YUPTOURS Hidden Dubai Walk

Overview

This walk starts at Dubai Creek in the Al Seef and Al Hamriya heritage area, where the guide waits outside the museum dressed in an Emirati kandura. From there the route works through the Al Fahidi historical district and the textile market opposite the Bur Dubai abra station, then crosses the creek by traditional boat to reach the old souk, the Spice Souk and the Gold Souk. The whole thing runs about 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Along the way there are tastings built into the route: traditional Arabic coffee, camel milk chocolate, Dubai chocolate, hibiscus tea juice, and optional street food. A bottle of water is provided too. The guide, Taha, describes the walk as a treasure hunt through the souks and alleys of old Dubai, and reviewers back that up, mentioning stops at shops where the history and traditions behind the products get explained.

Several reviewers said they were never rushed and were allowed to linger at each stop. It is a GuruWalk listing, and it is free to book: guests pay what they think the walk was worth at the end. It runs in English and German.

Itinerary

1. Meet at Dubai CreekThe meeting point is on Al Seef Street in the Al Hamriya heritage area, in front of the museum. The guide waits there wearing an Emirati kandura.
2. Al SeefThe walk begins in the Al Seef district, the first stop on the route.
3. Al Fahidi Historical DistrictThe route continues through the historical district of Al Fahidi.
4. Textile Market, Bur DubaiThe route reaches the textile market on Ali Bin Abi Taleb Street, opposite the Bur Dubai abra station. A photo stop at the Grand Souk is also listed among the walk's included elements.
5. Abra CrossingA traditional boat ride on an abra crosses the creek.
6. Souks Across the CreekOn the far side the walk covers the Old Souk, the Spice Souk and the Dubai Gold Souk, with tastings of Arabic coffee, chocolate and hibiscus tea juice along the way. Street food tastings are optional.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this walk.

• Meeting the guide. The guide waits in front of the museum near Dubai Creek wearing an Emirati kandura. One reviewer booked last minute and found the guide communicative and responsive beforehand about the meetup.
• Pace and time. The walk lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes and covers a lot of ground on foot. Reviewers often mention never being rushed, and one said the guide let the group stay longer than usual at each place.
• Food and drink. Traditional Arabic coffee, camel milk chocolate, Dubai chocolate and hibiscus tea juice are included, along with a bottle of water. Street food tastings are optional. Reviewers also mention being offered dates and tea at shops along the route.
• Solo turnouts. At least one reviewer ended up alone on the walk and was still taken around the full route.
• Conversation, not scripts. Several reviewers highlight how much the guide explains about Emirati society, past and present, from how the country is organised to how life worked in the historic district.
• Getting there and on. No pickup is included; the walk starts at the creek meeting point. One reviewer said the guide even showed how to use the Dubai Metro afterwards to reach the Burj Khalifa.

Common issues. There is no pickup, so travellers make their own way to the meeting point on Al Seef Street. The walk lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes and includes a creek crossing by abra, so anyone with limited mobility should think about the distance and boat ride involved. Street food tastings are optional rather than automatic.

Ratings At A Glance

Frequently Asked Questions