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Jumeirah Mosque’s domes and minarets behind palm trees
City tours · Dubai

Dubai city tour, old and new

A half-day tour from the old creek-side districts to Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa.

Duration
5 hours
Pickup
Hotel pickup in Dubai
Group
Small shared group, or a private car
Languages
English; other languages on request
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours before pickup
Confirmation
Within a few hours of your request
  • Abra boats moored at a Dubai Creek station, flying UAE flags
  • A sandstone building with a wind tower in the Al Fahidi historical district
  • An abra crossing Dubai Creek, seen from the water
  • Gold necklaces and bangles filling a shop window in the Gold Souk

Highlights

  • Photo stop at Jumeirah Mosque
  • Al Fahidi historic district and Dubai Museum
  • Abra ride across Dubai Creek
  • Gold Souk and Spice Souk
  • Downtown Dubai and Burj Khalifa photo stop

Why you’ll love it

  • Old Dubai on foot

    Walk the wind-tower lanes of Al Fahidi and the busy souks of Deira, where the city grew up around the creek.

  • An abra across the creek

    The same wooden boats still carry shoppers and workers across Dubai Creek, and your crossing is included.

  • Old and new in one morning

    From the spice sacks of Deira to the foot of Burj Khalifa in a few hours, with a guide to explain how the city grew.

  • Back by lunchtime

    A half day with hotel pickup, leaving the afternoon free for the beach, the pool or a desert safari.

How the day runs

  1. 9:00 am

    Pickup

    Pickup from your hotel and drive to Jumeirah.

  2. 9:30 am

    Jumeirah Mosque

    A photo stop outside Jumeirah Mosque, one of the few visible from the public road.

  3. 10:00 am

    Al Fahidi and the museum

    Walk through the Al Fahidi historic district and the Dubai Museum at Al Fahidi Fort.

  4. 10:45 am

    Abra ride

    Cross Dubai Creek on a traditional abra, as locals have for generations.

  5. 11:15 am

    Gold and Spice Souks

    Browse the Gold Souk and Spice Souk on the Deira side of the creek.

  6. 12:30 pm

    Downtown Dubai

    Drive to Downtown Dubai for a photo stop by the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain.

  7. 1:30 pm

    Drop-off

    Return to your hotel.

What’s included

Included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Air-conditioned transport
  • Abra ride across the creek
  • English-speaking driver guide

Not included

  • Museum and souk purchases
  • Lunch

Good to know

What to bring

  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • A hat, sunglasses and water
  • Cash for small souk purchases
  • Clothes covering shoulders and knees

Not suitable for

  • Wheelchair users (uneven lanes, steps and boarding the abra)
  • Travellers who find walking in the heat hard, in the summer months

Know before you go

  • The Dubai Museum at Al Fahidi Fort is closed for restoration; until it reopens, you see the fort from outside and spend longer in the Al Fahidi lanes.
  • On Fridays most souk shops open only in the late afternoon, so a Friday morning tour finds the souks quiet.
  • Gold is sold by weight at the day’s rate; the making charge is the part you can bargain on.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup, or 48 hours with the At the Top option. Cancellations after that, and no-shows, are charged in full. If the tour is called off for weather or safety, you choose a full refund or a new date.

Questions

Is this tour mostly walking or driving?

A mix. You will walk through Al Fahidi and the souks, with air-conditioned transport between stops.

Can we go inside Jumeirah Mosque?

Not on this tour. We can book a separate guided tour of the mosque interior on request.

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