Dubai Old Town: Walking Tour, Street Food & Abra Ride

4.95

(230 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I thought Dubai was all glass towers and air conditioning until this Old Dubai walking tour. The first thing that hit me in Al Seef wasn’t the heat—it was the smell of cardamom drifting from a tiny café and the sound of someone haggling (loudly) in Arabic just around the corner. Our guide, Ahmed, waved us over with a grin that made it feel like we were meeting an old friend instead of starting a day trip in Dubai’s oldest quarter.

We ducked into a courtyard for thick Arabic coffee—bitter, but somehow comforting—and Ahmed explained how families used to gather here long before any skyscrapers showed up. He poured us tiny cups and handed out dates (I dropped mine but still ate it—no regrets). I tried to say “shukran” properly; Ahmed laughed and corrected me gently. The walls were rough under my hand, sun-warmed stone that felt older than anything I’d touched before.

The walk through the Spice Souk was chaotic in the best way: saffron piled high, vendors calling out deals on dried lemons and rose petals. Someone pressed a piece of camel milk chocolate into my palm—sweet, then oddly salty. We took an abra across Dubai Creek; the water smelled briny and the breeze felt like relief after the crush of people. Gold Souk was next—so much gold it almost hurt my eyes—and then suddenly we were standing outside Dubai Museum, where time seemed to slow down for a second. I still think about that view across Bur Dubai Village at sunset, all pink light and distant call to prayer echoing somewhere behind us.