All You Need to Know About Deira Creek
If there’s one thing that makes Dubai special, it has to be the ability to see its past and present in one place. In fact, all you have to do is be in the Dubai Frame and you’ll see Old Dubai on one side and New Dubai on the other.
All of this is divided by the majestic Dubai Creek, a symbol of the city’s past that runs through Deira Creek and Bur Dubai. Let’s start this journey with Deira Creek, shall we?
What is Deira Creek?
Deira Creek is a part of the Dubai Creek that stretches along the old neighborhood of Deira in Old Dubai.
Before Dubai became a modern city, life revolved around the creek that divided the city into two: Bur Dubai and Deira.
For many years, Deira Creek has been serving dhows and smaller boats who pass through the city for trade and transportation. It was also in this creek that the city’s pearling industry flourished, making it a major contributor to Dubai’s economy.
In 1961, the city began to develop Deira Creek to what it is today and while Dubai has evolved into a modern city since then, you still see beautiful abras and dhows passing through the creek giving you a glimpse of Dubai’s simple past.
Best Time to Go
There’s so much to explore around Deira Creek. So, if you want to make the most of your visit, do it during winter when the weather is warmer and you can walk outdoors for an entire day.
Things to Know
Here are some useful tips that may come handy during your visit to Deira Creek:
- Start your day early. Deira Creek has one of the best sunrise views anyway, so might as well take advantage of that. And by starting early in the morning, you can walk around and ride the abra while there aren’t many people around yet.
- Have an itinerary. There’s so much to see and do in this neighborhood that an itinerary would help you maximize your time and visit important spots around Deira Creek.
How to Get to Deira Creek
Trains: Take the M1 Metro Line and stop at the Baniyas Square Metro Station, which is a 10-minute walk away or the Al Rigga Metro Station where you can take a taxi to Deira Creek.
Buses: Several bus lines pass near Deira Creek, but the Dubai Municipality Headquarter and Dubai Intercontinental Hotel stations are the nearest at just two minutes away from Deira Creek.
Taxis: A taxi is still the easiest way to reach Deira Creek and you can book a ride through Uber or Careem.
Car service: You have the option to rent a chauffeured car service or self-drive car to easily drive around the city, especially if you’re traveling as a group
Where to Stay in Deira Creek
Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek
Address: Baniyas Road – Deira – Al Rigga – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 4 222 7171
Pricing: $$$
Radisson Blu Hotel is the city’s first five-star hotel and one of the best places to stay in Deira Creek if you want to experience both the old and new sides of Dubai.
Can you imagine this hotel was built in 1975? Located right in the middle of Dubai’s cultural district, just picture yourself waking up to views of the water and the aromas of the spice market.
But the real magic is being surrounded by these historical wonders while still being able to enjoy the modern conveniences of a five-star hotel.
You can stay in a well-appointed room or suite with overlooking views, dine at one of the hotel’s 15 restaurants and bars, and have access to top tourist spots a few minutes away.
Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Hilton
Address: Dubai Creek – Al Seef Street – Umm Hurair 1 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 4 707 7080
Pricing: $$$
Al Seef Heritage Hotel is the perfect choice if you want to stay right on the banks of Deira Creek in the Al Seef Heritage area.
Being part of the Hilton hotels, the Al Seef Heritage Hotel has all the amenities that you need for a luxurious stay – from its pool and spa to its outdoor Majlis and vintage playground.
Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers
Address: Baniyas Road – Port Saeed – Riggat Al Buteen – Dubai – United Arab
Phone: +971 4 228 1111
Pricing: $$$
Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers is a five-star accommodation with 268 rooms and suites that let you experience life by the creek, all while treating you to the modern amenities of a luxury hotel.
Here, you get to dine at some of the best restaurants and cafes in the area, enjoy the hotel’s conveniences and be near one of the most historic places in Dubai.
Where to Eat in Deira Creek
Absolute Barbecues
Address: Mezanine Floor – Centurion Star Tower – Deira – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 600 577 776
Pricing: $$
Absolute Barbecues isn’t just your typical barbecue joint because here, you have complete control of your meal. In fact, you’ll be grilling it yourself.
This unique concept allows you to choose your own meat, seafood and vegetables served on skewers, and you can grill them according to your preference on your table.
This means you get to control the level of doneness on your meat and vegetables while enjoying the grilling experience with your family and friends.
Of course, you also have the option to order from the “Wish Grill” with favorites like the red snapper with mango jalapeno spices and patrani grilled fish.
And to wrap up a great meal, we highly recommend the caramel rava custard pudding or the coconut bournvita burfi.
Shabestan Restaurant
Address: Radisson Blu Hotel – Deira – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 4 259 5661
Pricing: $$
Shabestan Restaurant is where you go if you want to enjoy authentic Persian food with stunning views of the creek.
Located at the Radisson Blu Hotel, the restaurant serves delicious Persian fare made with recipes that have been passed down to generations.
What do we recommend? Try their grilled kebabs, the baghalah polo ba mahicheh or leg of lamb and the tahchin or saffron rice.
Creekside Restaurant and Cafe
Address: Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers – Baniyas Street Creek Road – P.O. Box 4250 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 4 207 1750
Pricing: $$$
Creekside Restaurant and Cafe is a cozy space where you can enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee while basking in the sights of Deira Creek and the rest of Old Dubai.
Here, you get to start your day with a classic breakfast of egg’s benedict or French toast and some coffee to give you the boost you need for the rest of the day.
You can then board an abra right after to explore the rest of Deira Creek.
What to Do in Deira Creek
Explore the Different Souks
One of the highlights of visiting Deira Creek is getting to experience the souks. And believe us when we say that these are some of the best souks in the world.
If you’re into cooking, the Dubai Spice Souk is a wonderland of spices, condiments and local delicacies that you’ll surely love.
Here, you’ll find the world’s most expensive spice, saffron, and other concoctions that will surely make your dish taste a lot better.
Fancy gold jewelry? You’ll have a grand time shopping at the Gold Souk where you can find almost every type of jewelery made with gold, pearls, gems and diamonds.
Don’t forget to haggle hard, so you can get the best deals out of the jewelery pieces that you want.
Would you rather smell good? The Perfume Souk will have your olfactory senses feasting in all of the beautiful aromas of perfumes made by local artisans.
You can even have a special scent created to remind you of that special moment of your life or just to commemorate your trip to Dubai.
Visit Al Ahmadiya School
Al Ahmadiya School is more than just your typical school in Deira Creek because it’s part of the city’s heritage and a living example of beautiful Emirati architecture.
Being the first school in Dubai, Al Ahmadiya School was once the standard for education in the city with some of its smartest scholars and scientists getting their education at the school.
Sheikh Rashid and other notable personalities studied here with a curriculum that focuses primarily on Koranic study, mathematics and Arabic calligraphy.
Today, Al Ahmadiya School has been turned into a museum where you can learn about the evolution of education in the UAE.
Right beside the school is the beautiful Heritage House that showcases what a traditional house looked like in Dubai before.
Built in 1890, this house takes you back in time where you can see traditional furniture pieces and household items.
Enjoy a Day of Golf at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
It doesn’t matter if you play golf or not, you need to visit the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club while you’re in Deira Creek.
This massive development features a world-class 18-hole golf course, a club house and even a residential area that gives you a glimpse of both the old and new Dubai.
Enjoy a day of putting at the golf course with overlooking views of the creek. If you get hungry after, dine at the Boardwalk, QD’s or Jones the Grocer inside the club.
Get a Feel of Traditional Life at the Dhow Wharfage
A visit to Deira creek wouldn’t be complete if you don’t see the dhow wharfage where traditional Arabic boats line up waiting for their turn to sail on the creek and even out to sea.
Being a port city, Dubai relied a lot on the Deira creek for transporting goods, and that tradition has continued today with dhows transporting everything from food to air conditioning units.
Here, you can find small dhows used mainly within the city to larger ships that travel to different countries like Pakistan, Iran and even India.
More than appreciating these dhows, you also get a glimpse of life for the crews who live on these boats. And if you’re lucky enough, you might even get invited to one of these boats for a meal.
But if not, you can always ride a dhow to cross the creek to see the city from a different perspective. Plus, you get to avoid Dubai traffic by travelling on water.
Apps to Download When Visiting Deira Creek
Duolingo: A great tool for translating from Arabic to English to help you communicate with locals better during your trip
Visit Dubai: Contains useful information about important tourist areas in Dubai including the Deira Creek
RTA Dubai Drive: Helps you navigate your way around Dubai if you’re driving your own car with its detailed maps and even parking suggestions
Uber: An app to use when booking a ride to take you around the city