Bur Dubai
On the western side of Dubai Creek lies Bur Dubai, which like Deira provides a window into the early days of the city. At the northern edge of Bur Dubai near Port Rashid, the Al Shindagha Tunnel connects Bur Dubai with Deira. Nearby, at the northern tip of the creekside walkway are the Sheikh Saeed House and the Heritage and Diving Village. Walking south along the creek are the Dubai Museum and Bastakiya historic quarter. Visitors can catch a water taxi (abra) from the nearby Al Seef Road area across the creek to Deira. The upscale BurJuman Centre lies a couple of blocks to the west, and next to it is Al Karama, a business and residential area known for shopping bargains. The beautiful Creekside Park lies between the creek's two bridges, Al Garhoud and Al Maktoum. One of the city's best walking areas, it includes waterfront pathways, a 30m-high (98-ft.) cable car, and a fun educational center for kids called Children's City. Wafi City is located just to the west of Creekside Park.
Deira
Deira is Dubai's oldest and busiest neighborhood, filled with the traditional sights, sounds, and smells of the city. It's located on the east side of Dubai Creek and is connected to the western part of the city by two bridges: Garhoud Bridge and Al Maktoum Bridge. The Dubai Creek and Yacht Club lies next to the Garhoud Bridge and Deira City Centre. However, most of the neighborhood's action takes place farther north, in a triangle between Maktoum Bridge (which connects to Bur Dubai), the Corniche (which runs along the coast), and Abu Baker al-Siddiq Road (which extends between Maktoum Bridge and the Corniche to the east). A number of leading hotels are located along Baniyas Road (such as Hilton Dubai Creek and Sheraton Dubai Creek), which parallels the creek as it makes its way toward the Gulf. To the east near the Clock Tower Roundabout and Al Rigga Road are a number of more moderate hotels, restaurants, and shops, as well as unattractive apartment buildings and a whole lot of traffic. The Dubai International Airport is in the south of Deira.
The Deira wharfage area is located along the creek where Baniyas Road enters Al Ras, the area at the northwestern tip of Deira. Here you will see traditional dhows hauling their goods, and there are water taxis, abras, ferrying people across the creek to Bur Dubai. This is the most interesting part of Deira. Al Ras is home to Dubai's famous street markets, including the Gold Souk, Textile Souk, Spice Souk, and Fish Souk. This area is very congested and therefore best explored on foot in the cooler hours of the day. The Heritage House and Al-Ahmadiya School, two of Dubai's most appealing historical attractions, are also located in Al Ras. Extending east is the Corniche Deira, where Al Khaleej Road leads to the bridge connecting the mainland to Palm Deira island and on past Hamriya Port to Mamzar Beach Park.
Jumeirah, New Dubai, and the Palm Island
Originally just a beach, Jumeirah today refers to the entire coastal area west of Dubai Creek toward Jebel Ali. Al Jumeirah Road, commonly called the "Beach Road," begins at the Jumeirah Mosque and extends west past waterfront resorts, shops, and restaurants. This is a terrific walking area by day and night, and tends to be filled with casually dressed Western expats. Throughout the area are some of the most extravagant and expensive villas in Dubai. The Beach Road then passes the Jumeirah Beach Park as it makes it way toward the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Burj Al Arab, and Wild Wadi waterpark in the area called Umm Suqeim. At this point, Beach Road merges with Al Sufouh Road, passing as it heads farther west by Madinat Jumeirah, Knowledge Village, and Internet City, and on to the Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residences (JBR).
In front of JBR lies a new pedestrian area called "The Walk." This fashionable stretch of shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars has quickly become one of the city's most popular going-out locales. Some of Dubai's leading beach resorts are nearby, such as the Ritz-Carlton, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, Méridien Mina Seyahi, and One&Only Royal Mirage. Although the coastal roads are more picturesque, it's faster to reach this part of Jumeirah from the city center by taking Sheikh Zayed Road and exiting at Interchange 5.
Off the coast of this stretch of Jumeirah Beach lies the Palm Jumeirah Island. The Palm is home to the Atlantis resort, where Aquaventure, Dolphin Bay, and The Lost Chambers are also located. A number of other hotels, restaurants, malls, and entertainment options are planned for the island. You can reach Atlantis by driving, taking a taxi, or riding the monorail that runs from the base of the island to the crescent.
In addition to the new sections of Jumeirah, New Dubai refers to the entire series of areas being developed from Dubailand to Dubai World Central.
Sheikh Zayed Road
Sheikh Zayed Road parallels the coast as it extends west from Za'abeel Park toward Abu Dhabi. Although it's also an inter-city highway, when referred to here, Sheikh Zayed Road is the modern business center of Dubai with gleaming skyscrapers lining the road from the Trade Centre roundabout to the area past Interchange 1. The Dubai World Trade Centre was the emirate's first high-rise when it was built in 1979 and everything around it was still sand. Since then, the area has transformed into a concrete jungle as increasingly modern, tall, and architecturally distinctive buildings have been constructed. The twin Emirates Towers housing a hotel and office space opened in 2000, followed in recent years by even grander hotels: The Dusit Thani, Fairmont, and Shangri-La among them. In addition to hotels, the buildings lining Sheikh Zayed Road hold shopping centers, stores, art galleries, restaurants, cafes, and nightclubs, along with offices and luxury apartments.
Just to the west of Interchange 1, the Burj Khalifa dominates the skyline as the world's tallest structure. It's surrounded by an area called Downtown Dubai, which includes the Dubai Mall, Dubai Fountains, The Address hotel, The Palace-Old Town hotel, and other hotels, restaurants, office spaces, and entertainment options. As Sheikh Zayed Road continues its journey west, it passes the Mall of the Emirates and Ski Dubai at Interchange 4, with Dubai Internet City just beyond that, the Dubai Marina and Emirates Golf Club at Interchange 5, and finally Ibn Battuta Mall at Interchange 6 before entering Jebel Ali Village. From there, it's about an hour-and-a-half drive to Abu Dhabi.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
