Royal Vision Walking around Old Dubai Tour with Abra, English Guide

Delve deeper into the sights and culture of traditional Dubai than you could do alone easily on this tour. Rather than spend hours researching what to see, do and eat in old Dubai, rely on a guide to save time and ensure you don’t miss anything. Shop in souks with tips from your guide, cross the creek by “abra” water taxi, visit Dubai Museum, roam the Al Fahidi quarter and enjoy street food, Arabic coffee and other tastings. Roam the real old Dubai with a guide to ensure you cover the best bits Explore the city’s older areas with no homework or getting lost Visit Dubai Museum, haggle in souks, savor local foods and ride an “abra” Get insight into local culture and history you might miss otherwise

Despite Dubai’s awe-inspiring architecture and modern way of life there’s much more culture to explore than you may imagine.

Today, we take a look at one of our favorite places to visit, the Dubai Spice Souk. A traditional Arabian market bursting with taste, and one you cannot miss out on when visiting Dubai.

Snuggled into the narrow lanes of Deira, the spice souk takes you through an intriguing aromatic journey. Be ready to breathe in the smell of all those mystical and aromatic spices across the Arabian Peninsula while treating your eyes with colorful vistas of the surrounding.

The Al Bastakiya history dates back to the time of the seafaring trade in Dubai when most of the trade business of Dubai grew out of the old neighborhood of Khor Dubai, which was also referred to as the creek, or Old Dubai. The neighborhood was built in the 19th century by Mr. Qasim Bin Abdullah Al Bastaki, and the construction was funded by rich textile and pearl merchants of Dubai.

Spread over an area of 300 square meters, what was once a dull, old neighborhood, today is a maze of age-old wonders that still hold true to the real essence of Old Dubai. Legend says that the area was up for a massive renovation and it was the visit from Prince Charles that stopped the demolishing of the neighborhood, as he said the place was too precious to be brought down.

Follow the road up from the Gold and Spice Souks, and you'll find yourself in Deira’s Perfume Souk on Sikkat Al Khali Street. Dealing in everything scented, from pure perfume to essential oils, incense sticks and the exotic traditional oud, this trading spot has beautifully-fragranced options for all. Buy rich oils in bulk, stored in wholesale-sized flagons, or opt for the more portable ornate vials designed for those who like to dab perfume on their pulse points. It's also the perfect place to have a personal fragrance created and bottled by experienced perfumers.

A picturesque Abra Souk ride will surprise you with amazing views of both sides of the Creek as well as the activities along the waterway. Late evenings just as the sun is about to set, will give an amazing photo opportunity of all the wonder and magic of the sunset.

Abra charges are about AED 1 which is about USD 0.30. And you are in for a huge treat as you are allowed to ride the Abra Souk over and over. This will give you unique perspectives along the Creek.

At the Abra station, you will find many wooden boats parked. Some offer the periodic single ride service (AED 1 per ride), and others provide private charters of the Abra Souk meant for private rides for visitors.

Embrace the opportunity of your Abra Souk by standing at the edge of the Creek and enjoy the sights of the wooden boats gracefully sailing with the waves.

One of the main Abra connection lines in Dubai is found between Deira Old Souk – A zone highlighting old Souks and Bur Dubai which is part of the modern city.

The distance between the Souks and Bur Dubai is about a 5 minutes boat ride. The Abra Souk travels both ways connecting different stations on both sides of the Creek.

An Abra can accommodate about 20 passengers and there are about 150 Abras between Deira Souks and Bur Dubai. Every journey takes not more than five minutes. Get yourself a one-way ticket, or better still hire your own Abra for up to an hour and further explore the creek.