Dubai

Explore the Backstreets of Old Dubai with an Insider

Badge of ExcellenceDubai, United Arab Emirates

4 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Many visitors miss Dubai’s older side, concentrating on its futuristic architecture and glitz. This half-day walking tour bucks the trend, showcasing the old residential and souk quarters. Browse Deira’s souks, ride a wooden ‘abra’ boat across Dubai Creek, and explore Al Bastakiya’s lanes and wind towered houses while learning about Emirati history and culture. A traditional Arabian lunch and entrance fees included.

Shop and stroll through Deira’s bustling spice, souvenir and gold souks
Lunch at a local restaurant and entrance fees included
Choice of morning or afternoon departure
Small group of 12 people or fewer

What's Included

Meal as per itinerary and bottled water in restaurant
Admission fees

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Soda/Pop

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Al Ghubaiba Metro Station
Al Ghubaiba - Metro Station - Al Fahidi - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
The meeting point is outside the Al Ghubaiba Metro Station Exit/Entrance No. 4 on the Green Line. If you are dropped off at any of the other station entrances/exits (there are 4), you can walk easily (on ground level) to find No.4.

Start time

09:00 AM

End point

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Dubai - Al Fahidi - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Closest to the Sharaf DG Metro Station in Bur Dubai.

What To Expect

Choose a morning or afternoon departure, and meet your guide and small group of no more than 12 participants in Dubai’s Deira district.

One of Dubai’s oldest quarters, Deira bustles with activity and is home to the city’s old souks. Saunter through the shop- and stall-lined streets toward the souks, and pause at some of the area’s interesting sights as your guide charts Dubai’s history and roots as a pearl trading town.

Delve into the souks and hear how, until recently, the stalls were known by vendors’ names, so shoppers could simply call them out to find what they were looking for. Enjoy the hustle and bustle, and peruse the outlets selling spices, souvenirs and gold and silver. Hone your haggling with tips from your guide, starting with the opening gambit of ktir ghalee (too expensive) to help clinch some deals.

With your shopping done, ride an abra across Dubai Creek, admiring Deira’s high-rises from the water. Then, disembark and wander through the narrow lanes of the old Al Bastakiya residential area, founded in the early 1900s by Persian merchants.

See the sand-colored houses and wind towers, and learn about the area’s part in keeping traditional Emirati culture and customs alive.

After your walk, head to one of Dubai’s best-loved restaurants for lunch. Refuel with tasty Arabian dishes, and chat over your discoveries before your tour ends in Bur Dubai.

Dubai Creek

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Dubai Spice Souk

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Dubai Gold Souk

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Textile Souk

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Grand Bur Dubai Masjid

35 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Dubai Museum & Al Fahidi Fort (Pass By)

Al Fahidi

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking, as our meal is pre-ordered, is non-vegetarian, and is served on a sharing platter basis. A vegetarian option is available on request.
Near public transportation
It is recommended that you bring bottled water, sunglasses, hat, and sunscreen.
It is recommended that you wear light fabric clothing (especially during summer) and comfortable shoes
Infants must sit on laps

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour includes moderate physical activity. Guests should be in good health, able to walk slightly longer distances at a comfortable pace, and able to participate in periods of standing.
A minimum of 2 people is required for the tour to move forward.
Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if the minimum of 2 people is not met. In the event of this happening, you will be offered an alternative date or a full refund.
Garments for entry to the mosque (also provided complimentary at the mosque).
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

176 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 176 reviews

The highlight of our holiday

Kris_A, Oct 2022

This is a really wonderful tour, one of the best we have done anywhere, not just Dubai. Nada is a wonderful guide, friendly, informative and engaging. It would be easy to spend a week in Dubai and not get a feel for the history. This tour is the perfect antidote. The meal at the end of the tour was also perfect, local food in a local atmosphere. I cannot recommend it highly enough. P.s. as we were touring the souks, I went prepared to be given the hard sell to buy things. This could not have been further from the truth. Yes we were approached by the proprietors, a simple “no thank you” suffices here, but Nada is only interested in conveying the historical significance rather than a shopping trip in disguise. We had a 10 minute window in the spice souk to pick up things if we wanted, but that was it. If shopping is your aim, you can do that on your own time.

The BEST tour you will take in Dubai

Nahrain_J, Aug 2022

It’s easy to think of Dubai as an amusement park of manmade and record breaking constructions. That was certainly my opinion after 48-hours of touring the well publicised attractions. But all that changed when I met Nada. The Dubai (not born but) raised local showed me and another solo traveller an older and culturally rich side of the Emirati city that everyone should experience in order to understand its history and eventual transformation into a global tourist hotspot. Our knowledgeable host took us through various museums, walked us through four markets and introduced us to a number of friendly locals (salam to the men in the Iranian spice store - until we meet again!). Nada showed us the humble way Emiratis lived only a couple of generations ago and came prepared with a backpack full of sample scents and food. She filled us in on Dubai’s trading roots as well as its place alongside its sister Emirati cities and the Middle East. When the tour came to an end, Nada secured us a table at a popular Iranian restaurant where we had the BEST meal. No exaggeration, this was the only meal in Dubai that I actually enjoyed. The tour was fun, fast paced and educational. I highly recommend it to every first time visitor. Nada, thank you again for exposing us to a whole other side of the city. Meeting and learning from you was definitely a highlight of my trip.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Dear Nahrain, Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words. I am absolutely delighted to hear that the tour was the highlight of your trip, and that our meal was the best one you enjoyed while visiting. I will definitely pass on these words to the chefs in the kitchen. Meeting you was also the highlight of my week and I couldn't have asked for lovelier company. Thank you so much for taking the precious time to share your experience. I am forever grateful and hope to get the opportunity to wander with you again in the near future. Until the next time, my warmest regards. Nada.

Amazing tour through Old Dubai

Ilaria_J, Mar 2022

The guide was awesome and extremely knowledgeable. We have had a very pleasant time with her, discovering Old Dubai, the Souks and the history of the city. She gave us a lot of information and insights and the tour concluded with a delicious lunch where we could taste very local recipes. I highly recommend this tour to whoever wants to learn more about this special city and not limit him/herself to the sparks of the malls or the fancy restaurants.

This is a Must Do Tour

Denise_C, Feb 2022

This tour is a must for anyone visiting Dubai and wants to get away from the new City to see Old Dubai, explore and learn all about the history and culture of Dubai. Nada's tour was very well planned & informative. As a local, Nada is very knowledgable and was able to answer all the groups questions. Nada is the perfect tour guide, friendly, professional, knowledgable and a fantastic host. Cannot recommend Nada and the tour highly enough.

Old City Dubai walking tour

Charles_S, Dec 2018

Good over view of Dubai history and well planned use of time. Great guide and lunch was good local food.

This tour was the highlight of stay...

Dalzell_S, May 2018

This tour was the highlight of stay in Dubai! Our guide, Nada, was fantastic - friendly, informative and fun! We visited the Gold and Spice Souks, old neighbourhoods of Dubai, rode across the creek in a dhow boat, visited a traditional Arabic coffee house and finished with a fantastic traditional Emirate lunch which was delicious. Loved this tour - not to be missed when you are in Dubai. Highly recommend and would give this tour more than 5 stars if I could.

This is an educational tour where...

Noman S, Apr 2018

This is an educational tour where you would learn about the history, cultures and customs. We took a morning tour which was on time as promised from 10 -2 PM. We wandered in the gold and spice souks and again learned about various spices and usage in middle eastern cooking. In the gold souk we saw worlds biggest gold ring!. Along the way we went to two museums and took a boat ride Abra crossing from Diera to Bur Dubai. The tour concluded with middle eastern food which was good as well. Above all, the tour guide was great. She took time to explain. I would recommend this tour to anyone who wishes to learn about Dubai beyond its glitz and glamour including to families with children.

Nada is not only remarkable in terms...

Robert_F, Mar 2018

Nada is not only remarkable in terms of her knowledge of the city and its culture but also with repect to her ability to draw you in to it. One of the best tour guides we have met, including the best we have experienced through Viking, who serve as our basis for comparison. On top of the various sites we visited, we had a very enjoyable lunch at a Turkish cafe--the sort of eatery that Anthony Bourdain or Guy Fieri would recommend. We have recommended Nada to our friends in Dubai and plan to contact her in preparation for our next visit to the Emirates during the Spring of next year.

Nada Badran is one of the finest guides...

KENNETH_D, Mar 2018

Nada Badran is one of the finest guides we have ever had, the old dubai tour is a must

LOVED THIS TRIP! Our tour guide...

Nicholas O, Mar 2018

LOVED THIS TRIP! Our tour guide Nada was amazing and very knowledgeable. One of the better trips I've experienced in Dubai. Highly recommend

Nada was superb. Very knowledgeable...

Jeffrey K, Nov 2017

Nada was superb. Very knowledgeable and attentive to every detail. Probably the best tour we have ever taken

Nada was an excellent passionate...

wendy D, Apr 2017

Nada was an excellent passionate tour guide. She was very knowledgeable about Dubai and provided a thorough guided experience through Old Dubai. Because of our small group size, we were able to interact on a personal level and share many stories of my country and hers. I highly recommend this experience. This was my third trip through Dubai and I gained a deeper vision into the culture and people of the city of Dubai.

Bel tour valorizzato da Nada

Gabriele_G, Apr 2023

Nada è stata bravissima, ci ha accompagnato nella "vecchia" Dubai spiegandoci tutto accuratamente e poi abbiamo pranzato in un bel ristorante tipico con cibo buono. Nada inoltre ci ha dato consigli su visite e altro da fare per il nostro proseguio a Dubai. Grazie 1000 Nada

Old Dubai!

denise_j, Jan 2020

Extrem kunnig trevlig och kompetent guide .Tack Nada för en fantastisk tur! Rekommenderas varmt! Hälsningar från ladies from Sweden

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