A Charming Destination Where Old Meets New | Al Seef District

Al Seef Heritage Souq, commonly called Al Seef District, is a popular tourist spot in Dubai. It is known for its sandstone buildings, creek views, and beautiful architecture reminiscent of the fictional Agrabah.

Souq (also the same as souk) is a term used to describe places where people buy or sell goods in Arab cities, like bazaars and street markets.

What is there to see?

Before we get to that, it’s worth mentioning that in this promenade, old meets new. It has a modern area with hotels and restaurants you would find in any other city, and a heritage area where the charming old-world buildings are. It is the heritage part you should check out.

For starters, you can do a walking tour. Soak in the vibe and see what the outdoor stalls offer, like the ones below.

You can also treat yourself to fragrant Arab oil perfumes or tea leaves. We visited a perfume store that sells various fragrances, and they all smelled great. They had an assortment of bottles you could choose from as well.

Grab a Drink

Their version of Starbucks matches the whole theme of the district. It’s a small branch where many tourists grab coffee or iced tea to have something to drink while walking around. There are also a few seats if you want to chill. It gets packed in the afternoon, though, especially during the weekend.

Check out the Other Stores

There are dozens of boutiques you can enter. Take your pick from various stores that sell all sorts of things: dresses, accessories, carpets, unique home decor, shawls, and more.

There's a lot of unique stuff inside the shops in the complex, most of which are Middle Eastern home decor like pillows, lights, cushions, and table fabrics. They have nice fashion accessories too.

Below are more souvenirs, antique goods, hats, and bags. We got to try these outfits to see how they would look on us. One of the sellers was kind enough to let us put them on.

Stunning Arabic Architecture at Al Seef District

Going to Al Seef is a must if you are traveling to Dubai; it is one of the best ways to have a cultural experience through the Arabian souks, the music, and the stunning architecture.

Al Seef Heritage Hotel

It still looks beautiful in the evening (we went here during nighttime last year). But for me, it's best to come in the early afternoon with the sun out. You can appreciate the old-world structures better in broad daylight.

Outfit & Look of the Day

In most places like the mall or other tourist areas, you can wear almost whatever you want, as long as it doesn’t look tasteless.

For our visit, I wore a long sleeveless dress to match the rattan earrings I got on Shopee. Then, I paired it with my comfy flats.

🔸 Get the dress on Shopee 🔸

The scarf was from one of the shops that we visited. It’s a light Brown shawl with little studs in it. There’s a lot of walking to be done here, so wear comfortable clothes and footwear.

🔸 Orange rattan earrings from Shopee 🔸

Others

• Bring a water bottle or a tumbler to stay hydrated;

• You can also bring a cap or a pair of shades if you like;

• Restaurants and food stalls are available in both old and new areas of the district.
  

I guess that would be all for today. Make sure to check out the blog page for more Dubai articles. They all come with practical information you can use later on.

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