8
Re:View
f all the attractions Dubai
has to offer, Dubai Creek is
almost certainly the most
culturally rewarding. While
the rest of the emirate
oozes five-star luxury, this
saltwater inlet and the area around it is
noisy, dusty and, with scores of old wooden
abras and traditional dhows weaving their
way across the water, at times chaotic.
But that’s all part of the fun. Spend an
afternoon at the Creek and see an altogether
different side of the city. From tradesmen
unloading the cargo from their colourful
dhows to seagulls fighting for scraps at the
water’s edge, Dubai Creek is a hive of
activity and well worth a visit.
The 14-kilometre waterway divides Deira
and Bur Dubai, the oldest parts of the city,
before it winds its way around Dubai
To the Khor
Festival City and finishes at the Ras Al Khor
wildlife sanctuary, south east of the Burj
Khalifa. Forebears of Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the current ruler
of Dubai, settled on the banks of the Creek
in the 19th century and over time it became
a small port with dhows sailing to and from
India and Africa carrying wares such as
spices, rice and fabric. By the turn of the
20
th century, the Creek was also used for
fishing and pearl diving.
It wasn’t until the 1960s, however, that it
reached its full commercial potential. Until
then its waters were shallow, limiting the
size of vessels that could enter. And so it
was dredged, allowing seven-foot boats
access across all parts. It was cleared again
in the late ’60s and once more in the ’70s,
attracting trade that would otherwise have
visited the neighbouring emirate of Sharjah.
Modern wonder
Today the Creek is a mixture of old and
new. Sail its length and see wind towers –
the original form of air conditioning –
pepper the tops of low-rise buildings
flanked by towering skyscrapers. At dusk,
Winding its way from the Arabian Gulf, Dubai Creek is at the cultural heart of the
emirate with old wooden dhows plying its waters both day and night. We shine a
spotlight on this historic waterway and find out how best to explore its rustic charm
explore
O
If you’re keen to explore
the city’s old markets,
the Textile Souk is
located next to the Old
Souk abra station while
the Spice and Gold
Souks are just a one-
dirham boat ride away