Dubai Creek is a conduit in central, old Dubai. Fifty years ago, the city began to take shape just around this area. There are few, if any, buildings from the English protectorate. Dubai Creek was the city's main transportation artery, with fishermen going fishing and returning with their catches, merchants bringing goods to markets, and townsfolk moving from shore to shore in small boats, referred to here as "abra". An economic miracle has transformed the city, with several bridges spanning Dubai Creek and two subway lines running under it, but still these boats have not lost their importance and continue to do so from shore to shore. In the city centre, there are several routes of these mini-ferries, with a token fare of one or two dirhams, depending on the distance travelled. If you have a debit transport card, you can pay with it, but daytime unlimited cards do not work here and the ticket must be bought in a booth on the beach or paid directly to the boat captain. A map of the routes followed by the abras can be found on the Internet. If you want, you can charter an abra for an hour and ride down the aisle the whole time. We limited ourselves to travelling from the wharf at the Union bus station to Old Souk on the other side, paying a couple of dirhams each and spending ten minutes on the journey. There are now many pleasure and tourist boats and ships on Dubai Creek, apart from the traditional boats, day and night, offering trips along many routes, for every taste and wallet. In general, being in Dubai and taking a ride on Dubai Creek is like not taking a vaporetto in Venice or a pleasure craft in Amsterdam or the SPB.

The creek is largely the reason for Dubai’s existence - it was a base for trading. There is lots of water traffic, including old style abras, dhow boats and more modern craft. You can cross the creek on an abra for just one dirham or hire one for a private tour. You can also catch a ferry to Dubai Marina. There are souks alongside the creek.

The one dirham boat ride across was an experience, ensure you don’t end up on a private crossing as they are much more expensive and unnecessary in my opinion. The guys running the boats are very keen to lead you to a private option. We were not comfortable walking round the vendors on the other side as they were so persistent and determined. So a very short half hour and we went back. The stalls on the main side had a couple selling fresh squeezed juice. Absolutely delicious and very cheap, orange or pomegranate.

Dubai Creek is the perfect spot to experience the old and new sides of Dubai. The best way to cross from Bur Dubai to Deira is by taking an abra. The ride is quick, affordable, and offers beautiful views of the creek and the city’s skyline. It’s a fun and scenic way to travel between the two areas, giving you a real taste of old Dubai.

Boat tour through Dubai’s oldest area, with countless stores and spice bazaars. The route, about 15 minutes long, crosses the canal that separates the Deira district from the historic center of the city. It is widely used by locals, as well as tourists.

The Dubai Creek is a less "luxory" area of the city, more experienced by workers and where the main Souq are also located. It will be that the water always brings an extra perception of cool and holiday but this channel is very pleasant. The boat crossing, used in the absence of bridges in the vincinanzas to transpose from one shore to the other where the Gold Souks and the Spice/Textile Souks are, is a small and fast experience, typically offered within tour packages, very pleasant. Suggestive also certain passages of large characteristic boats

This area is the Old market area. We took a taxi from the hotel and walked around on our own (without a guide). Everything is for sale. Start low and be ready to walk away in your negotiations. Water taxi’s are available to take you across the creek for less than $2. Note: it is a long walk through busy streets to walk between the Gold and Spice souks.

So pleased we visited here to experience a bit of old town Dubai in the Gold & Spice Souks. We were ready to be pestered by the vendors but our experience took things to a whole new level. We were always polite with ‘no Thank you’ but for some that’s not enough, they physically grab you or even block you leaving their store if you enter so my advice is to visit if you are confident & know what you want but if you are timid do not go, you will be taken advantage of. Do not shake hands (they don’t let go & pull you in), do not try on head scarves “for a photo” as it is taken as a gesture to but, etc etc… Always haggle on price as first price is never best & even “best price” is not lowest ! Again, we wanted to come here & really pleased we did, also make sure you experience the boats across the creek, you pay the driver 1 EAD pp/per trip - !!! We found a nice coffee shop for a break @ also a nice place for ice tea by the creek, quite reasonable prices too

Love the creek and the souks. Great experience for the kids . It’s one dirhams each to cross the creek on the wooden boats which the kids loved. We went to a lovely restaurant called the real creek ! Food was amazing

Even knowing that the area is completely rebuilt, However, taking this tour is worth it. In my opinion the aim is not so much to visit all the various shops as to understand the origins of the nation they visit. The whole tour is very interesting and flows lightly and pleasantly. Our guide, Mido, with his passion immediately entered into harmony with the group, making our afternoon even more beautiful, very good Mido. Lastly, the mid-tour snack, good and super abundant. Well done.