Al Bastakiya

Al Bastakiya or Bastakia is a delightful historical quarter of Dubai with many narrow winding lanes, traditional wind tower architecture and old buildings. Bastakiya was renamed the Al Fahidi Historic District in 2012 and is situated on the Bur Dubai side of the Dubai Creek. The neighborhood dates back to the 1890s when the area was settled by merchants from Iran who had come to the Gulf for commerce and were lured by offers of free land. They settled in this area and named the quarter after a town in Iran – Bastak. Today Bastakiya has been restored and the area has become the place to learn about Dubai's traditional culture. There are many art galleries, boutique hotels, cafes, restaurants and several impressive mosques. Some of the most famous buildings in the area include the Al Fahidi Fort which houses the Dubai Museum; Bait Al Wakeel, the city's first office building; Majlis Gallery; XVA Art Gallery for contemporary art and the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding. At the SMCCU you can learn about the local culture and take a tour of the historic area. As you walk through Bastakiya look out for the wind towers. These tall square towers are a typical feature of the traditional architecture and were used to cool the buildings by funneling fresh air into the rooms of the house below. While in Bastakiya visit the Souk Al Bastakiya which is open on Saturdays and often has street performers and activities for kids. If you are lucky you may be in town for the Bastakiya Art Fair.

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