Old Dubai tour: Gold Souk, Spice Market & Abra boat ride

Gold, spices, and a creek crossing in the oldest part of the city

This guided tour of Old Dubai takes you through the Gold Souk and Spice Souk, includes a tasting of camel milk chocolate, and ends with a traditional abra boat ride across Dubai Creek. A live guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or other languages leads the group through the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and Bur Dubai, with bottled water provided throughout. Children from age 3 are welcome.

Options for this experience

8 options

From AED 80 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Tour with a special offer 09:30, 14:00, 16:00 and 16:30 Guide in English This tour includes water and Arabic coffee plus an Abra boat ride; street food is not included. Duration: 3-hour walking tour including an Abra ride on a traditional boat and a live tour guide.

Guided tour delivered in Italian 09:30, 14:00 and 16:30 Pick-up not included

Premium English tour 09:30, 14:00, 16:00 and 16:30 Street food included: an Abra boat ride, unlimited water, fresh hibiscus juice, a camel milk chocolate tasting and Arabic coffee. Street food includes tasty street food, Arabic coffee, a camel milk chocolate tasting and water. Pick-up not included.

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Tour for a group, conducted in French 09:30, 14:00 and 16:30 Includes water, coffee, street food and an Abra ride

German Guided tour 09:30, 14:00, 16:30 and 17:00 Duration: 3 hours. Pick-up not included.

Group tour Spanish 09:30, 14:00 and 16:30

Tour including pickup service 09:30, 14:00 and 16:30 Guide in 6 languages Duration: 3 hours. Tour with pickup from a Dubai hotel, with guiding in English, Italian, German, Spanish and French. Pickup from a Dubai hotel is included; drop-off is NOT included, only pickup.

Private tour that includes pickup 13 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 18:00 Guide in 6 languages Duration: 3 hours. Start at any time that suits your availability. Traditional street food includes traditional shawarma, fresh juice, camel milk chocolate, Arabian coffee and an Abra ride.

None of these options right for you? See 4 alternatives ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Old Dubai and Dubai Creek

• Visit Al Seef waterfront destination
• Explore Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood
• Visit the Coins Museum
• See Bur Dubai Grand Mosque
• Walk through Dubai Museum area
• Shop at Old Souq of Dubai
• Take an Abra boat ride on Dubai Creek
• Visit Dubai Spice Souq
• Shop at Dubai Gold Souq

Stops and time spent at each 7 stops

1. Al Seef Entry included 15m
2. Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood Entry included 35m
3. Dubai Museum passing by
4. Bur Dubai Village Entry included 5m
5. Dubai Creek passing by
6. Dubai Spice Souk Entry included 25m
7. Dubai Gold Souk Entry included 20m

What’s included

• Your guide in your chosen language.
• entry to the Gold Souk and Spice Souk.
• a camel milk chocolate tasting.
• the traditional abra boat ride across Dubai Creek.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• and free explanation of the sights and history as you go. Depending on your option, you may also get entry to the Dubai Museum or the Coins Museum.

Times

• Every day 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00

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Before you book

Group Up to 10 · max 5 per booking

Live guide English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts. 3 with pickup ›

Book up to 1h before

Ages Adult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Public transport nearby Not recommended with heart problems Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Mahmoud Elsayed Tourism L.L.C Walking , Safari and City Tour

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

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The experience

The tour starts in the heart of Old Dubai, where you walk through the Gold Souk (a market of over 350 retailers selling tax-free gold, diamonds, and pearls), and the Spice Souk in the Deira district, where vendors sell aromatic spices, dried fruits, and traditional perfumes that have drawn traders for centuries. Your guide explains what you're seeing as you move through the alleyways, and you'll taste camel milk chocolate along the way. Bottled water is provided to keep you going through the crowds and the heat.

The tour also takes you through the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, where traditional wind-tower architecture lines the streets and art galleries sit alongside cultural spaces. You'll see the Bur Dubai Grand Mosque with its 70-meter minaret, and depending on your option, you may visit the Dubai Museum (housed in the Al Fahidi Fort) or the Coins Museum, which holds over 470 rare coins from Middle Eastern history. The Old Souk of Bur Dubai offers a chance to browse raw silk, wool, cashmere, and local souvenirs like abayas and silk scarves.

The tour reaches its end with a ride on a traditional wooden abra across Dubai Creek. This narrow waterway has been Dubai's trading heart for centuries, and the boat ride gives you views of both the historic Bur Dubai and Deira waterfronts. The whole experience runs between two and four hours depending on which option you choose. Drop-off is not included, but public transportation is available nearby to get you back to your hotel.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Gold Souk and what will I see there?

The Dubai Gold Souk is one of the oldest markets in the city, located in Deira with over 350 retailers selling tax-free gold, diamonds, precious stones, pearls, platinum, and silver. You'll walk through the market with your guide, who explains the goods and the trading history of the area.

Is the Dubai Museum included in this tour?

The Dubai Museum is included in some options but not all. It depends on which tour package you select at checkout. The museum, located in the Al Fahidi Fort, shows life in Dubai before oil was discovered, with traditional Arab houses, souks, and artifacts dating back to 3000 BC.

What is an abra and what's the ride like on Dubai Creek?

An abra is a traditional wooden boat that has crossed Dubai Creek for generations. Your ride takes you across the water between Bur Dubai and Deira, offering views of both waterfronts and the historic architecture that lines the creek.

How long does this tour take?

The tour runs between two and four hours depending on which option you book: group tours and premium tours may have different pacing and stops.