Dubai has been known around the globe for its towering skyscrapers, luxurious lifestyle, breathtaking fountains, and modernized shopping malls. Only very few people know about Dubai’s rich culture and traditional customs. The more well-known places in the region like the Burj Khalifa or Dubai Mall are often frequented by visitors, but plenty of other historical places offer just as much to see & experience.

People of Dubai lived their lives as fishermen around a creek before the rapid growth and development. For those who wish to see what life was like before Dubai’s rapid development, Dubai’s old and historical places are the ideal sites to visit and gain knowledge about Dubai’s traditional customs and rich history.

So if you are looking to learn about Dubai’s old and historical places? Well, you can stop here because we’ve made a list just for you!

Here is the list of Dubai’s old and historical places which you might want to check out:

 1. Take a stroll in Bur Dubai

Bur Dubai is Dubai’s traditional downtown area. It’s situated directly on the western side of Dubai Creek, south of Deira. The name of the city literally translates to ‘Mainland Dubai’, in reference to the traditional separation of Bur Dubai and Deira by the Dubai Creek. Bur Dubai historically consisted of all districts between the western bank of Creek and Jumeirah. During the old days, a traditional wooden boat known as the “Abra” was used to transport people or other things from one side to the other. Bur Dubai is home to many attractions you might be interested in, like Dubai Museum, Creek Park, Al Bastakiya town, Dubai Dolphinarium, and many more.

2. Visit the Al Bastakiya Town.

Also known as Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Al Bastakiya is one of the oldest and most historic districts in Dubai, situated next to the Creek. Named after the Iranian town of Bastak, Al Bastakiya dates back to the 18th century. Away from the towering skyscrapers and buzzing shopping malls, Al Bastakiya was primarily built by affluent Persian Merchants, who were drawn to the free-trade opportunities offered by the Emirati government. 

 Al Bastakiya is also home to amazing art galleries like Mawaheb Gallery and XVA Gallery, and fantastic cafes like Coffee Museum and Arabian Tea House Cafe.

3. Check out Al Ahmadiya School.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Dalmouk, a wealthy pearl merchant, laid the foundation of Al Ahmadiya School in 1912. After his demise, his son Sheikh Mohammed Bin Ahmed Bin Dalmouk took over the construction of the school and named it after his late father. Now turned into a museum by the Dubai government, Al Ahmadiya School was one of the first academic institutions in the UAE.

4. Shop at the Gold Souk.

Located in the commercial district of Deira in Al Dhagaya, Dubai Gold Souk or Gold Souk is the traditional gold market in Dubai. The market consists of 380 retail stores, and most of them are gold traders. Some shops date back to the 1970s. As per the Guinness World Records, the gold souk is the place where you can find the world’s largest handmade gold chain known as the Dubai Celebration Chain, weighing about 240 kilograms and having over 4 million links. 

5. Walk around the mysterious Al Jazirah Al Hamra.

Within the distance of 93 KMs from Dubai lies the town of Al Jazirah Al Hamra. Known as the ghost town, it consists of abandoned houses and other structures, including a mosque. The myth says that the jinns (mythical characters from the Arabian folktales) haunt the village. The town has also been called Jazirah Al Zaab as the Zaab community predominantly inhabited it. Al Jazirah Al Hamra was originally an island, and by 1839, a handful of people lived there. The villagers were fishermen and were dependent on Sharjah at that time. 

Netflix’s famous movie “6 Underground”, directed by the acclaimed director Michael Bay, was shot in this town.

6. Shop at the Dubai Textile Souk.

 Located at the old trading centre in the neighbourhood of Bur Dubai next to the Dubai Creek, Dubai Textile Soul is the historical and traditional market of textile products. Also known as the Old Textile Souk, this market deals with fabrics, spices, pottery, clothing, souvenirs, and more.

The Dubai Textile Souk offers a vast selection of different clothing, with everything from silk to satin to velvets-you can find all sorts of different colours here.

During the old days, Dubai Textile Souk was a commercial hub, but over the years and due to the rapid growth and globalization-this market has mainly turned into a tourist hub.

In addition to the above-mentioned historical places, Dubai has so many old and historical attractions that you as a tourist will be interested in checking them out, like Hatta Heritage Village, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, Dubai Spice Souk, and many more. Dubai is not only about the towering skyscrapers and luxurious malls-it is much more. Dubai’s old and historical places add richness and value to its tall and elegant buildings.