the quarters
Govinda's
Vegetarian Indian cuisine
Street food of the lanes
Affordable food of various cuisines
Notable places nearby
Culture Квартал Аль-Фахиди
Al Fahidi Historical NeighbourhoodСтарейший сохранившийся квартал Дубая с лабиринтом узких улочек, домами из коралла и глины и характерными ветроуловителями (барджиль).
Tip: Приходите рано утром или ближе к закату — днём в узких переулках жарко и почти нет тени.
Culture Spice Souk
Spice SoukA colourful spice market in Deira with saffron, tea, incense, nuts and dried fruit.
Tip: Taste before you buy and haggle — it is perfectly normal here.
Culture Gold Souk
Gold SoukA famous gold market in Deira with hundreds of jewellery shops, where haggling is the norm.
Tip: The price is made up of the weight of the metal plus the workmanship — haggle, the first price is always inflated.
Entertainment Museum of Illusions
Museum of IllusionsИнтерактивный музей оптических иллюзий и головоломок в историческом районе Аль-Сиф у Дубайской бухты.
Tip: Берите телефон или камеру — почти все экспонаты созданы для забавных фото.
Government institutions nearby
Consulates, migration centres, police and city authorities closest to Bur Dubai.
Related articles
Frequently asked questions about Bur Dubai district
What to see in Bur Dubai?+
The Dubai Museum in the Al Fahidi Fort, the historic Al Fahidi quarter, the textile market and the creek waterfront with abra crossings.
How do you get from Bur Dubai to Deira?+
The most atmospheric way is to cross Dubai Creek on a traditional abra boat, which costs about 1 dirham.
Is it an old or a new district of Dubai?+
Bur Dubai is one of the oldest districts of the city, the historic core of Dubai on the western bank of the Creek.