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 Al Boom Tourist Village
Adjacent
to Creekside Park, the village consists of a 2,000 seat
banquet hall, a coffee shop, restaurant, amusement park,
ornamental lake and a marina with five cruise boats. Its
traditional architecture forms a stately city landmark.
Located next to Wonderland Family Fun Park. It is open 7 days.
Timings: 9am-1am. Entertainment includes evening boat cruises
with dinner served. Tel: 3243000
Archaeological
Sites
You can visit the excavation sites at Al Ghusais,
Al Sufooh and Jumeirah where you will find arte facts from the
seventh to 15th centuries.
Bait Al
Wakeel
Built in 1934 by the late Sheikh Rashid, Bait Al
Wakeel was Dubai's first office building. At the edge of the
Creek near the abra landing, the building has been completely
restored and now houses a museum devoted to Dubai's fishing
and maritime traditions.
Bastakiya
The old
Bastakiya district with its narrow lanes and tall wind-towers
gives a tantalizing glimpse of old Dubai. Immediately to the
east of Al Fahidi Fort is the largest concentration of
traditional courtyard houses with windtowers.
In the
past, the city was famous for a mass of windtowers which lined
the Creek on either side. These were not merely decorative;
they were the only means of cooling houses in the days before
electricity.
Bedouin Village
Some local tour
operators offer the opportunity to visit Bedouin village
outside Dubai. This provides an experience of the traditional
desert way of life and may include camel-riding lessons. Those
who want a desert safari experience with a difference may
choose to stay at Al Maha, a unique luxury resort set in 3,300
acres of dunes off the highway between blankets, rugs, beads
and a variety of other rural wares spread on the ground.
Owners urge jockeys on to the finish line while trainers
speedily follow the races in fourwheel drives which plough
through the dust of the inside track. The atmosphere is
contagious!
Burj Nahar
One of three
watchtowers guarding the old city, the restored Burj Nahar in
its picturesque gardens in Deira is popular with
photographers.
Deira Covered Souk
(District)
Naif Road, Dubai
The main market in Dubai;
well worth a wander and a barter.
Dubai
Creek
Lined by dhows, the Creek offers a picturesque
glimpse of Dubai's trading heritage. It can crossed by 'abra'
(water taxi) and tour operators offer day or night
cruises.
 Dubai Museum
Al Fahidi Fort, which
houses the Dubai Museum, is another imposing building. It once
guarded the city's landlord approaches. Built around 1799, it
has served variously as palace, garrison and prison.
It
was renovated in 1970 for use as a museum; further restoration
and the addition of galleries was completed in 1995. Colorful
and evocative dioramas, complete with life-size figures and
sound and lighting effects, vividly depict everyday life in
pre-oil days. Galleries rescenes from the Creek, traditional
Arab houses, mosques, the souk, date gardens, desert and
marine life. One of the most spectacular exhibits portrays the
underwater world of pearl-diving, and is accompanied by sets
of pearl merchants' weights, scales and sieves.
Also on
display are artifacts such as fine copper, alabaster and
pottery objects found in 3,000-4,000 year-old graves at Al
Ghusais. The main fort is a fascinating military museum.
The Dubai Museum is open daily from 8.30am - 8.30pm,
except Fridays: 3pm-8.30pm. Tel: 3531862
Dubai World
Trade Centre
Rising 39 floors above the city, the Dubai
World Trade Center's office tower houses the regional
headquarters of many of the world's largest
corporations.
 Alongside, a modern conference centre and
seven exhibition halls host an active programme of
international trade fairs that attract exhibitors and visitors
from all over the world. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic view
of the city from the tower's viewing deck, a favorite of
photographers. (Guided tours operate twice daily at 9.30am and
4.30pm, except on public holidays.).
Gold
Souk
Dubai boasts one of the largest retail gold
markets in the world, selling everything from ingots to
intricately worked jewellery at bargain prices. The
street-front stores hide alleys of smaller shops with
glittering show windows.
Grand
Mosque
Situated on the Bur Dubai side of the Creek near
the Ruler's Court, Grand Mosque was re-built in 1998 and now
has, at 70 metres, the city's tallest minaret. It has 45 small
domes in addition to nine large ones boasting stained glass
panels, making it a distinguished landmark and important place
of worship.
Hatta
In the foothills of the
majestic Hajjar mountains, Hatta is a comfortable resort,
ideal for a weekend getaway. The historic Hatta fort overlooks
the town. The area is a much frequented picnic spot, and is
about one hours drive from Dubai.
Heritage and
Diving Village
A traditional heritage village, located
in the Shindagah area has been created where potters and
weavers display their crafts. The Diving village forms part of
an ambitious plan to turn the entire area into a cultural
microcosm, recreating life in Dubai as it was in days gone by.
Located near the mouth of the creek, this area is also popular
in the evenings as a venue for its open-air cafeterias and
live entertainment. Several shops also sell handicrafts. No
entrance fees. Tel: 3937151
Jumeira
Mosque
Located on Al Jumeira Road this mosque, one of
the most beautiful of all, and a fine example of modern
Islamic architecture. The beauty of the mosque, the city's
largest, is seen at its very best particularly when floodlit
after sundown, when the subtle lighting throws its artistry
into relief. The mosque is one of the most visited and
photographed sights. Tours are at 10am every Sunday and
Thursday mornings. For Tour information, contact the Sheikh
Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, which is open 8am
- 3pm, Sat-Wed. Tel: 3447755
 Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum
House (Museum)
Port Rashid, Dubai
Shaikh Saeed was
the grandfather of the present ruler and his house has been
restored as a museum. Dating from the late 1800s, Sheikh
Saeed's House was built in a commanding position near the sea
so the Ruler could observe shipping activity from its
balconies. With its windtowers and layers of rooms built
around a central courtyard, it is a fine example of regional
architecture. Tel: 3937139
Shindagha
At the
mouth of the Creek, Shindagha is the original site from which
Dubai grew. Sheikh Saeed's house, the former home the ruling
Maktoum family, has been carefully restored here. Open daily
from 8:30am - 8:30pm, except Fridays: 3pm -
8:30pm.
Spice Souk
The narrow lanes of the
spice souk are redolent with cloves, cardamom, cinnamon,
incense, dried fruit and nuts. Imported from all over the
Middle East, they are sold straight out of open sacks that
surround the shop
keepers.
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