Al Shindagha, Bur Dubai

Situated adjacent to Dubai Creek, Al Shindagha is a historical district in Bur Dubai. It borders Port Rashid on one side and Al Fahidi on the other. Since it lies alongside Al Khaleej Road (D92), it is close to the Shindagha Tunnel, which connects the Deira and Bur Dubai neighbourhoods.

The historical district is known for housing the former residence of the ruling family, which is now the Shindagha Museum. Additionally, it is made up of many other museums, heritage sites as well as City Centre Shindagha.

• A historical district in Bur Dubai
• Popular for housing the Shindagha Museum and City Centre Shindagha
• Consists of many museums and heritage sites
• Adjacent to Port Rashid, Dubai Creek and Al Fahidi
• Offers easy access to public transport options
• Close to the Shindagha Tunnel

Al Shindagha Bur Dubai played a pivotal role in the history of Dubai since it is the place where Maktoum bin Butti of the Bani Yas tribe settled along with his people in 1883. Afterwards, he declared independence from the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the Maktoum dynasty continues to rule the emirate of Dubai to date.

The old buildings no longer serve as the official residence for the royal family and instead have been converted into the Shindagha Museum. Besides the Shindagha Museum, the community is home to a variety of other heritage sites and museums. There are no residential or commercial properties in the community. After the development of City Centre Shindagha in 2016, the district grew in popularity and became a well-known retail spot.

Al Shindagah does not offer any residential properties for rent or sale, since it is primarily a tourist destination. Nevertheless, some of the nearby buildings that are close to the community’s boundary may offer apartments for rent in Al Shindagha on listings. A studio unit in the vicinity measuring 204 sq. ft. can be rented for AED 16K per year.

As far as hotels in Al Shindagha are concerned, one will find Barjeel Heritage, which is a guesthouse with an Arabian-themed architecture. It consists of 11 air-conditioned rooms with premium bedding, minibars, safes and all sorts of amenities.

Within a 10-minute drive, one can find a number of hotels in Bur Dubai at their disposal. These range from top-tier luxury hotels to budget and boutique hotels too. Guests can also plan their stays at:

• Howard Johnson by Wyndham – Khalid Bin Waleed Road
• Royal Ascot Hotel – Khalid Bin Waleed Road
• Astoria Hotel – Al Fahidi Street
• Fortune Grand Hotel Apartment – Mankhool Road
• Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel – Mina Rashid

Located just near the boundaries of Al Shindaga, Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel is a 4-star hotel in Port Rashid. The 13-dock ship has 215 refurbished suites and hotel rooms along with venues for nightlife, fitness facilities and conferencing facilities too.

As far as parking in Al Shindagha is concerned, City Centre Shindagha includes free and paid parking spots while the district overall has paid parking lots. Finding free street parking can be somewhat of a challenge, which is why individuals will have to settle for paid spots at the very least.

The location of Al Shindagha makes it convenient for individuals to board the Dubai Metro or travel through other modes of transport in Dubai. The nearby metro and bus stations also have taxi ranks for those interested in booking cabs in Dubai.

Al Ghubaiba Metro Station lies within the boundaries of Al Shindagha. It is a green line underground metro station and services Dubai RTA bus routes namely 8, C5, C7, C9 and the X13 route as well. The X13 bus covers more than 20 stops within the city.

Just outside the Al Shindagha boundary lies Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, which is a major bus station in the city. It is located in the Ghubaiba district of Bur Dubai and has a taxi rank, car parking, information office and toilets too.

Intercity bus services at this station include the E100 Dubai to Abu Dhabi bus, E201 Dubai to Al Ain Bus and E306 Dubai to Sharjah Bus. Local services include Routes 9, 29, 83, 93, 66 and 67. For travelling by the Dubai Ferry, Al Ghubaiba Marine Station is also in proximity.

City Centre Shindagha has a branch of Carrefour Hypermarket in Dubai, which is one of its largest branches in the city as well. Carrefour Supermarkets are counted as one of Dubai’s best supermarkets as well as one of the best in the United Arab Emirates overall.

Other supermarkets near Al Shindagha are:

• ZOOM – Al Ghubaiba Metro Station Exit 2
• Al Madina Supermarket – Boohash Building, Al Souq Al Kabeer
• Baqar Mohebi – Al Shoula Residence B, Al Raffa

These grocery stores and supermarkets are also popular for offering affordable and cheap groceries in Dubai.

Muslims can head over to the mosques in Al Shindagha for everyday prayers, which include:

• Bin Hareb Mosque
• Al Mur Bin Heraize Mosque
• Al Shoyookh Mosque
• Al Mulla Mosque
• Bin Zayed Mosque
• Al Otaibat Mosque

The Grand Dubai Mosque or Bur Dubai Masjid is located only 10 minutes away. Besides being a well-known mosque, it is an architectural wonder as well.

Bur Dubai is home to three temples that cater to different sects within Hinduism. These temples in Bur Dubai are only 10 minutes away from Al Shindagha and include:

• Shiva Temples
• Shiridi Sai Baba Mandir
• Shrinathji Temple / Shree Krishna Haveli

Many of the churches in Dubai can be found within the locality of Bur Dubai. Christians can find churches near Al Shindagha within an 18-minute drive, such as:

• St. Mary’s Catholic Church – 247 Oud Metha Road
• New Covenant Church – Holy Trinity Church, Oud Metha Road
• CSI Parish – Holy Trinity Church, Oud Metha Road
• King’s Revival Church International Dubai – Oud Metha
• Maranatha Full Gospel Church – Oud Metha
• The Dubai City Church – Holy Trinity Church compound, Oud Metha Road

Sikhs can take a drive of 35 minutes and find Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara at their disposal. Prominent for being the Gulf Region’s largest Gurudwara, it is located in Jebel Ali and hosts many monthly as well as annual festivals, which are open to individuals from all faiths.

There are many renowned schools near Al Shindagha, such as:

• New Academy School (NAS)
• Lycee Francais International (LFI)
• The Ambassador School

New Academy School (NAS) is managed by Atticus Education LLC and offers US-based programmes with the inculcation of Islamic and Arabic values too. Classes here range from KG-1 to Grade 12.

Lycee Francais International (LFI) follows the French National Curriculum and is a member of the ‘L’Association Franco-Libanaise pour l’Éducation et la Culture (AFLEC)’. It consists of classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and students receive the National Diploma of French Brevet after completing their education from here. It is a well-known French school in Dubai.

The Ambassador School started in 2013 and offers the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and has classes from Grade 1 to Grade 12. For the Secondary School, it consists of ICSE examination and ISC examination for Higher Secondary School.

There are many nursery schools in Bur Dubai, which are located in proximity to Al Shindaga. These include:

• Little Diamond Nursery
• Hope Montessori Nursery
• British Orchard Nursery

Each of these nurseries is available within a drive of 10 to 13 minutes. British Orchard Nursery is amongst the largest preschool chains in the Middle East. One of the British Orchard Nurseries in Dubai is located in Al Mankhool.

Clinics near Al Shindagha include:

• Aster Clinic – Al Ghubaiba
• Liverpool Medical Clinic – Al Raffa
• Vida Clinics – Al Raffa
• Better Life Clinic Dubai – Mankhool

Hospitals near Al Shindagha include:

• Aster Hospital – Mankhool
• Medeor Hospital – Umm Hurair
• International Modern Hospital – Al Raffa

Aster Hospital and Medeor Hospital are some of the best hospitals in Dubai. All of these clinics and hospitals are reachable within 10 to 15 minutes.

Port Rashid or Mina Rashid faces Al Shindagha to its immediate west. It is the site for many off-plan properties by Emaar in Dubai and one of the leading commercial centres of the Middle East. Mina Rashid Port is also a major cruise destination and UAE’s only port to have received the Security Certificate of Excellence by International Maritime Security (IMS).

Deira lies opposite Al Shindagha, separated from Dubai Creek. It is Dubai’s oldest commercial district and a prominent trading hub.

Many of Bur Dubai’s communities are situated adjacent to close to Al Shindagha, such as:

• Al Fahidi
• Al Mina
• Al Mankhool
• Al Hudaiba

Al Fahidi or Al Bastakiya borders Al Shindagha to the east and lies alongside Dubai Creek. It is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the Bur Dubai area as well as the emirate overall. Al Fahidi Historical District is a go-to destination in this area.

Al Mina is a small residential district towards the coastal side of Bur Dubai. To the west, Al Mina shares a border with Jumeirah 1 and consists of apartment buildings. Al Mankhool is a largely residential sub-community but has many retail outlets, schools, restaurants and a public library too. Al Hudaiba is another small community, home to many government offices and apartment buildings.

The district is best known for being home to City Centre Shindagha, a notable attraction in the city. Having opened in 2016, the mall has more than 75 stores, parking space for 850 cars and covers an area of 24.5 sq. km. It has a variety of notable stores such as Splash, Giordano and Smart Baby, which ranks amongst the best baby shops in Dubai.

City Centre Shindagha is also home to many eateries, pharmacies and entertainment options. Entertainment spots in the mall are the 7-screen VOX Cinemas and a branch of Magic Planet in Dubai.

Al Shindagha is close to the Textile Souk and Burjuman Mall as well. Textile Souk is amongst the top souks in Dubai and lies within walking distance. Burjuman Mall is 10 minutes away by car and amongst Dubai’s best malls. With a plethora of high-street brands, eateries and a branch of Magic Planet and VOX cinemas, you will never get bored with the activities in Burjuman Mall.

The food court of City Centre Shindagha includes many cafes and restaurants, including:

• Tapa King 
• Chic Boy Inasal Restaurant
• Bombay Chowpatty
• Pizza Hut
• Subway
• KFC
• McDonald’s
• ChicKing
• Baskin Robbins
• Tea To Go

Tapa King and Chic Boy Inasal Restaurant are both Filipino restaurants. Tapa King is one that can easily be called one of Dubai’s most affordable restaurants. Bombay Chowpatty is a renowned Indian restaurant that serves Indian street food. Pizza Hut, Subway, KFC, McDonald’s and ChicKing are fast-food restaurants. Baskin Robbins is an ice-cream parlour while Tea To Go is a café.

Bur Dubai is home to many upscale restaurants as well, which lie in proximity. These include:

• Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor – The Canvas Hotel, Al Mankhool
• Kris With A View – Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, Al Karama
• TOMO – Raffles Dubai, Umm Hurair 2

Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor is an Indian restaurant at a 10-minute drive. Kris With A View and TOMO are reachable within a 15-minute drive. Kris With A View serves a wide range of cuisines including Thai, Chinese, Indian, Malaysian and Continental as well. TOMO deals in Japanese items such as sushi and ranks as one of the best restaurants in Bur Dubai.

There are many bars in the locality as well, such as:

• Freddy’s – Fortune Atrium Hotel
• Bandstand – Royal Ascot Hotel
• The Underdogs – The Canvas Hotel

All of these bars and lounges are reachable within a drive of 10 to 12 minutes.

While Al Shindagah is a waterfront district, it does not consist of a beach. Most of the public beaches in Dubai require at least a 15-minute drive from the district. The closest option is Jumeirah Public Beach, which includes a 1.8-kilometre running track as well.

Another well-known public beach in the vicinity is North Beach in Pearl Jumeirah, which is adjacent to Nikki Beach as well. Also known as Nikki Beach Resort and Spa, it is counted as one of the best beach clubs in Dubai as well.

Landmarks in Al Shindagha are:

• Shindagha Museum
• Heritage and Diving Villages
• House of Poetry
• Camel Museum
• Saruq Al Hadid Archaeology Museum
• Crossroad of Civilizations Museum

Perhaps the district is best known for being home to the Shindagha Museum. The Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House Dubai or Shindagha Museum is one of Dubai’s oldest buildings. One of the top historical sites in Dubai, it dates back to the 19th century and contains many exhibits of photographs, coins, jewellery, stamps and paintings.

Shindagha Museum is also counted as one of the family-friendly attractions in Dubai. It in turn houses the Perfume House, which is informally called the ‘museum of scents’. It is located inside the late Sheikha Sheikha bint Saeed Al-Maktoum’s home.

The Heritage and Diving Villages are reconstructed villages that include Barasti huts and houses made of palm and mud. At the Heritage Village, potters and jewellers tend to practice their craft and sell the items they make in the traditional souk. The Diving Village is concerned with the pearling industry of Dubai. You can buy more Bedouin handicrafts and check out a traditional coffeehouse in these villages too.

The House of Poetry or Bait El Shaier operates under the Mohammed Bin Rashid Knowledge Foundation in collaboration with Dubai Culture. It is a cultural monument in the city and hosts different meetings, workshops and activities for encouraging poetry and other literary arts in Dubai.

Saruq Al Hadid Archaeology Museum used to be a metallurgy factory and now has galleries with weapons, work tools and utensils. In 2002, when His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum flew over the Rub Al Khali (Empty Quarter Desert), he noticed a slag from the Iron Age, which then became the main excavation site for many artefacts. These artefacts are now displayed in the Saruq Al Hadid Archaeology Museum.

Those wishing to enjoy places to visit in Dubai with family for free can head over to the Camel Museum too, which is a treasure chest of information about camels and their usage in the Arabian Peninsula. It was previously known as Rekab Hous (House of the Camels) and the location is still used for training of camels and horses too.

Crossroad of Civilizations Museum is a private museum that includes artefacts from the Babylonians, Romans, Ubaids, Greeks and many other civilisations that have crossed the region. Some of the notable artefacts are a 16th century Kaaba curtain and a bull-shaped vase that is approximately 7500 years old. It is one of the smaller museums in Dubai.

The district has walkways and green spaces that are convenient for strolling. Some full-fledged parks are available in the vicinity, such as Al Mankhool Park and Hudaiba Park, both of which are 10 minutes away.

One of the best parks in Dubai, Zabeel Park is only 15 minutes away. From lush green spaces to housing the Dubai Frame, there is a wide range of activities to enjoy in Zabeel Park.

Personal grooming and beauty therapy is rendered easy thanks to the abundance of spas and salons in Bur Dubai, some of them being:

• Hamda Ladies Salon – Sheikh Hamdan Building
• Muhammad Usman Gents Salon – 7, 12 Street
• Angel Beauty Salon – Souk Al Khonji 
• Chiff Chaff Gents Salon – Al Souk Al Kabeer
• Juice – Nashwan Building
• Red Nail Salon & Spa – Atrium Centre

One of the most attractive aspects of Bur Dubai’s lifestyle is the abundance of recreational events every now and then. The Shindagha Museum as well as City Centre Shindagha host plenty of events on public holidays. Many exhibitions occur at the museum and the House of Poetry from time to time.

Shindagha Corridor Project is an AED 5 billion project that is currently under development and shall encompass a 295-metre bridge as well. The bridge will be 15.5 metres above Dubai Creek and will extend the Cairo Streets, Al Khaleej, Al Amina and Sheikh Rashid Street. The design of the bridge will include an arch that shall rise 42 metres and will be shaped like the infinity symbol.

Set to be completed by 2022, the total length of the bridge is 8.5 kilometres while the tunnels span 535 metres. There will be 10 surface junctions in the project too. The infrastructure contractor of the project is Six Construct.

Al Shindagha is primarily a tourist and recreational spot, where locals and expats can visit for learning more about the history of the emirate and the country. The presence of City Centre Shindagha makes it a popular shopping destination as well.

However, the community does not consist of residential properties. Individuals considering residing in the area can look for other property in Bur Dubai instead.

The Al Shindagha Tunnel opened in 1975 and receives up to 55,000 vehicles per day. It has a long-closed tunnel spanning 550 metres and open ramp approach sections that stretch 200 metres at either side. It has four lanes and a third bore for pedestrians as well. The tunnel was fully renovated in the 1980s when there was a substantial level of deterioration of the concrete.

• 20-minute drive to Dubai International Airport
• Burj Khalifa and Business Bay are 20 minutes away
• Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina are reachable within 30 minutes
• Dubai Miracle Garden is 33 minutes away