Dubai Attraction | Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and Sikka Art Festival: Must-Visit Place and Event for Culture, Art, and History Enthusiasts!
For those who love history, ancient ruins, artistic ambiance, and want to see traditional Arabian architecture,Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood in Dubai is an absolute must-visit. It is one of the oldest sites in the United Arab Emirates and a culturally rich tourist attraction in Dubai. This article will take you on a journey to explore the enchanting aspects of Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and the annual Dubai Sikka Art and Design Festival held here.
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As soon as you step into Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, you will see the Majlis, a traditional Arabian gathering place for political discussions or socialising with friends and family, as well as several unique sand-coloured Arabian traditional buildings called wind towers.
As you walk further inside, you will come across the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding, a centre established by the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, for introducing cultural understanding. Inside, there is a large Majlis area with Arabian coffee and dates, as well as displays of informative materials and artworks. During our visit, there was an Emirati musician playing Arabic songs on traditional instruments for the visitors.
At Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, there are also some unique shops selling colourful carpets, artistic souvenirs with elements of Dubai and Arabic cultures, such as paintings, antiques, Arabic calligraphy art pieces, and more. If you enjoy collecting art-related souvenirs during your travels, you will be delighted to explore these shops! I was so excited when I found these shops, and wanted to take everything home with me. Ended up purchasing carpets, pillowcases, and many cards. I absolutely loved it! If you have a similar taste, you will enjoy shopping here too!
Furthermore, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood houses several artistic studios and exhibition areas. So, if you wander around, you might also come across some galleries!
The best time to immerse yourself in the artistic ambiance of Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is during the Sikka Art and Design Festival. This annual festival, held around February or March, transforms the entire area into a vibrant hub of creativity. Visitors can expect live band performances, live painting sessions, art exhibitions, outdoor cinemas, and art installations spread throughout the area.
Entrance for Sikka Art and Design Festival? It is free! I highly recommend this event to art enthusiasts who are planning to visit Dubai during this period. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the Sikka Art and Design Festival in Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Dubai Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood Entrance Ticket Fee
Visiting Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is free of charge, and there are no specific operating hours. Visitors are free to explore the streets at their own convenience. However, art studios, cultural centres, and shops within Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood do have specific opening times.
How to Get to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood in Dubai
There are multiple transportation options available to reach Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, making it convenient for visitors. I have personally taken below options, some are really fun. You can choose the option that suits you best based on your starting point and the weather conditions.
Take the Dubai Metro to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
If you are near the Dubai Metro, you can take the metro and get off at Sharaf DG station. From there, it’s just an 8-minute walk to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. This is an easy and cost-effective way to visit the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. However, I do not recommend taking this way during the hot summer months.
Take a Water Taxi to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
If you are going from the Gold Souk or Spice Souk and want to go to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, you have the option to take a unique water taxi. From the Deira Old Souq Water Taxi Station, you can board the water taxi bound for Al Fahidi. The journey typically takes around 5 minutes.
The best part is that the fare is crazily cheap! It costs only AED 2 to reach Al Fahidi. This is undoubtedly the cheapest transportation I have ever taken in Dubai! I highly recommend incorporating a visit to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Al Seef, the Spice Souk, and the Gold Souk into your Dubai itinerary and choose the water taxi as your transportation for a different experience.
Please note that the fare for the traditional wooden boat known as Abra is different, which is AED 60 for every 30 minutes.
Take the RTA Dubai Ferry to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
If you are near Dubai Marina or Dubai Water Canal, you can take the RTA Dubai Ferry. The fare for a silver card is AED 25 for one station and AED 50 for two stations. For a gold card, it is AED 35 for one station and AED 70 for two stations.
I took the Dubai Ferry from Dubai Marina to Al Ghubaiba Marine Transport Station, and the journey took approximately 2 hours with a fare of AED 50.
Along the way, you can enjoy the iconic landmarks of Dubai, including Ain Dubai, Atlantis The Palm & Atlantis The Royal, Burj Al Arab, and Burj Khalifa. The view of the blue sea is breathtaking! You can have a clearer understanding of the waterfront scenery by watching this short video.
After arriving at the station, you can walk about 20 minutes to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. I recommend this itinerary for winter visits only though, as walking in the summer heat of 40-50 degrees Celsius is not advisable. In such cases, it’s better to take a taxi.
Take a Taxi to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
For those who don’t drive in Dubai, taxis are the most convenient and quickest way to travel in Dubai. If you are staying at a hotel, you can ask the hotel staff to arrange a taxi for you.
Alternatively, you can download the Careem app which allows you to book taxis and order food. It’s very convenient, and the fare is slightly cheaper than getting a taxi on the street. I relied on the Careem app for most of my transportation and food delivery needs in Dubai.
Recommended Restaurants Near Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
You can find the renowned Arabian Tea House Restaurant & Cafe in this area! This restaurant, specialising in Middle Eastern cuisine, is highly popular among tourists and often seen on Instagram, with its blue and white Mediterranean-style decor and an outdoor picturesque setting.
Despite its popularity as an Instagrammable spot, the Arabian Tea House Restaurant & Cafe not only offers a pleasant environment but also serves simply tasty authentic food without any letdowns. It is a place even residents in Dubai visit for a meal! If you’re looking for more recommended restaurants in Dubai, you can refer to this article.
What are the best areas to find hotels in Dubai?
When visiting Dubai for a few days, staying in areas that are convenient for transportation and close to main attractions is crucial to avoid missing out on experiences.
So, if you are looking for hotels with good views and convenient locations while travelling in Dubai, I recommend the following four awesome areas to stay in. Click the links below to find available hotels in your preferred area.
- Palm Jumeirah: a palm shaped artificial island on the Persian Gulf with many luxury, international 5-stars hotels, aesthetic beach bars, restaurants and is an awesome and high end place for the beach holiday.
- Jumeirah Beach Residence: situated right on the beach area, offering a stunning view of Ain Dubai (the biggest ferris wheel in the world) and the magical Bluewaters Island. There are a great number of restaurants, cafes, shops, and bars for you to enjoy!
- Dubai Marina: is a nice canal city where you can find many restaurants along the canal and with a stunning skyline view. It is close to the popular JBR beach, Bluewaters Island, Ain Dubai (biggest ferris wheel in the world), as well as Dubai Mall, Pier 7 (where you get to find 7 decent restaurants that provide alcohol). So yes, it is certainly an energetic, convenient place to live or stay when you travel to Dubai. I stayed in InterContinental Dubai Marina when I lived in this area, and enjoyed it. You can check my review about it.
- Downtown Dubai: a vivid trendy area where Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building) and the Dubai Mall are located. If you love the vivid city life and seeing amazing skyscrapers from your hotels, you will love this area.
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