About the tour

What was Dubai like before the skyscrapers? How did the pearl traders live? Why is the coffee brewed with cardamom? What is an abra, and what were the wind towers for?

On this tour children set off to explore the old quarters of Dubai and work through tasks that introduce them to the culture and traditions of the Emirates through real places, real people and unusual objects.

How the tour goes

The journey begins in the old quarters of Dubai. The children have to track down a mysterious blue stone and work out its secret, and then find the largest gold ring in the world.

Along the way we call in on a calligrapher, visit a spice shop and meet an artist. We sort out the local scents, talk about honey and try to work out whether honey is produced in the UAE.

Next we head for the Coffee Museum, look inside a Bedouin tent and learn about the traditions of falconry.

And there is more: a trip on a traditional abra boat across Dubai Creek and a walk through the famous gold and spice souks.

What you will see

✨ the old quarters of Dubai
💍 the largest gold ring in the world
🪶 a calligrapher and an artist’s workshop
🌿 a spice shop
☕ the Coffee Museum
🏕️ a Bedouin tent
🦅 a falconer
🚤 a traditional abra boat
💰 the Gold Souk
🌶️ the Spice Souk
🏠 the old houses of the pearl traders
🌬️ the traditional al-barjeel wind towers

What you will learn

why an enormous gold market grew up in Dubai;
where the largest gold ring in the world is;
what the word “abra” means;
why Bedouin coffee is brewed with cardamom;
whether honey is produced in the UAE;
how the pearl traders lived;
what the al-barjeel wind towers are and what they were for;
what a smart police station is;
how the traditional crafts have survived in modern Dubai.

Who it suits

The tour is a particular hit with children who like exploring, searching, asking questions and solving riddles.

It suits families with school-age children and small groups of children.

How to prepare

No special preparation is needed — the children solve every riddle and task right there on the route.

👟 Comfortable shoes — there is a lot of walking through old lanes and souks.

🧢 A hat and sunscreen — the Dubai sun can be strong even in winter.

💧 Water with you — especially important in the hot season.

👕 Light, comfortable clothing — the route runs through traditional districts and markets, so clothes that cover the shoulders and knees work best.

📸 A phone or camera — there will be plenty of unusual places, craft workshops and colourful details worth photographing.

And most of all — curiosity, and a readiness to become a real explorer of Old Dubai!