Since landing in Dubai in 1999, I’ve seen the city transform rapidly from a much smaller, quieter place with just a handful of malls and low-key events into a global metropolis with a futuristic skyline.
Back then, neighbourhoods like Bur Dubai and Deira were the heart of the city, with busy souqs and abra rides offering glimpses into its trading roots. Today, the contrast between Old Dubai and New Dubai is striking, with one side preserving the city’s heritage and traditional trade and the other fully embracing modern luxury and innovation.
Of course, there’s always discussion about Old Dubai vs New Dubai among both visitors and residents and ultimately, it’s down to personal preference. Are you drawn to the cultural charm of Old Dubai or the glitzy appeal of New Dubai? Both have something special to offer in their own unique ways. In this post, I’ll look at the main differences between the two and share the best things to do in each so you can make the most of your time in this ever-changing City of Gold.

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⏳ Short on time?: My top recommendations for your trip to Dubai include:
📍Recommended Tours:
👣 Dubai Old Town Creek, Museums and Street Food with a Local
🚌 Dubai City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour and Dhow Cruise
🚙 Burj Khalifa Fountain Show and Burj Lake Ride
Old Dubai vs New Dubai: Which Is Better?
The answer is it really depends on what you’re looking for. For tourists, Old Dubai offers a richer cultural experience with its souqs, traditional dhow cruises and heritage districts. It’s perfect for exploring Dubai’s roots and enjoying a more affordable and authentic atmosphere. New Dubai, on the other hand, with its shiny skyscrapers, luxurious destinations and high-end attractions is ideal for anyone who loves glamour, adventure and top-class amenities.
For residents, Old Dubai provides affordable housing and shopping as well as a sense of community, making it a practical choice. New Dubai offers a cosmopolitan lifestyle with smart residential areas and premium amenities, but at a higher cost.
Rather than choosing one, both Old and New Dubai show the city’s diversity, with a blend of heritage and modernity, allowing you to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Key Differences
The main differences between Old Dubai and New Dubai are price, appearance, culture, the vibe and the type of activities you can do.
Location & Geography
One thing to know about Dubai is that it doesn’t have a centre. Even the geographical centre changes constantly as Dubai is continuously growing but not necessarily in all directions. (The population when I arrived in 1999 was 848,000. In 2025, it’s 3.81 million!)
Dubai isn’t a walkable city other than the ‘old town’ but you can use public transport, taxis and hop-on hop-off buses. Popular Dubai tourist attractions are spread across the city and you’ll find yourself criss-crossing to see what you want but similar type activities do tend to be more in one general area.
Older and tradition-related activities tend to be around the creek in both Deira and Bur Dubai. Downtown Dubai has the popular attractions like Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Museum of the Future and The Dubai Frame while the newer parts of Dubai include The Palm, Dubai Marina and more luxurious and adventurous activities. Outdoor attractions like Miracle Garden, Global Village and theme parks are further inland.
Cost & Prices
When it comes to costs, Old Dubai generally has more budget-friendly options for activities and dining compared to New Dubai. In areas like Bur Dubai and Deira, you’ll find affordable local eateries at reasonable prices. These neighbourhoods also have some cheaper hotels, making them a great choice for travellers who are on a budget and also want to enjoy a touch of heritage.
On the other hand, New Dubai is known for luxury dining experiences, high-end international cuisine and premium entertainment options. Staying in areas like Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai or Palm Jumeirah means access to elegant resorts, beach-front properties and world-class amenities but it goes without saying this often comes at a much higher price.
Activities in New Dubai, such as private yacht charters, fine dining with views of the Burj Khalifa and even waterfront cafes usually come with a premium price tag. That said, you can still find more affordable options here if you know where to look. Old Dubai has more free and budget-friendly things to do.
Food
Wherever you go in Dubai, you’ll find a wide range of cuisines, from an authentic shawarma in Old Dubai to a Michelin-starred experience in New Dubai. Surprisingly, Emirati food can be the hardest to find!
Old Dubai offers authentic and affordable options, with plenty of Indian, Pakistani, and Middle Eastern cafes as well as other cuisines. I’ve enjoyed Filipino and Surinamese dishes in Bur Dubai and love the Nepalese place in Shindagha. A food tour is a great way to explore the local food scene.
New Dubai offers a lot of high-end dining, with rooftop restaurants near the Burj Khalifa, trendy fusion spots in Dubai Marina and beach-front cafes on Palm Jumeirah. While generally more expensive, there are still plenty affordable options.
Culture
The cultural differences between Old and New Dubai are largely due to demographics. On that note, Emirati nationals make up just 11% of the UAE’s population, with an even smaller percentage in Dubai. The largest expatriate groups are Indian and Pakistani followed by Bangladeshi, Filipino, Iranian and Egyptian.
Old Dubai has a large Indian and Pakistani population, but of course also other nationalities live there too. It also has a higher ratio of men to women. The culture here is more conservative, for example, in terms of dress and free-time activities.
New Dubai, in contrast, has a more diverse mix of nationalities and feels more cosmopolitan. You may even feel at times like you’re not in the Middle East at all. However, the UAE is a Muslim country, and respecting local norms, such as dressing modestly in public and respecting privacy, not only shows courtesy but also enhances your understanding of the culture.
Safety
Both Old Dubai and New Dubai are incredibly safe, with not only the city but the whole country having one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Dubai prioritises public safety and has strict laws and excellent law enforcement. Whether you’re in busy places during the day or walking around alone late at night, you can feel safe.
For women, Dubai is particularly safe, a point often noted by solo female travellers and in my 25 years here as a woman, I’ve never felt unsafe or threatened in any way. I’ve lived in several countries and the UAE is the only one I can say that about.
I’m going to throw in a ‘however’ here. You may have heard how you can leave your wallet, phone and laptop on the table in a cafe and go away without worrying. While that’s almost always true, we shouldn’t become complacent.
Old Dubai: Best Things To Do
The best things to do in Old Dubai are mostly located along the creek as that’s where the old towns of Deira and Bur Dubai lay. (It was originally two towns which merged together.) I’ll cover things to do on both sides.
✔️ Dubai Old Town Creek, Museums and Street Food
One of the best things to do in Dubai old town is take a boat along the creek. This can be a quick abra crossing or a longer cruise in a wooden dhow. You can book a sightseeing cruise or one complete with dinner and entertainment. The dinner cruise was always my favourite thing to do when I moved to Dubai many years ago. If you don’t have time for that, at least, hop on an one dirham abra for an authentic experience.
On the Deira side of the creek are souqs selling everything from spices to material and gold to souvenirs. Even if you don’t want to shop, it’s fun just to walk through and see the brightly coloured goods and watch the everyday goings-on. Inside the souq are several small free museums like the Women’s Museum. Although you can explore all this by yourself, for the best experience, you can book a tour with a local and have a much more in-depth experience.
➡️ Book Dubai Old Town Creek, Museums and Street food with a local
✔️Al Shindagha Historical District
One of the most interesting places to visit in Old Dubai is Al Shindagha Historical District on the creekside. Once home to Dubai’s ruling family, it is now home to a collection of buildings housing a number of museums related to Emirati heritage.
It’s difficult to do them all in one trip so I recommend looking at the map before you start to see which ones you don’t want to miss. It took me two whole mornings to see them all without just rushing through. My favourites are the Perfume House and Traditional Food House.
Tip: The tickets covers all museums for AED 50 and is valid one day but you can buy tickets online at Platinum List for AED 35 . Also, I’ve found it really hard to buy water in this area so make sure to bring plenty!
✔️ Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood sits further down the creek from Shindagha but has a similar set up. Multiple buildings built in a traditional style house small shops, cafes and restaurants, several museums, mosques and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.
Wander through the narrow alleys, maybe stopping off to buy some souvenirs or a gift for yourself at the stalls, then head to the Coffee Museum where you can learn all about the history of coffee and try different types. There are several other museums like the Coins Museum but that’s my favourite! Unlike the free ones in Deira, you have to pay to enter, but only around AED 10.
I recommend having breakfast or lunch at the Arabian Tea House or Local Food Restaurant and ordering Emirati food and, if you have time, book a visit to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding to learn more about Emirati culture.
New Dubai: Best Things To Do
With so many options, it’s hard to choose, but this selection gives you a nice feel to Dubai and lets you explore several popular New Dubai attractions.
✔️Dubai City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour and Dhow Cruise
If you’re looking for an easy way to explore, the Dubai City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour with Dhow Cruise is an excellent option. It even lets you do both New Dubai and Old Dubai if you want.
The Marina Route takes you along iconic landmarks like Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, Souk Madinat Jumeirah and Downtown Dubai while the Historic Route stops at the Museum of the Future and The Dubai Frame but also Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and the colourful souqs of Old Dubai.
Both tours start at Dubai Mall but are fully flexible and you can hop on at any stop along the way and hop off to explore at your own pace. You can choose between 1, 2 or 3-day passes. End your day exploring with the Dhow Cruise for a different but stunning view of the Dubai skyline.
➡️ Book Dubai City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour and Dhow Cruise!
✔️Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountains
Can you really say you’ve been to Dubai if you haven’t dined with a view of the fountains and Burj Khailifa? Well, probably, yes, but still, it’s just one of those must-do things whether you’re a resident or a tourist!
First, do your shopping in Dubai Mall. It really is huge so take a look at a directory and map first and then plan your visit. Do you want to go to designer fashion boutiques, high street stores, electronics, the gold and perfume shops or China Town? Or maybe you want fun and entertainment at the ice rink, play areas, Kidzania and the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.
Next off, head outside for lunch or dinner with a view over Dubai Fountains. There’s a wide range of restaurants so you don’t necessarily need to splash out. You could also eat at Time Out Market over the bridge but outdoor seating is limited. Finally, add in At The Top Observation Deck, Burj Khalifa for panoramic views of the city or go for this fun and budget-friendly boat trip to watch the fountains.
✔️ Dubai Parks and Resorts – Theme Parks Galore!
Dubai Parks and Resorts is the perfect place to go for a day of family-friendly fun and entertainment with five parks with a mix of exciting rides, immersive attractions, slow fun rides and live shows.
Motiongate is our favourite and is inspired by Hollywood blockbusters like Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Hotel Transylvania. Legoland Dubai and Legoland Water Park are ideal for families with young children with themed rides, lots of areas to splash around and interactive activities.
Bollywood features rides inspired by India’s booming film industry and the new Real Madrid Park is the first ever football-themed park in the world. For the ultimate experience, book a stay at the Polynesian-themed Lapita Hotel and get free access to the resorts.
Tips: try to go on a weekday, preferably at opening times, go at 4pm in the summer, avoid public holidays, look at 2 parks for one tickets and take water.
🎡Buy Dubai Parks and Resorts tickets
FAQs
Dubai is a city that often sparks curiosity due to its rapid growth and unique blend of modernity and tradition. Here I’ve answered a couple of the most frequently asked questions to give you a clearer picture of what makes Dubai so fascinating.
Why has Dubai changed over time?
Dubai has transformed over time due to its visionary leadership, the discovery of oil and a strategic focus on diversifying the economy. The city has invested heavily in tourism, trade, and real estate to become a global hub for business and leisure, adapting to meet the needs of an ever-growing international population.
Was Dubai a desert before?
Well, how long before do you want to go back? Millions of years ago it was all under water but in more recent years, Dubai was a mix of salt flats and desert.
Is Dubai cheap or expensive?
The quick answer is it can be pretty expensive but there are lots of ways to make your time here cheaper by choosing cheaper areas, shopping in outlet malls and discount stores and using public transport.
The Wrap-Up
Since moving to Dubai in the late 1990s, I’ve seen the city evolve and develop in line with its leaders’ vision, all while holding on to its roots, cultural heritage and a strong sense of national identity.
Both Old and New Dubai offer something extraordinary, and together they make Dubai the unique and dynamic destination it is today. At first glance, the old and new may seem like stark contrasts, yet they blend perfectly to create a city that celebrates its rich heritage while embracing modern innovation.
Of course, I have my own preference, but I’ll leave it up to you to explore both and make up your own mind whether New Dubai or Old Dubai is better! Wherever you spend your time, the city is sure to leave you with unforgettable memories in this ever-changing City of Gold. And while you’re here, why not venture out to the other emirates like Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah for even more diverse experiences?
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