Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
4
About
A visit to the Bastakiya Quarter includes culturally significant sights, such as Dubai's oldest building (1780s), the Al Fahidi Fort, the Dubai Museum, and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU).
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Neighbourhood: Al Fahidi
How to get there
  • Al Fahidi • 9 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • AucklandWiz
    Auckland, New Zealand2,237 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    An Interesting Part Of Town With Some History
    I had read about this place and wanted to go, but found the practicality of getting to this place somewhat difficult. I was driving, the traffic was slow and congested and it was not easy to get back after making a wrong turn etc. What I did not know is there was parking underneath. So after stressing out about street parking as we did not have the app and could not pay with cash or card, and wasting so much time, I finally discovered there was a car park building underneath the old quarter. The problem had been poor signage and lack of knowledge. Once we got a secure park we were able to explore the Old Quarter. But it was extremely hot ++ and it is impossible to concentrate on shopping when the temperature is all consuming. However the architecture was interesting and it was a nice wander through the old area and was a nice contrast to all the modern glitz and glamour Prices are on the high side. For 2 AED we took the boat across the river to the Gold Souq. Incredible array of beautiful gold and other souqs there as well. Lots of haggling and trying to get you into their stores. But it all starts to look and sound the same so we did not spend much time on the Souq side of the river.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 2 March 2024
  • NICHOLAS T
    Dubai, United Arab Emirates10,916 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Different side of Dubai
    This is a quieter, older side of Dubai which many visitors may not know exists. There are some great restaurants selling Middle Eastern food, including the fantastic Arabian Tea House, and plenty of interesting installations and sights, including a replica Bedouin camp and mother and baby camel. The area is adjacent to the old Dubai Creek which is very picturesque.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 24 March 2024
  • Kamruzzaman
    Uttara, Bangladesh20 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Old Emirati life in a traditional way
    I have been to Dubai many times but never been to historic part of old Dubai. This time I made effort. Getting down from nearest metro station, I kept on walking towards Al Fahidi Historical neighbourhood. The place gave me a sense that local Dubai people is not only about glittering building, they lived a Bedouin life in tents in deserts. Coffee museum and cultural center were good to visit. Then took a boat ride across the river to go gold souk. Overall I had expected little more from the place. It stills shows concrete houses in old design. Instead, there could been tents in the desert. I would say, it’s a good to have visit, not a mystery-have visit.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 18 April 2024
  • schmidtmg
    Switzerland1,150 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dubai historical district
    If you go to Al Fahidi historical district at the moment, beware. Much of it is not accessible or closed off at the moment, as the pavements are being redone after flooding after a major rainstorm in early 2024. The historical Dubai Fort has been closed for a major refurbishment for some time, and the date of re-opening is being pushed back. You CAN GET a glimpse of how traditional local life was, but it is , at least at the moment, limited....
    Visited October 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 2 November 2024
  • amanda5805
    Duncan, Canada7,560 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great place to wander
    Located along the scenic Dubai Creek, this historic area is a perfect place to wander and get lost in its maze-like streets. The narrow alleys and traditional buildings, with their iconic wind towers, offer a glimpse into old Dubai, far from the city's modern skyline. You can easily hop on a boat across the creek to explore the Spice Souk and Gold Souk in Deira, making for a charming journey. The area is also home to cultural spots like the Dubai Museum and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, where you can learn about Emirati traditions and history.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 November 2024
  • dan_pub
    Dania Beach, Florida106 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Reconstituted "old" Dubai shuk
    Reconstituted "old" Dubai merchant streets. Well done and lots of small and medium shops, with a colorful array of souvenirs. Completely safe and pickpocket-free for a shuk. The enjoyment was rather marred by the clinginess of the salesmen aggressing us in the narrow streets.
    Visited December 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 December 2024
  • CP Sharma
    New Delhi, India459 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Historical Neighbourhood
    Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, also known as Al Fahidi District, is a historic district in Dubai, It is a restored traditional Arabic village that showcases the traditional Arabian architecture and lifestyle of the early 20th century. The neighborhood is home to several museums, Al Fahidi Museum, Coin, Daggers and Coffee museum which showcases the history and culture of Dubai. It also has restaurants serving authentic Arabian cuisine. The neighborhood features traditional Arabic buildings, including wind-tower houses, mosques, and traditional Arabian courtyards. One can comfortably spend a fulll day exploring.
    Visited January 2025
    Travelled solo
    Written 23 January 2025
  • Pavol Cvicela
    Zwickau, Germany97,229 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Quite interesting
    an old part of the city of Dubai. Here we experienced the typical markets with smells and polite vendors. You feel like in the past (Aladin fairy tale), even though the district is only 7 years old. Nearby is the BurJuman Metro stop.
    Visited January 2025
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles1,229 reviews
Excellent
508
Very good
515
Average
162
Poor
33
Terrible
11

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Nelson
Newmarket, Canada71 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
I really enjoyed my time through this neighborhood as it showed a lot of how old life was before oil in this part of the world. You learn about the architecture, trade, culture and lifestyles of the locals in this place. There are many museums, people in bikes that sell cheap water/snacks, and very beautiful architecture that will impress you through every corner. Visiting this place was one of my highlights in Dubai, but I did not take any special tours. The tours seemed to be very expensive, and I think that there are a lot of signs in English/Arabic that can educate you free of charge if you know these languages. I am a student so I was able to go into the museums free of charge as well, but I understand that was a privilege not everyone will have. The museums were very great! I recommend visiting them even if they charge per admission.

Overall I really recommend this place. Dedicate a day to it and bring sunscreen as there is a lot of walking and not too many places with shade. Also bring cash.
Written 12 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Culture09
Singapore, Singapore17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
It’s a beautiful quiet place. It seemed that time stood still there. There were many little souvenir shops but we found a shop which was so reasonable. I would never have thought that a tourist spot would have a reasonably priced shop but there it was! The staff there was very honest and friendly. We roamed literally the whole of Dubai and saw the same stuff but they were all so expensive so we returned back to this shop to buy souvenirs for family and friends. Next to this shop there is a shop which sells spices , perfumes and Alladin Lamps, again the cheapest we have seen. We bought plenty of Alladin Lamps too.
Written 11 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MilesdeMillas
108 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
If you want to see some of the skyscrapers and shopping centers, take a walk around the place. In some of the renovated traditional houses there are museums dedicated to culture and traditions, for example perfume, jewelry, etc. By the way, we found the two women who explained the topics to us very nice. It is also next to the canal, and nearby there is a souk for tourists and a couple of cafes on the banks of the canal where the shade and an ice cream are pleasant.
Google
Written 24 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TravelingSoccerLoon
Saint Paul, MN7,941 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
Preserved historic neighborhood dating back to the 1890s that was saved from the wrecking ball in the 1980s and is now restored. We wandered through the narrow alleys of the neighborhood after visiting the re-created Al Seef shopping and dining complex and before taking an Abra across Dubai Creek to the Gold and Spice Souks across the water. We just strolled through and enjoyed it but to be honest there didn't seem like a lot to do. With that said, there are several art galleries and a coffee museum that can be visited. Al Fahidi Fort and the Dubai Museum is also nearby.
Written 24 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Simona B
Genoa, Italy10,092 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Located along the Creek and also known as Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, it is a small oasis of peace and tranquility away from the glitz of modern Dubai, and is the oldest area of the city. Dating back to the 19th century, when Dubai was still a small fishing and pearl trading centre, and restored in 2005, it is now an area dedicated to preserving the culture and history of the Emirates. It is very pleasant to walk in this area, among traditional houses built in coral, stone, mud and wood with beautiful internal courtyards, once the homes of rich Persian merchants, and which today host art galleries, museums, restaurants and cafés. And then get lost among the narrow and winding streets, admiring the characteristic Barjeels, the Wind Towers, a typical example of Emirati architecture, square-plan towers built in stone, plaster, teak and sandalwood, whose function was to channel the air currents and convey them inside the homes, the oldest air conditioning system. It is absolutely worth a visit and a stop for lunch or dinner, in fact in this area there are several traditional restaurants where you can taste authentic Emirati cuisine.
Google
Written 11 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Queenies of Queenstown
Melbourne, Australia356 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
We went to the historic area via a water boat late in the afternoon. I actually lived wandering the streets and they were quiet quaint. My only complaint or ick was that there is a Starbucks there which I think personally ruined the whole vibe of the area. There are some streets that are totally empty aside from some Instagram worthy items throughout and others were there are market stalls. I did see a hotel there and the trip home to Jumeriah was quite a quick trip around 20 minutes. The water taxi was 2 AED pp and we did see plenty of other boats just going up and down the river. If coming here make sure you get dropped on this side of the river as it’s easy access whereas we were dropped off on the Souk side and the walk was tiring and you’re getting haggled every step of the way
Written 15 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

zuv
Bucharest, Romania40,264 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
A neighborhood where you can get an idea of what Dubai used to look like. Traditional houses (not very attractive), narrow and winding streets. Right at the entrance is a pen with two camels (mother and cub). There are a few small museums, not very spectacular, souvenir shops, a small hotel. Also here you can find "Local House", a restaurant where you can eat camel meat. But their chef did not impress me.
Written 20 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Μάριος
Nicosia, Cyprus57 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is a nice place to visit for anyone who wants to experience the old way of life in Dubai. The neighbourhood dates back to the mid 19th century and has been preserved and restored to showcase the traditional buildings, wind towers, alleys and squares that were once home to the merchants and traders of the city. You can wander around the neighbourhood and discover various cultural activities, museums, art galleries and events that celebrate the rich history and diversity of Dubai. You can also visit the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, where you can learn more about the Emirati culture, religion and customs. Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is a place where you can immerse yourself in the past and appreciate the contrast with modern Dubai. It is a unique and memorable experience that I would recommend.
Written 6 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TravelingSoccerLoon
Saint Paul, MN7,941 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
Interesting historic district of Dubai dating back to the 1890s. Also known as the Al Fahidi Neighborhood. Several small museums and cafes in the district. Nearby is the Al Fahidi Fort and Dubai Museum and Dubai Creek where you can take an Abra across the river to explore the Old Souk. Al Seef along Dubai Creek is also nearby and worth exploring.
Written 27 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jerrold613
21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022
While in Dubai, spend some time walking through the Al Fahidi district. You can visit the philately museum, the coin museum, the coffee museum, and other such points of interest. It is not far from the Abra station, and other points of interest in Dubai. Very easy to visit solo -- one does not need a tour guide.
Written 22 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 693
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

AL FAHIDI HISTORICAL NEIGHBOURHOOD (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

All Dubai HotelsDubai Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in DubaiHotels near Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
All things to do in Dubai
Day Trips in DubaiAmusement Parks in Dubai
RestaurantsFlightsHoliday HomesTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire