Places like Dubai Marina and Burj Khalifa have been heard of by those who have just arrived in Dubai and those who have never been to the UAE before. But this is only a small part of the interesting sights of the city! Dubai is a true oriental treasure trove, which every time opens in a new way.
In this article we will tell you about less known, but very interesting places in Dubai, which are far from the paths traveled by tourists and definitely deserve your attention.
Deira neighborhood
This neighborhood will give you a different Dubai! Instead of dizzying skyscrapers and futuristic architecture, you will see a traditional oriental city. The spice and gold market, the inviting vendors, the atmosphere of an oriental bazaar — all of this will greet you in Deira. The local gold market (Gold Souk) is guaranteed to amaze with its scale — you've hardly ever seen so much precious metal, and the Spice Souk opens with a kaleidoscope of spicy aromas.
Deira is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, which sits along Dubai Creek. To sail from one canal to the other, take a traditional dhow boat for an even more atmospheric stroll through the neighborhood. By the way, a boat ticket costs just AED 1, but the experience is immeasurably more.
Once here, don't miss the Women's Museum of the Arab World. You'll learn about prominent women in the history of the Middle East, their role in the development of local culture, business, politics and social life. Deira is also a foodie's find. There is a huge number of international restaurants here, from Middle Eastern to South Asian, which we will tell you about in this article.
How to get there?
You need to get to Union Station subway station, next to where the pier is located. If your goal is the Gold Market, it will be more convenient to get off at Al Ras Station.
Al Fahidi Historical District (Bastakiya)
Next door to the Deira district is another amazing place where time seems to have stood still — the Bastakiya district. Here you can see architectural examples of the mid-19th century, Al Fahidi Fort, which houses the Dubai Museum, as well as some of the most notable structures of those times — wind towers made of stones, plaster, palm and sandalwood.
The beautifully preserved old buildings are now home to museums, art venues and local restaurants. The Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding. Among the museums located here is the Coins Museum, where you can learn about the formation of monetary systems around the world, including Middle Eastern countries.
Coffee lovers should definitely visit the local Coffee museum, which has an amazingly interesting exposition telling about the history of this noble drink and traditions of its preparation in different countries, and you can complete the experience with a cup of aromatic coffee in the cafe at the museum.
Before you head out to explore Al Fahidi, we highly recommend checking out the Dubai Calendar — you may well catch an interesting event, such as the Sikka Art Fair or Heritage Week.
How to get there?
Take the Al Fahidi metro station and from there walk for another 10-15 minutes.
Al Quoz neighborhood and Alserkal Art Quarter
Formerly an unremarkable industrial area, this is now the heart of Dubai's cultural scene. At first, wandering through the industrial district you'll think your GPS is out of tune, but soon you'll find a cultural oasis among the hangars, with cafes, co-working spaces, showrooms of local and international brands, galleries, bookstores and artists' studios.
Alserkal Avenue is part of the Al Quoz neighborhood, but we want to tell you about it separately. The art complex started in 2008 — with the opening of the first 20 galleries. Now it is a huge creative space, where such large-scale events as Art Dubai Fair and Art Nights festival take place. In total, Alserkal Avenue now features 40 art venues, half of which work in the format of a permanent exhibition.
Special mention should be made of the Salsali Private Museum, the region's first museum of contemporary art from the Middle East, and the Ayyam Gallery, a Syrian-born gallery that was one of the first to open a branch on Alserkal Avenue. Connoisseurs of vintage cars should also check out the Nostalgia Classic Cars Gallery.
How to get there?
We recommend taking a cab to Noor Black metro station and from there take a cab to Al Quoz.
Kite Beach
Everyone has heard of JBR and La Mer beaches, but the list of Dubai beaches doesn't end there. If you prefer a less touristy spot, head to Kite Beach. It has clean, soft sand and a well thought-out infrastructure: showers, sun beds and umbrellas, fitness equipment, a food court, an inflatable slide and even a rope park. There is a promenade along the beach, which makes this place convenient for walking and jogging.
Kite Beach lives up to its name: there are really good chances to catch a wave here, that's why this beach is favored by kitesurfers, besides, it offers an amazing view of the famous Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel. Cool photos are guaranteed!
How to get there?
Take a cab to Al Safa station and then transfer to a cab.
Ras Al Khor Nature Reserve
Create an oasis right in the middle of the desert and populate it with a population of 20,000 exotic birds? No problem! Located within the city limits, Ras Al Khor Nature Reserve was established in 1985 to protect one of the most important places on the map of seasonal bird migration, and in 2007 UNESCO included it in the list of World Heritage Sites. Every year, tens of thousands of birds from Europe and Africa come here to winter.
There are three observation points for watching birds on the territory of the reserve. Here you can see great white and gray herons, sandpipers, cormorants, but the greatest interest of tourists is caused by flamingos. If you come to the reserve closer to the opening or closing, you can even catch the process of feeding these graceful birds.
Entrance to the territory of Ras Al Khor is free, but note that it does not work every day, but only from Saturday to Thursday from 9:00 to 16:00.
How to get there?
The best way to get to the reserve is to drive your own car or take a cab to the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station.
Global Village
Want to travel the world without leaving Dubai? Then you should visit Global Village, a huge fairground complex divided into themed zones.
There are also 25 pavilions on the territory ofand the complex, where you can buy products from more than 75 countries: argan oil from Morocco, exotic dried fruits from Thailand and spices from Oman. To complete this kaleidoscope of experiences, be sure to check out the local cafes and restaurants, where cuisines from all over the world are represented. Tickets to the fair cost AED 15..
How to get here?
From Rashidiya Metro Station, you can get here by bus number 102, and from Mall of the Emirates by bus number 106.
Hatta
Hatta, a mountainous enclave of Dubai, is located 130 km southeast of Dubai, on the border with Oman. The small town at the foot of the Hajar Mountains not only impresses with the beauty of natural landscapes, it also has historical value.
You can learn about the 200-year cultural and historical heritage of Hatta by visiting the ancient Juma Mosque, the Hatta Fort (Hatta Fort) watchtowers of the XIX century, as well as the cultural and ethnographic open-air museum Hatta Heritage Village.
Outdoor enthusiasts can go hiking on mountain trails of varying degrees of difficulty, hike around Hatta Dam Lake, visit the Hatta Honey Bee Garden or go mountain biking at the Hatta Wadi Hub.
How to get there.
You can get to Hatta by booking a tour with one of the tour operators or on your own. The most optimal route from Dubai is via the E102 highway (Sharjah-Kalba Road) and the E611 highway (Emirates Road).
Keep in mind that you will have to take a long road to bypass Oman, as the border checkpoint is closed. But don't be disheartened: all the way you will be surrounded by incredible landscapes — the dunes of Rub El Khali and the beauty of the Hajar Mountains.
