Cherry Creek Bank

Dubai Creek is a 14 kilometre (8.7 mile) inlet of the sea forming a natural harbour which has been crucial to Dubai’s development as a trading port. The creek separates Bur (old) Dubai on its southern bank from the town of Deira on its north.

An Arab Dhow Tour

For a good introduction to both Dubai and its creek take a one hour tour on an Arab dhow. A dhow tour provides the chance to observe the rich variety of architecture surrounding the creek, as well as an up-close experience of its working life.

On the Bur Dubai side buildings tend to be of traditional Middle Eastern and Emirati design, with arched windows, Arabic latticework, wind towers, minarets and domes predominating. On the Deira side architecture is more modern with some wonderfully imaginative skyscrapers offering gleaming reflections of each other, the creek and the bright Middle Eastern sun.