Deira

Dubai’s oldest neighbourhood
Word to the wise: Vendors at the various outdoor markets are often exceedingly friendly, and if you ask nicely, most will beam at the opportunity to pose for photos.

With so many shiny towers and glistening malls, it’s sometimes easy to forget that Dubai is actually a city in the Middle East. Deira serves as a happy reminder. The area is home to many traditional Arabic markets, including the Gold Souk, the Spice Souk and the fish, meat and vegetable markets.
The walk along the Creek makes for one of the most pleasant in Dubai, and one can often catch traders unloading various wares from their dhows (the activity usually makes for good photo opportunities). Though the Creek was once a hotbed of financial activity—thanks in part to prodigious pearling and fishing industries—development has bypassed the area in the last few decades. If anything, though, this probably only adds to Deira’s charm, and the feel that it’s the most genuine spot in town.