The city of Dubai
The city of Dubai consist of four main city districts: Creek, Bur Dubai, Deira and Jumeriah. Their arrangement comes from the ancient past when it was a center of trade.
Creek
Creek is the oldest city district which divides the city into two main areas: Deira (north-east bank) and Bur Dubai (south-west bank). It is about 7 miles long and 1600 feet wide lagoon (and area around), which stretches into the dry land.
Although Dubai is an ultramodern city, the area of Creek is different. Here it feels like the time stopped in the ancient past. The surface of the mentioned water channel is crossed by wooden boats, people are riding it on little outdated looking cockleboats and in the trade in the streets flourish like in the ancient times.
Creek offers countless number of monuments or also newer buildings which are worth to see. For all we must mention the Dubai National Bank building, whose glass frontage offers a terrific view. Giant Creekside Park with a botanical garden, fishermen piers, children’s playgrounds, but mainly with wide grassy areas where picnics take place.
Bur Dubai
The area south-west from Creek belongs to the Bur Dubai city district. It is an area which served as fishermen willage. Now it attracts tourists by many monuments and mainly by its unforgettable atmosphere. If you come around, the atmosphere of ancient tradicions blow onto you immediately.
We chose three of the places you should visit. First of them is former palace of sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum built in 1896. Today it is reconstructed and it offers a great view to the sea. From here sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, grandfather of the recent ruler of Dubai ruled between 1912 and 1958. The impressive palace is a typical example of Arab architecture.
Near to this palace you can find an open-air museum Heritage and Diving Village which focus mainly to the maritime tradition of the region. Third place you shouldn’t miss is the Dubai Museum which resides in old fortress Al Fahidi Fort on one of the little squares.
Deira
The area north-east from Creek belongs to the city district of Deira. Here the most of the offices and banks take place but there are not many historical buildings. But that doesn’t mean that this part doesn’t have its tradition. On the contrary. Great charisma of the Deira streets is created by trade right on the streets in every thinkable forms. Typical Arab marts are to find all around the Deira district.
Deira is a world of narrow streets, street artists, various aromas, typical bargaining and classical Arab shopping. For example the spice mart Spice Souq which offers almost every world’s smell is worth to mention. Also the Gold mart (Gold Souq) is well-known, it lies in one street under a wooden roof. It is maybe the world’s biggest gold mart – shop after shop offers golden rings, bracelets, watch, chains or other accesories.
Jumeirah
Jumeirah is the most luxurious city area, it stretches from the center along the coast in the distance of about 40 km and it borders with Bur Dubai city district. It is a quarter of the wealthiest class who live there in luxurious villas with beautiful gardens. The best hotels lie in this districts influding the most famous – Burj Al Arab. You can find there public beaches, shopping and entertainment centers or for example new sporting facilities.
You can see for example Jumeirah Mosque in this area, Dubai mosque having almost every “the best”. The building is an illustration of modern Islamic architecture which is most worth to see at night when it is beautifuly lighted.
The area is full of various centers for spending free time. Let’s just mention Zoo Dubai, giant aquapark Wild Wadi or an open-air museum Majlis Ghofat Um Al Sheef.