Dubai Museum (p65)
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Appropriately housed in one of the
city’s oldest buildings, this museum
provides a well-laid-out and comprehen-
sive history of Dubai. Learn exactly how
and why, in just a third of a century, this
extraordinary destination has risen from
being a simple desert settlement to one of
the most progressive and modern cities
in the Middle East. Many exhibits take
the form of lifelike dioramas, while a
separate archaeological exhibition covers
the ancient history of the region, with a
display of exhibits discovered in several
excavated tombs.
1 Bur Dubai
Dubai Souqs (p52)
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Noisy, chaotic and colourful, Dubai’s
souqs are an enticing reminder that
you are, indeed, in a foreign country –
something you might forget when you’re
poolside at your five-star hotel. The small
Spice Souq is a heady introduction to Mid-
dle Eastern exotic herbs and spices, while
Bur Dubai’s Textile Souq (p66) is another
assault on the senses with its vividly pat-
terned fabrics. Don’t miss nearby Hindi
Lane (p65), a tiny alleyway flanked by
stalls selling brilliantly coloured religious
decorations, or the Deira Gold Souq,
which has a dazzling display of jewellery
at remarkably low prices. Deira GolD Souq
1 Deira, Bur Dubai
MI CHAEL
CO
YNE
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