Wind towers
Old Dubai style.
Alan & Flora Botting — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Alan & Flora Botting — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ramshahameed — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Alan & Flora Botting — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Poorva90 — CC BY-SA 4.0
Al Seef is a district on the bank of Dubai Creek in Bur Dubai, about 7 km northeast of central Dubai in a straight line, between the historic Al Fahidi quarter and Karama. It runs for about 2 km along the water. It opened in 2017 and was built to echo old Dubai architecture: houses of coral stone and plaster with wind towers, or barjeel, that cooled homes before air conditioning, and narrow lanes shaded with palm-frond roofs. A heritage-style section sits alongside a newer part of glass and metal buildings. Sand-coloured buildings with wind towers line the creek bank, with wooden abra water taxis and traditional boats gliding past. Walkways run along the water between cafés and restaurants, and in the evening lanterns light up the facades. Visitors stroll the waterfront and lanes and take an abra across the creek to the gold and spice souks in Deira, or go on a dinner cruise on a traditional boat. Evening is the nicest and coolest time.
Old Dubai style.
Crossing the creek.
Palm-frond roofs.
On Dubai Creek, Bur Dubai, UAE
Al Fahidi Historical NeighbourhoodThe oldest surviving quarter in Dubai, also known as Bastakiya — narrow lanes, m6 minutes walk4.7
Dubai CreekThe waterway out of which the whole of Dubai was cut — a natural inlet running s11 minutes walk4.6
Dubai Spice SoukA traditional market in the Al Ras area of Deira, also called the Old Souk, on B12 minutes walk4.4
Gold SoukA covered market in Deira where hundreds of gold shops face each other down a si12 minutes walk4.3
Al Shindagha Historic District and MuseumAl Shindagha Museum fills 80 historic houses in Al Shindagha, the district at th20 minutes walkIn the evening.
By abra across the creek.