Old Dubai Small-Group Tour: Hidden Gems, Souks & Local Stories
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Dubai’s historic beginnings tell a story like no other and this tour dives right into it. We’ll trace the city’s transformation from humble trading port to cultural crossroads, starting at a museum that unpacks its journey from desert to global destination. From there, we’ll explore the scent-swirled Spice Souk, gold-lined markets, and the iconic Dubai Creek via a breezy abra ride. The charming Al Fahidi neighborhood comes next, with its towering wind towers and timeless tales. We’ll sip Arabic coffee, swap stories, and close the experience with a local Emirati meal that captures the essence of Dubai’s soul: warm, diverse, and unforgettable.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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.
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
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.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Meal as per itinerary and bottled water in restaurant
Admission fees
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Soda/Pop
What To Expect
Al Shindagha Museum
We begin our tour at the Al Shindagha Museum district, our launch pad into old Dubai. Here, we thread together curated galleries and tactile displays to show how Dubai grew from creekside settlements into a trading crossroads. We’ll trace pearl-diving tales and dhow routes that linked Dubai to Persia, India, and East Africa. Objects become characters, maps turn into stories, and the Creek moves from backdrop to main character.
Dubai Creek
The wooden abra boats plying the busy Dubai Creek are one of Dubai's most iconic scenes to witness. Guests will enjoy an unforgettable experience on a private abra ride and capture the city from the water as we time-travel from its past to its present.
Options
FH Integration
Old Dubai Walking Tour
Reviews
188 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
The highlight of our holiday
Kris A,
Oct 23, 2022
- Viator
5.00This 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 19, 2022
- Viator
5.00It’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.
Amazing tour through Old Dubai
Ilaria J,
Mar 13, 2022
- Viator
5.00The 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 21, 2022
- Viator
5.00This 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 26, 2018
- Viator
5.00Good over view of Dubai history and well planned use of time. Great guide and lunch was good local food.
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