If you think Dubai is all about skyscrapers and man-made wonders, then this article will make you rethink. Our guest author Neha Singh flies back in time and explores the side of Dubai often overlooked by tourists. This article will surely give history lovers a compelling reason to visit Dubai.
Dubai is loved by the whole world. Its exponential growth from a small Bedouin village to the entertainment hub of the world is astonishing. But what makes it more awe- inspiring is the fact that amongst the sky high towers and ultra modern developments, Dubai still has miraculously preserved its heritage and history. The city is full of monuments and places that hold immense historical importance and offer a peek into the rich past of Dubai and UAE.
Here are the 9 best historical places in Dubai that you must visit in order to get a detailed insight into the rich cultural heritage of this amazing city.
1. The Dubai Museum
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| Dubai Museum |
The first place that we want you to visit is obviously the Dubai Museum. But unlike many places around the world, Dubai museum is very carefully adorned with the city’s history and it literally transports us back into the time of the Bedouin era. Every possible little thing of the past is so beautifully and carefully preserved in the museum that it’s hard to comprehend the amount of pain that must’ve gone into maintaining them in such great condition. From multimedia presentation of the history of Dubai to the fishing boats and traditional ornaments, Dubai museum is a must visit for every tourist.
2. Al Fahidi Fort
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| Al Fahidi Fort |
Located in Bur Dubai, the Al Fahidi fort is a hit amongst visitors of all age groups. Built way back in the 1700s, the fort underwent various stages of expansion and played a huge role in preventing the village from the intervention of the neighboring tribes at that time. Over the centuries, AL Fahidi fort went on to become the home of the ruler of Dubai, then a garrison and lastly a prison to house the most deadly prisoners. Today, the fort acts as a museum and has on display various artifacts from the bygone era and local antiques.
3. Dubai Creek
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| Dubai Creek |
The creek of Dubai that divides the city in to two halves goes long back in the history. It is linked to the centuries old trading tradition of Dubai when people used to use the creek as the only way of going to trade to the other side of the city.Going back in time the creek divided the city into Bur Dubai and Diera. It was in the Bur Dubai side of the creek where the Al Maktoum dynasty emerged.
4. Bastakiya Quarters
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| Bastakiya Quarters |
Receiving its name from the historical town of Bastak, the Bastakiya quarters were established in the early 19th century by some of the rich pearl and textile traders from Iran. The area still has merchant houses, galleries and cafes that offer a glimpse of the past era. One of the most interesting neighborhoods of Dubai, Bastakiya Quarter is a delight walk in the glorious past of Dubai.
5. Hatta
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| Hatta Mountains |
Located in the south east outskirts of Dubai, the
Hatta Mountains have been a part of Dubai since its inception. Near the Hatta mountain site, there are various attractions that offer a glimpse in to the history of Dubai such as the fort built by the Sheikh Maktoum bin Hashr Al Maktoum in the late 1800s to safeguard the city from the invaders.
6. Sheikh Saeed House
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| Sheikh Saeed House |
The grandfather of Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the current ruler of Dubai Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum stayed in this house from 1912 till 1958. The house today stands proud telling the story of its splendid past. The house which was built in the year 1896 houses a very rare collection of coins, historical pictures, and some of the most important documents and stamps of UAE.
7. Abra ride
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| Abra Ride |
One of the oldest settlements and transport systems of Dubai- Abra has been used as a mode of transport to go to the other side of the creek for centuries. The travelers between Diera and Bur Dubai once had only one mode of transportation of boats known as Abra. Today these are modern motorized taxis, but still exude the age old feel to the tourists. It is still the cheapest way to cross the Dubai creek.
8. Souqs of Dubai
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| Souqs of Dubai |
The Souqs or the markets of Dubai dates back to centuries. One of the city’s oldest souqs are gold souk, spice souq and the textile souq. The shapes of shops may have changed with time but the souqs still offer a feel of the era gone by. These souqs are famous for their bargains and the vibrancy. One of the oldest Souqof Dubai- Nafiq Souq was once a camel market, but now has over 100 shops selling abayas and many other traditional Arabic items.
9. Heritage and Divine Villages
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| Heritage Village |
A great place for history lovers, the heritage villages offer great insight into the traditional and cultural past of Dubai through their historical construction including wind towers. Although it was constructed in the 1990s, the purpose was to allow the tourist to take a sneak peek and experience the cherished past of Dubai. It offers demonstrations for weaving, ship building and traditional cookery as well. It is today one of the most visited places by tourists in Dubai.
Dubai has retained its old-age charm while giving a tough competition to the world in the race of modernization. But in the course of moving towards a brighter future, Dubai has preserved its roots firmly and ensured that the world gets to know about the journey of this incredible city.
Such is the craze amongst tourists to know about the history of Dubai that they specially include most of these historical places in their
Dubai tour packages. The start of a fishing village that got introduced to the world through its oil discovery in the 1960s is now way ahead of its contemporaries and is gradually moving towards the title of the best tourist destination in the world.
About the Author
Neha Singh is a postgraduate in Mass Communications, who loves everything about life. Traveling is extremely close to her heart and writing came to her naturally. An avid trekker & explorer, who often takes off some time from her busy life for mountaineering. She loves meeting new people & gets attached to their culture very easily. Her ambition is to explore as many places as she can in her life. She strongly believes in Gandhian principle – “simple living high thinking”.
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