Bur Dubai

What Bur Dubai is like

Bur Dubai sits on the western side of Dubai Creek, with Deira on the opposite bank. Its name reflects that old division of the city by the creek. The Bani Yas tribe settled along this side of the water in the 19th century, and it remains one of the most traditional parts of Dubai. Since the Dubai Water Canal was completed, the creek and canal together have turned the district into an island.

The area is busy and mixed, with older apartment blocks, markets, mosques and heritage quarters close together. It is a good base if you want to explore on foot and use the abras rather than taxis.

What to see and do

• Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood: lanes of restored wind-tower houses with small museums, galleries and cafés. See our Al Fahidi guide.
• Al Shindagha: the heritage area near the mouth of the creek. Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, lived here from 1912 to 1958, and his rebuilt house is open as a museum. The Al Shindagha Museum is spread across a group of heritage houses and includes a Perfume House and a gallery on the history of Dubai Creek.
• Textile Souk: fabric shops near the Bur Dubai abra station, close to the Grand Mosque.
• Grand Mosque and Iranian Mosque: the Grand Mosque has the tallest minaret in the city, and the Iranian Mosque is known for its blue tilework.
• Meena Bazaar: a busy shopping area a few minutes' walk from the Bur Dubai abra station.
• Al Seef: a 1.8 km creekside promenade, opened in 2017, with a heritage-style market and restaurants.

For evening boat trips, see our dhow cruise guide, and for other sights, our attractions.

Al Shindagha itself is small: about 0.26 km² on the point where the creek meets the sea, first settled in the 1830s. It has been through major restoration to revive its historic buildings. The Al Shindagha Tunnel, the northernmost crossing between Bur Dubai and Deira, runs beneath the creek nearby. The museum's Dubai Creek gallery uses more than 150 artefacts, photographs and films to tell the story of the waterway.

Getting there and around

The Green Line serves the district. Al Ghubaiba station is in Al Shindagha, next to the Al Ghubaiba bus station, which has intercity buses to places such as Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Sharaf DG station, called Al Fahidi until November 2020, is the stop for Al Fahidi and Al Seef. BurJuman station is an interchange between the Red and Green Lines.

To reach Deira, take the RTA's traditional abra from Bur Dubai abra station to Deira Old Souq for AED 1 per person, paid in cash. Heritage abras from Al Fahidi marine station go to Deira Old Souq and Al Sabkha for AED 2. From Deira Old Souq you can walk to the Spice Souk and the Gold Souk; see our Deira guide.

Rome2Rio estimates about 8 km and 8 minutes by taxi from Dubai International Airport to Bur Dubai with no traffic.

Where to eat

Bur Dubai has many inexpensive restaurants, especially in the streets around Meena Bazaar and the souks. Al Seef has restaurants and cafés along the creek, several with outdoor seating. In Al Fahidi, courtyard cafés and cultural meals at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding offer a quieter break.

Practical tips

• Carry small change for the AED 1 abra; you pay the boatman in cash.
• Dress modestly, particularly around the mosques and in the heritage areas.
• Walk in the early morning or late afternoon, when it is cooler.
• Al Fahidi Fort, home of the old Dubai Museum, has been closed for restoration since 2021 and was expected in September 2026 to reopen within weeks or months. Check before you go.
• Browse hotels in Bur Dubai for central, often good-value stays.