calligraphy, and culture and the arts in general. 2. HOP ON BOARD AN ABRA An aura is a small wooden boat that traverses both shores of the creek bringing people from one side to the other at the meager cost of 1 dirham. This is the traditional way of traveling along the creek and getting goods. Abras are lined up at the port a short walk from the Sheikh’s house and even shorter walk from the souk. Take an abra ride come mid to late afternoon to get an amazing view of gulls grazing the water or spice boats moored on the opposite bank. 3. SHOP AT THE SOUK Old Dubai’s souks is an interesting alleyways of textile, spice, and curios that you can haggle down for at most half its original price. This is the best place to pick up souvenirs especially if you are after authentic Arabian lamps and dresses. Mounds of spices are also displayed along the shops and you can always ask the merchant to mix you a unique potpourri depending on what you are in the mood for. Turkish lamps, genies shoes, decorative plates, Arabian perfume, magic carpets, kris daggers—you name it, the souk has it! 4. BRING HOME SOME BLING FROM THE GOLD SOUK This is where a lot of celebrities allegedly shop for a yellow bling. The gold souk is worth the visit even if you are not necessarily in the
them, the air inside the house would be cooler by 11 degrees Celsius versus the world outside. One area you should never miss is the house of Sheikh Zayed Al Maktoum, one of Dubai’s most beloved and respected leaders. The Sheikh’s house is a vast complex of teak doors, vaulted ceilings, architraves and lattice windows—one of the best examples
emirates in the UAE, Dubai is the most populous. This global city has been tiled by the Al Makhtoum family since the early 1800s with Sheikj Zayed al Makhtoum as the visionary leader who transformed Dubai from a traditional Arab settlement into one of the world’s most bustling global hubs in a span of 50 years. While much of what we know about Dubai’s history can be traced back to the oil boom that catapulted it into its current stellar status, a trip to Dubai would never be complete without taking an aura, a traditional mode of transportation, across the Dubai Creek for a glimpse at Dubai before the rise iof the Burj Khalifa, the Burj al Arab, and its famous luxurious complex, the Palm. Here’s a checklist of experiences that will let you soak in Dubai’s rich cultural heritage: 1. EXPLORE THE DUBAI HERITAGE VILLAGE The Dubai Heritage Village is located on the Bur side of the Creek. You can start wandering through this time capsule by hopping on board the MRT bound for the Al Ghubaiba station which opens up to sprawling courtyard of grass and coral and plaster buildings. One of the most prominent structures you’ll find are the four wind towers which were the ancient times’ airconditioners. Moist cloth was usually draped on the wooden beams of the wind towers so that when a gust of the wind would blow through
Dubai is the second largest emirate based on land area,
of Islamic architecture. The Sheikh is responsible for maximizing Dubai’s trading potential by opening up the Creek to invite traders from Iran and India, by cultivating the boom of the pearl industry, and by transforming Dubai into the global city that it is today in a span of half a century. Today, his house is a museum of photographs and lithographs chronicling the life at the Creek. The other surrounding areas are museums dedicated to Islamic architecture, urban planning, following United Arab Emirates’ capital Abu Dhabi.
39 EC Magazine | World Tourism Day Edition 2020
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