Dating to the 1890s, the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, long known as Al Bastakiya, is one of the oldest surviving districts in Dubai, set along the banks of Dubai Creek in Bur Dubai. It was built largely by Persian merchants drawn to Dubai by the trade opportunities of the time, and the district took its former name from the southern Iranian town of Bastak. The neighbourhood is defined by traditional architecture, with coral-stone and gypsum houses, teak and palm timber, narrow lanes known as sikkas and tall wind towers, or barjeel, that drew cooling breezes down into the homes. By the 1980s much of the area had been lost to redevelopment, and the remainder was slated for demolition in 1989. A preservation campaign led by the British architect Rayner Otter, supported by a visit from the then Prince of Wales, helped persuade the authorities to halt the demolition and protect what remained. In 2005 the Dubai Municipality launched a restoration of the old buildings and lanes, and the district was renamed Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. Today it houses museums, galleries, cultural centres and cafes within its restored courtyards, and serves as a base for events such as the Sikka Art Fair. Its shaded alleys, designed long before air conditioning to temper the desert heat, draw visitors and architects alike as a rare window into pre-oil Dubai. Close to the neighbourhood stands Al Fahidi Fort, the oldest building in Dubai and home to the Dubai Museum, while the restored quarter itself contains a coffee museum, a coin and stamp collection and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, which runs heritage tours and shared meals. Independent galleries such as XVA and traditional courtyard cafes occupy several of the old houses. Abra water taxis cross the creek nearby to the spice and gold souks of Deira, linking the district to the historic trading heart of the city.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: Al Fahidi, Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Opening Date: 01/01/1890