Historic Dubai
Dubai may be a modern and rapidly growing city, but there are many heritage sites and places of historic interest that are worth a visit whilst you are here.
Dubai Museum in Al Fahidi Fort
Housed within the beautifully restored Al Fahidi Fort built in the late 1700’s to defend the city against invasion, Dubai Museum showcases a diverse collection of exhibits from as early as the third millennium B.C. depicting life in Dubai before the discovery of oil. Telephone: 04 3937151.
Bastakiya
The old Bastakiya district with its narrow lanes and tall wind-towers provides an insight into old Dubai.
Located near Al Fahidi Fort, Bastakiya is the largest concentration of traditional courtyard houses with windtowers. These distinctive windtowers were not merely decorative but the only means of cooling houses in the days before mains electricity and worked by drawing wind into the house from all directions to create movement. The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding conducts guided tours of the Bastakiya area every Sunday; Thursday at 10 am. 50 UAE Dirhams per guest. Telephone: 04 3536666.
Jumeirah Grand Mosque
If you have ever wanted to learn more about Islam and see inside a mosque, join the free tour of Jumeirah Grand Mosque every Sunday and Thursday at 10am, led by a guide from the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. Conservative dress required and ladies should wear a headscarf. Telephone: 04 3536666.
The Souks
Take a break from Dubai’s modern air conditioned malls and learn how to shop the traditional way in the city’s souks. The tiny lanes of the spice souk are filled with scents to savour and the wonderful colours provide endless photo opportunities.
A trip to Dubai would not be complete without a visit to the gold souk. Streets of shop windows literally lined with gold, the souk can be a little overwhelming, but persevere and barter with shopkeepers – as you can purchase high quality gold jewellery at prices you’ll find it hard to match anywhere else in the world.
Essential information for your visit
Dubai is the leading centre of business and tourism in the Middle East. A city of more than 1.2 million inhabitants, it is the second largest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Abu Dhabi, the capital city, form the remaining six emirates.
Alcohol: Is widely available to non-Muslims in the city’s bars, nightclubs and restaurants situated in hotels. Most independent restaurants are unlicensed. Dubai operates a zero tolerance policy on drinking and driving.
Business hours: The official weekend is Friday and Saturday. Friday is the religious day, which means that Government offices are open from 7.30am to 2.30pm Sunday to Thursday whilst most private companies operate international business hours Sunday to Thursday also. Banks are generally open from 8am to 1pm, closed Fridays.
Climate: Temperatures range from a low of 10ºC/ 50ºF to a high of 48ºC/ 11.4ºF. Mean daily maximum is 24ºC /75.2ºF in January, rising to 41ºC/105.8ºF in July.
Clothing: Lightweight summer clothing can be worn all year round, though the temperature can drop suddenly at night in the winter. At the pool or on the beaches, trunks and swimsuits are quite acceptable but visitors are encouraged to respect local culture and care should be taken when in the city not to wear clothing that could be considered too revealing.
Credit Cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in Dubai, though smaller businesses may prefer cash payments. It is advisable to carry cash with you.
Currency: UAE Dirham. Approximate conversion rates: US$ 1 = Dhs. 3.67, GBP 1 = Dhs 5.74, EUR 1 = Dhs 4.67, RUB 1 = Dhs 0.13, INR 1=0.07.
Duty free: Visitors may bring in the following free of duty – 400 cigarettes, 4 litres of spirits (non-Muslim adults only) and perfume for personal use.
Heritage & Culture: Dubai may be a modern and rapidly growing city, but it is has many heritage sites and places of historic interest whilst you are here. For more information visit www.dubaitourism.ae
Language: The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken. Most official signage is in Arabic and English.
Local time: Dubai is four hours ahead of UCT (Universal Coordinated Time – formerly known as GMT)
Religion: The official religion of Dubai is Islam and Islamic holidays and festivals are officially observed. Other religions are respected and followers are allowed to practise their beliefs.
Water: Tap water is safe to drink, but most people prefer locally bottled mineral water.
