Souks And Abra, Four Languages

Overview

This walk starts at Al Seef, on the Dubai Creek side of the old city, and spends two hours and 45 minutes in the districts that made Dubai long before the towers went up. The guide runs the tour through GuruWalk and opens with the story of the Creek, then moves into Al Fahidi, the oldest neighbourhood in the city. Along the way the group hears about Arab culture, heritage, traditions and everyday social life, and there is a taste of Arabic coffee.

From there the route crosses the Creek on an abra, the traditional boat ride that links the two sides of the old city. On the other side the walk continues through the old gold and spice markets, with guidance on how to haggle and time to shop without pressure. The tour also includes samples of street food, camel milk chocolate and fresh Arabian dates.

It suits travellers who want the historical and cultural side of Dubai rather than the malls and skyscrapers. Reviews repeatedly describe the guide as knowledgeable and engaging. The walk is listed in German, English, Spanish and Italian, and it runs on a pay what you want basis, with no upfront cost.

Itinerary

1. Meet at Al SeefThe meeting point is the Al Fahidi marine transport station next to the Wokyo Noodle Bar Al Seef restaurant. The guide wears a traditional white Arabic dress.
2. Al Seef introductionThe walk opens with the basic itinerary and a short story about Dubai Creek and its history.
3. Al Fahidi HistoricalThe group explores the oldest neighbourhood of the city, learns about culture and heritage, and tastes Arabic coffee.
4. Abra crossing to Bur DubaiThe group rides the traditional abra boat across Dubai Creek from Baniyas Road.
5. Gold and spice souksThe walk visits the old gold and spice markets, with tips on how to haggle and stress-free time to shop. Samples of street food, camel milk chocolate and fresh Arabian dates are included along the way.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points help before booking, all drawn from the listing and from what travellers have written afterwards.

• Ask questions. Several reviewers say the guide answers every question and stays engaging throughout the walk. One traveller puts it plainly: the key is to keep asking as many questions as you can to get the most out of the walk.
• Heat and clothing. One reviewer mentions the heat as a real factor on this route. It is worth factoring the weather into plans for a walk of this length in old Dubai.
• Small groups. More than one reviewer reports taking the tour as a party of two, with the guide running it anyway. The group feel can therefore be very small and personal rather than a large crowd.
• Food on the route. The tour includes a sample of street food, camel milk chocolate and fresh Arabian dates, plus Arabic coffee in Al Fahidi. These tastes are part of the walk itself rather than a separate stop.
• Pay what you want. Booking through GuruWalk is free, and guests pay the guide what they think the walk was worth at the end.
• Abra crossing. The abra ride across Dubai Creek is part of the route. It is a traditional boat trip between the two sides of the old city.

Common issues. The listing shows only the first three stops of a route that has six in total, so the later part of the walk is less documented in advance. One reviewer notes the heat, which is worth planning for in warmer months. There is no hotel pickup, so travellers need to make their own way to the Al Seef meeting point. Reviews also indicate the walk can run with very small numbers.

Ratings At A Glance

Frequently Asked Questions