Deira Dubai

• Renting property
• Buying property
• Popular areas
• Getting around
• Schools
• Malls
• Things to consider
• FAQs

Deira is the oldest commercial district in Dubai. It is bordered by Dubai Creek, Sharjah and the Arabian Gulf. It is one of the most popular places in the emirate to live and work in. A major trading hub, this district is well known amongst tourists for the glittering Gold Souk.

According to Bayut & Dubizzle’s Dubai Rental Trends Report for 2020, Deira Dubai is the 5th most popular for renting apartments. The report reveals that prospective tenants searching for budget-friendly accommodation have shown interest. This area guide contains all the information you would need to understand before moving to Deira Dubai.

• Known as the commercial hub of Old Dubai
• Located on the banks of the iconic Dubai Creek, close to Bur Dubai
• Home to the oldest mall in the city: Al Ghurair Centre
• Home to the Heritage House and Al Ahmadiya School
• An active trading hub for shipping spices, textiles and more to Asian and African countries

A living reminder of Dubai’s trading history, Port Saeed has played a pivotal role in putting this small emirate on the global map. This neighbourhood is home to some of the oldest offices, government buildings and retail centres. With strong links to the emirate’s past, the Heritage House and the Al Ahmadiya School are remarkable relics of the city’s rich history.

The district has also stayed up to date by turning into a world-leading tourist spot with an enviable selection of trendy hotels and bustling malls. One of the biggest benefits of living in Deira is the unbeatable cultural awareness.

The thriving residential community is a popular place to rent apartments in the city. Residential buildings around here include Port Saeed, Naif, Al Rigga, Al Muraqqabat, Abu Hail, Al Murar, and Riggat Al Buteen.

There are very few villas in the sub-communities of Abu Hail and Hor Al Anz. However, the area cannot be categorised amongst the popular villa communities in Dubai. With a mix of older apartments and studios, Deira Dubai is popular with families, bachelors, expats and locals.

Being one of the oldest residential areas in the city, the area does not have any freehold properties, so expats cannot invest in Deira Dubai. This may change in the near future when the long-awaited Palm Deira development is completed.

Apartments for sale in Deira Dubai are available in 1 to 2-bed configurations. These units can range between AED 750k and AED 1.1M.

You can also buy residential plots in Deira Dubai at a price of AED 2.0M. Those interested in buying buildings in Deira will find prices between AED 7.2M and AED 99M. The prices vary in terms of area covered and other features.

As an an older part of Dubai, the area is filled with souks and cultural heritage sites. Many tourists and residents prefer staying in hotel accommodation nearby. The best hotels in Deira Dubai are:

• Avani Deira Dubai Hotel
• Crowne Plaza Dubai
• Hyatt Regency Dubai
• Coral Dubai Deira Hotel
• Hotel Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre

Avani Deira Dubai Hotel is a 5-star hotel located in the Abu Baker Al Siddique district, the metro station of the same name is a short walk away. The hotel is located close to Dubai International Airport, the spice and gold souks and the Creek.

The Crowne Plaza is one of the oldest hotels in the area. It features deluxe suites, a fitness centre and an outdoor pool. The hotel also offers a free shuttle bus to the nearby Al Mamzar Beach Park. Crowne Plaza Deira is located next to the Reef Shopping Mall.

Hyatt Regency is a 5-star hotel located on the Corniche. It is known for housing the only rooftop revolving restaurant in Dubai: Al Dawaar. The hotel also has an ice rink on the ground floor with the few retail shops and casual restaurants.

Coral Dubai is a 4-star hotel in the Al Muraqqabat area. The facilities on offer include a business centre, fitness club, spa and rooftop pool.

Hotel Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre is a luxurious 5-star hotel connected to the Deira City Centre. It offers deluxe rooms and suites both offering magnificent views of the creek. It has four reputed dining options, from buffet restaurants to bars. Hotel Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre also organises many community events throughout the year.

There are plenty of public parking spaces in Deira Dubai, but it can be extremely crowded during the week. Visitors should also remember most apartment buildings do not have dedicated parking, so residents are competing for those same parking spots as well.

Some enterprising folks have capitalised on this need by opening up several paid private parking spots around the busy areas but that can rake up, as the hourly rate is AED 10.

Those relying on public transportation in Deira Dubai will be happy to know the area is extremely well-connected with plenty of taxis and buses to take you around the city. Al Rigga and Union metro stations service most of the area. There is also the Deira City Centre metro station which is connected to the shopping centre.

Being a residential hub, there is no shortage of amenities in the community for residents.

When it comes to grocery shopping, you can find the Carrefour supermarkets in Dubai located in the malls. These include Carrefour in Deira City Centre and Al Ghurair centre. Seasoned local stores are available to home deliver the most urgent requirements over a phone call. There are also a few ethnic stores with speciality items that you will find at key points of the neighbourhood.

The Omar Ali Bin Haider mosque near Al Ghurair Centre is one of the city’s oldest spiritual centres accommodating up to 1000 visitors. Other notable mosques in Deira Dubai include the Al Rigga Mosque, Nasser Abdulla Hussain Mosque and the Saifee Masjid.

For churchgoers, the JA1 Church is the nearest option. The country’s oldest Christian institution St. Mary’s  Catholic Church is close by in Oud Metha. The temples in Bur Dubai such as Shiva and Krishna temples are the nearest options at a 15-minute drive away.

In terms of educational institutions, Deira Dubai has a wide selection of elementary schools and nurseries for those with younger children. The popular schools include Deira International School which follows the UK/IB system until Year 13.

Other schools near Deira Dubai include The Westminster School and Dubai International School where you can send your children to develop interpersonal and effective communication skills.

Deira Private School follows the British curriculum until Year 6. There are several other notable schools a short distance away in Garhoud and Al Qusais community.

For those looking at university options, they will find the many universities in Dubai International Academic City to be 30-minutes away by car.

If you require medical attention, there are branches of Aster, NMC Deira, Prime Medical Centre Deira and Joseph’s Clinic spread across the neighbourhood.

To consult a specialist in one of the hospitals in Deira, you can look into Belhoul Specialty Hospital, one of the city’s most reputed private hospitals. The area is also home to Al Baraha Hospital and Dubai Hospital, both are highly reputed government hospitals.

Situated north of the Dubai Creek, the community is near Bur Dubai, Al Qusais, and Al Garhoud.

Deira Dubai is one of the most densely populated parts of Dubai, with a constant stream of traffic coming in from Sheikh Zayed Road, Emirates Road and Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.

This iconic district presents the perfect contrast of Old and New Dubai when it comes to the retail and dining options in the district.

The former ‘it’ malls in Deira Dubai, Al Ghurair Centre and Deira City Centre have remained a firm favourite with the city’s shoppers, even after the addition of several new malls a short distance away. One of the most interesting things to do at Deira Dubai is to shop at the City Centre. With an array of shopping, dining and leisure options, this mall has everything you could ask for.

The centuries-old souks and markets have also not been ignored by the city’s elite, pulling in over thousands of visitors on a daily basis. You can also experience the true essence of shopping by visiting the Dubai Spice Souk, located near Baniyas Road and Old Baladiyah Road Junction.

This thread continues in the wide array of gastronomic offerings in the district. From historic tea shops and hole-in-the-wall cafeterias to the city’s finest restaurants, there’s something for every palate here. No list of must-try places in Dubai will be complete without a mention of Aseelah, one of the traditional Emirati restaurants serving some of the most iconic dishes of the country.

Other iconic restaurants in Deira Dubai include the luxurious yacht Bateaux, Gordon Ramsay’s Table 9, Max’s Restaurant, Denny’s, and Japanese sensations Miyako and Yakitate.

For nightlife in Deira Dubai, most residents look towards QD’s creekside lounge with a relaxed Mediterranean ambience. To add some variety to your weekend pub hops, the Century Village in Garhoud is also a short drive away.

One of the best public beaches in Dubai, Mamzar beach is known for its strip of tea shops serving some of the best beverages in the country. There’s even a tea dunked with Mars bars to indulge in a calorie fuelled treat to refuel after a swim!

There are many things to do popular with both residents and tourists alike. The locality is home to several iconic Dubai landmarks, including the Deira Clock Tower, Heritage House, Gold Souk and the Al Ahmadiya School turned museum.

The Pearl Museum, Naif Museum, Coin Museum and Women’s Museums in Deira Dubai offers a wealth of information about Emirati culture and traditions that you wouldn’t find anywhere else in the city.

Even the newly remodelled Deira Fish Market is a testament to the city’s dedication to innovation. A trip to Dubai is incomplete without seeing the traditional water transport at the Dhow Wharf and most day tours of the city will include a sumptuous 5-course meal in a Dhow Cruise.

For calm evening walks, the Al Mamzar Beach Park is an ideal retreat from the busy streets. Complete with running tracks, canopied beach shelters and a spectacular corniche, this park is a firm favourite with the city’s young and old. The other popular public park is the Al Muteena Park, centrally located in one of the district’s busiest residential quarters.

Unlike the other residential buildings in the city, the older apartments do not feature a pool or gym. Popular gyms in Deira for those looking to stay fit, include Fitness First and the Gold’s Gym near the Clock Tower roundabout. If you prefer more aquatic environments to get fit, many hotels offer pool memberships, including Radisson Blu and Hyatt Regency. Hyatt Regency even has a large indoor ice-rink if your kids fancy a spin on the ice!

The luxury hotels also boast some of the best spas and salons for you to pamper yourself after a gruelling workout. But your vanity sessions don’t have to be restricted to hotels; several wellness centres and beauty salons are littered across the city with highly competent professionals to make you feel rejuvenated.

Golf enthusiasts in the city are well served by the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, one of the oldest golf courses in the country.

Dubai is one of those cities where there is a constant stream of exciting events and activities to cater to the diverse appetites of the city’s population. One of the benefits of living in Deira Dubai is that life here is never dull. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, Boracay in the Asiana hotel in Al Muraqqabat is famous for rambunctious nightly concerts featuring local and international artists. The heritage centres like Al Ahmadiya School and Heritage House also host periodic exhibitions and events.

To celebrate the new year, residents can easily pop down to Mamzar beach and enjoy the spectacular fireworks over the glittering waters.

It is one of the oldest districts in Dubai and a bustling commercial centre of the emirate. If you are thinking of moving to Deira Dubai, bear in mind that it is not an exclusively residential area. The traffic can get quite intense during weekdays. The buildings are also older and lack the amenities of newer areas in the city. Parking is another area of concern since some of the older buildings do not have dedicated parking spots.

It is the oldest commercial district in Dubai surrounded by the Persian Gulf, Sharjah and Dubai Creek.

Some of the top hotels in Deira are Rove City Centre, Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre and Park Hyatt Dubai.

You can find bus routes 27, 88 and X28 that pass near Deira City Centre.

Shopping is the all-time-favourite activity for most visitors. You can head straight to the City Centre or get the most beautiful jewellery from Gold Souk. Those looking for some activities to enjoy with kids can find many museums in the area such as the Pearl Museum and Coin Museum. Moreover, don’t forget to enjoy scrumptious 5-course meals at Dhow Cruise on your next trip.

It is right next to Dubai International Airport, around a 12-minute drive away.

Deira is a mixed-use neighbourhood in Dubai. It is often called as a city in itself for offering all kinds of amenities within.

Deira City Centre is open from 10:00 am to 01:00 am throughout the week.

• One of the most important commercial districts of Dubai with a flourishing port and a vibrant residential community.
• It is home to historic landmarks like the Clock Tower and Fish Roundabout and the Dhow Wharf
• The Dubai International Airport is a 9-minute drive away via Airport Road/D89
• Downtown Dubai is a short 17-minute drive away via D78 and Sheikh Zayed Road/E11
• Dubai Marina is 26-minutes away via Sheikh Zayed Road/E11
• Palm Jumeirah is a 29-minute drive via Sheikh Zayed Road/E11