Buzz
Street food delicacies, historical museums, the vibrant souks, and Dubai's artistic culture are often overlooked when discussing this emirate.
Exploring Dubai: Unveiling a City of Subtlety
As a symbol of Middle Eastern luxury, Dubai entices with its irresistible charm and promising potential. The facade of Dubai consistently reflects prosperity and excessive temptation. However, there's more to Dubai than luxurious hotels and extravagant dining experiences.
Street Food Delights
Foreigners make up 90% of the population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), mostly low-income laborers from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, Iran, Egypt, and Nepal. Therefore, the cuisine here is incredibly diverse. Unlike the glamorous scenes in famous restaurants, people still savor street food in Old Dubai's historic neighborhoods, where cultures converge.
Savor the Malabari crab curry with rice cakes on the South Express tour through Central Asia, Karama. Alternatively, take a subway ticket to explore lesser-known places and taste a crispy Emirati pastry accompanied by eggs, cheese, fish sauce, and zesty Iranian-marinated grilled meat.
For late-night cravings, Al Reef Bakery on Al Wasl Road is the top choice. This all-day bakery is an icon of Dubai, much like the Burj Al Arab – the world's only 7-star hotel. Hot Lebanese manakish, resembling pizzas with gooey cheese, zataar (a Middle Eastern spice blend), sausages, or labneh (yogurt cheese) are the hallmark dishes of this establishment.
Turning Back Time
Looking back at its development, if Dubai were compared to a human lifespan, it would merely be a child. Therefore, competing with historically rich cities worldwide is unnecessary. Skyscrapers breaking world records, colossal shopping centers, and the sole 7-star hotels have portrayed Dubai as a rapidly maturing adolescent.
However, while the United Arab Emirates may only have a 45-year history, heritage still thrives in the culturally rich Al Fahidi Historic District overlooking Dubai Creek, once the region's pearl diving center.
Enjoy a cup of Arabic coffee and explore the Dubai Museum, located in an 18th-century fortress. Nearby, the Sheikh Mohammed Center offers Arabic language classes and often hosts weekly breakfast and lunch gatherings with locals for tourists.
Shopping at the Souks
While Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates offer everything and more than you could imagine, it's the traditional souks here that hold the wonders. The oldest shopping district in the city sits at Dubai Creek, with one side dedicated to textiles and the other to spices and gold.
Sit aboard an Arab dhow (traditional wooden boat), traverse the creek for shopping, haggle over frankincense, cinnamon, and saffron. Antiquez Museum in Al Quoz on Street 8, adjacent to Alserkal Avenue, is a maze of curiosities and hidden chambers.
A traditional dish-dash outfit, salt abaya, and Dubai-themed salt and pepper shakers are must-buys here.
If you want to buy exquisitely designed Turkish chandeliers, vibrant Afghan rugs, signature cushioned seats, and Omani jewelry, head to the familiar market known as Blue Souk in Sharjah, just a 30-minute taxi ride from Old Dubai.
According to Vnexpress
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Source: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourJune 17, 2016
