Dubai/Deira

Both Red and Green lines of Dubai Metro connect Deira with Bur Dubai.
Deira is connected with Bur Dubai by five crossings over the Creek, namely Al Maktoum Bridge, Floating Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge, Business Bay Crossing and Al Shindagha Tunnel. All the crossings charge the Salik road toll.
Small ferries called heritage abra cross the Creek from Bur Dubai. One route is from at the west end of the Textile Souk in Bur Dubai to near the Spice Souk in Deira. The other main route is from in the middle of the Textile Souk to Al Sabkha station, further up the Creek at Al Sabkha Rd in Deira. The trip costs 1 dirham, payable to the driver after the boat has left the station. Abras set off very regularly, and the service is available round-the-clock.
On the inner side of Dubai Creek, a motorized abra route was opened from (250m from Creek metro station) to Dubai Festival City water transport station, with a more modern style. These motorised abras is operated by RTA every 10 to 20 minutes from 7AM to midnight and costs 2 dirhams per person.

• Al Ahmadiya School and Heritage House

  phone: +971 4 226 0286
  address: Al Ahmadiya St, Al Ras
  Built in 1912, Al Ahmadiya School was Dubai's first school and has now been nicely restored. It would be a stretch to call the exhibits of old reed pens and diplomas fascinating, but they've tried pretty hard, and if nothing else, the air-con and clean toilets may come in handy. The attached heritage house is a traditional Emirati-style home built in the 1890s.

• Deira Clocktower

  address: Abu Baker Al Siddiqe Rd 110 crossing Al Maktoum Rd 105
  A landmark of Deira and important as a monument built before the independence of UAE.

• Dhow Wharfage

  address: Baniyas Rd, Rigga Al Buteen community 125
  The dhows ply the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, transporting goods between south and south-west Asia and east Africa.

• Mamzar Park

  phone: +971 50 858 9897
  address: 104 Al Khaleej Rd, Al Mamzar community
  You can swim at Al Mamzar Beach or stroll in the park. Though less popular than other Dubai parks, it has its share of Dubai's greenery. Monday & Wednesday for ladies only.

• Dubai Municipality Museum

  phone: +971 4 225 3312
  address: Old Baladiya St crossing Al Souk Al Kabeer St, Al Buteen community

• Imagine

  address: Festival Bay, Dubai Festival City, Festival Blvd
  Plays two different big water, fire and light shows: Stardancer and A Child's Dream. Have several world records.

• Women's Museum

  phone: +971 4 234 2342, +971 55 667 2447
  address: 28 St, Al Dhagaya community, P.O. Box 1086
  Highlight the contribution of women to UAE's economy, culture and politic for the independence in the 1960s and since. Life of great women and daily life of Emirati people. A exhibit is also dedicated to the famous Emirati female poet Ousha bint Khalifa Suwidi.

• Naif Police Museum

  address: 106 Naif Rd crossing 9A St, Naif community

• Cinecity - Al Ghurair Centre

  phone: +971 4 228 9898
  address: Al Ghurair City, Al Riqqah St
  Previously Grand Cinemas, now Cinecity, is the largest cinema chain in the Middle East. It is a part of Novo Cinemas group. This 8 screen cinema complex including 14 anchor stores has 2 levels.

• VOX Deira City Centre

  phone: +971 600 599905
  address: Deira City Centre
  VOX has 11 screens with various types of experiences for movie lovers. The immersive experience of DepthQ 3D technology, fully reclining seats, VIP seats, 20 meter screens and brightest and clearest pictures is their latest addition.

• Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

  phone: +971 (4) 222 7171
  address: Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, Bani Yas Rd, 476
  This leisure hub is an ideal destination for golfers. It provides wide-ranging set of services, floodlit par-3 course, modern golf academies and driving ranges. Visitors can enjoy a challenging game of golf, hire a private boat to enjoy the calm waters or take a swim.

• Dinner Dhow Cruises

  phone: +971 4 336 8407, +971 4 336 8409
  address: Pier 1 in Dhow Wharfage, Baniyas Rd, Rigga Al Buteen community
  A 2-hour dhow cruise tour on a "5-star" dhow, along Dubai Creek with commentary in English.

• City Centre Deira

  phone: +971 4 295 1010
  address: Banyias Rd, Alittihad Rd, Port Saeed community
  By far the most popular mall in Dubai. Debenhams, Virgin Megastore, Zara and other international high street brands. A multiplex cinema, and many restaurants and cafes. Also has a large "Arabian Treasures" souvenir and traditional textiles area. A new extension includes many more high-end boutiques and upmarket mall restaurants. A big Carrefour hypermarket sells just about everything and is nearly always very busy. There is a Sofitel hotel at one end of the centre, where there are bars and restaurants serving alcohol.

• Dubai Festival City Mall

  phone: +971 4 425 4900 (management), +971 4 425 4999 (security/lost)
  address: Dubai Festival City, Festival Blvd, POBox 126027
  Has Dubai's only Ikea, since it relocated from City Centre, and a huge Plug-Ins electronic store. Also an ACE Hardware and an amazing mall that has 550 shops.

• City Centre Mirdif

  address: Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Rd E311 crossing Al Rebat St, Mirdif community
  A large mall with 500+ stores, over 80 restaurants and cafés and plenty of entertainment and recreation sites inside it.

Markets

• Gold Souk

  address: 106 Sikkat Al Khail Rd, Al Ras community
  Not a mall, but a historic market that has been a part of Dubai since the origin of Dubai itself. Located at the mouth of the creek, it dazzles people by selling gold in large quantities and with little visible security. A must visit for shoppers and sightseers. Most of the gold is 22ct quality and quite expensive - although even here the shopkeepers are prepared to bargain - and the craftsmanship can be remarkably detailed. The gold items are sold by weight with a "making charge" added on top to cover the workmanship. It pays therefore, to go shopping armed with the current gold price and a knowledge of the making charges in order to hone the bargaining process. Many outlets are part of chains that also have branches in malls, so are generally reliable.

• Spice Souk

  address: 34 St, Al Ras community
  As above, not a mall, but a historic market that has been a part of Dubai since the origin of Dubai itself. Located at the mouth of the creek, it is not far from the Gold Souk, but has sadly declined a bit in recent years as supermarkets take over the spice trade. If you're actually shopping for spices, odds are you'll get better prices and quality with much less hassle at Carrefour. Both the Spice Souk and the Gold Souq are a rather hot and sweaty experience with limited air-conditioning, so wear appropriately cool, loose clothing if visiting in mid summer. Individual shops are air conditioned. Although regularly visited by tourists, none of the souks are considered a tourist area and as such modest dress should be worn to avoid causing offence or attracting unwanted attention.

• Fish Market

  address: Al Mina Rd crossing Baniyas Rd, Deira Corniche
  A modern covered market where they sell various kind of fish and seafood, as well as fruits, vegetables, dates (and some kitchen utensils).

Another historic market, Old Textile Souk, is located in Bur Dubai just on the other bank of the creek, reachable via heritage abra ferries for 1 dirham.

• Traditional Souq

  address: Naif community
  Souk with air-conditioning, nice decoration and good infrastructure, let say almost a souk almost a mall. 100 shops and 6,100 square-meters. Khalid Huriah Public Restaurant in the middle.

Budget

• Yum!

  phone: +971 4 222 7171
  address: Inter-Continental Hotel
  A wonderful noodle bar located at the InterContinental Dubai. Well priced, with excellent food.

Mid-range

• Al Dawaar Revolving Restaurant

  phone: +971 4 209 1100
  address: Hyatt Regency
  Serving an assortment of cuisines, the highlight of this beautiful restaurant is that it revolves, giving a nice tour of the city.

• Al Fanar Restaurant & Cafe

  phone: +971 4 232 9966
  address: Canal Walk, Dubai Festival City Mall
  Authentic Emirati cuisine, in the ambience of Dubai recreated from the 1960s.

• Kiku

  phone: +971 4 282 4040
  address: Le Meridien Dubai
  Japanese cuisine. Very high quality and very popular.

• Legends Steakhouse

  phone: +971 4 295 6000
  address: Dubai Creek Golf Club
  Part of the Creek Golf Clubhouse. The waterfront restaurant right on Dubai Creek is very popular with residents.

• Al Bait Alqadeem Restaurant & Cafe

  phone: +971 4 225 6111, +971 55 477 8107
  address: Al Ahmadiya St crossing 15a St, Al Ras, POBox 30304
  Emirati cuisine in a Emirati traditional house.

• Floating Restaurants

  address: Baniyas Rd, Al Sabkha & Al Rigga & Rigga Al Buteen communities
  Tens of dhows propose a diner during a 2-hour cruise on the creek.

Splurge

• JW's Steakhouse

  phone: +971 4 607 7977
  address: JW Marriott Hotel
  This is the Marriott's signature restaurant. Highly popular with Dubai residents.

• Filli Cafeteria

  address: Al Mamzar
  Probably the most popular tea spots in town, especially Filli, who serves over 4,000 cups a day. Try the zaffrani chai (milk tea with saffron) or the doodh kadak (strong milk tea).

• The Edge Pool & BarSmall bar but wonderful views especially at sunset.

• X ClubRussia themed bar

Budget

Invisible to the net and the guidebooks, there's several basic cheap places around the souk area, a few streets back from the creek.

• Dubai Youth Hostel

  phone: +971 4 2988151 (reservation), +971 4 2988161 (reception)
  address: 39 Al Nahda Rd
  Reception 24/7. Pool, football field, chill-out garden, A/C in the room, small bar fridge. It's located next to a mosque so morning prayers may wake you. Stadium metro station and bus stop just 100 m from hostel, Lulu Hyper Market shopping center and supermarket nearby. Free safety deposit boxes (hang on to your key as they have stiff $200 replacement fee). Clean rooms but unhelpful staff. You can walk there from Terminal 2. When you get out walk straight along 16th St to the end. It takes around 10 min. From terminal 1 or 3 you can take the metro to Union and transfer to Green Line (just take a train on the other side of the platform) to Stadium station (zone 1 fare, 2 AED). A taxi from terminal 1 or 3 costs around 40 AED. It is a branch of the UAE YHA, and only hostel in Dubai; thus booked up weeks ahead. WiFi cost extra 10 AED.

• Gulf Pearl Hotel

  phone: +971 4 2728333
  address: Al Baraha St, Omar al Khattab Rd
  Rooms from 158 AED.

• Pacific Hotel

  phone: +971-4-2276700
  address: Sabakha St 115, Deira
  Rooms from 300 AED or US$80.

• Niawara Guest House

  phone: +971 4-2265935
  address: Al Ras Street
  Probably one of the cheapest place in town

• Alkhayam Hotel

  phone: +971 (4) 2264211
  address: Sikkat Al Khali Street, PO box 88249
  free wifi, nice cafe

• Qasr Al Seyaha Hotel

  phone: +971 4 2255855
  address: PO box 21457
  Another cheapy in the souk area

• Al Jazeera Hotel

  phone: +971 4 2262322
  address: PO box 8814, Al Ahmadea Rd, Al Ras Area

• Galaxy Plaza

  phone: +971 4 2257444
  address: PO box 32236, Al Ras Street
  2 star place, a step up from the

Mid-range

• Avari Dubai Hotel

  phone: +971 4 295 6666
  address: near Clock Tower roundabout
  Rooms from US$152.

• Avenue Hotel

  phone: +971 4 297-0808
  address: Al Riqqa St
  Rooms start at 350 dhs, including breakfast.

Splurge

• Hyatt Regency Dubai

  phone: +971 4 209 1234
  address: Deira Corniche
  414 rooms and suites with views of the Persian Gulf. Host to Al Dawaar, Dubai's only revolving restaurant.

• InterContinental Dubai Festival City

  phone: +971 4 7011111
  498 rooms over 36 floors with views of the Dubai Creek and a 3800 sq m event centre. Attached to the Festival Centre shopping mall.

• InterContinental Residence Suites Dubai Festival City

  phone: +971 4 7013333
  Offers one, two and three-bedroom serviced suites with a choice between Creek and city views. Available for short or long stays.

• Park Hyatt Dubai

  phone: +971 4 602 1234
  Waterfront location next to the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.

• Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek

  phone: +971 4 222 7171
  address: Bani Yas Road - 476 Dubai

• Taj Palace Hotel Dubai

  phone: +971 4 223-2222
  address: PO Box 42211
  Near Naif Square Bazaar.