Page 20 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Dubai & Abu Dhabi

18 ❯❯ Top 10 Dubai and Abu Dhabi Highlights

Al Fahidi

The beautifully restored old Al Fahidi quarter (also known by its old
name of Bastakiya) gives a picturesque glimpse into the city’s past,
in sharp contrast to the futuristic architecture found elsewhere.
As you wander the maze of shady streets and alleys, traditional
windtower houses with elegant courtyards can be seen in sand,
stone, coral and gypsum. The buildings have been restored to their
original state, with Arabesque windows, decorative gypsum panels
and screens. This area is home to art galleries, museums and cafés.

Traditional
Coins Museum
1 3
Architecture
The Coins Museum
The need to remain showcases Arabian
cool prompted money (left)
the vernacular through the
style of the ages. Almost
windtower 500 coins are
courtyard on display
houses. Thick from Ummayad
walls and narrow to Ottoman times,
windows with with touch screens
intricate Arabesque providing fascinating
designs are featured. historical information.
Majlis Gallery
Sheikh
2 4
Mohammed
Named after the
word for a meeting place Centre for Cultural
in Arabic, Majlis is a bijou Understanding
art gallery built around This pioneering centre
a beautifully converted aims to give visitors
whitewashed Arabic and expats a deeper
house with a central understanding of Emirati
garden. It houses the culture. A number of
works of local Emirati activities are available,
and expat artists, and including walking tours
features original pottery, of Al Fahidi (see p55)
Coffee
ceramics, crafts and and regular “cultural” 5
jewellery (see p38). breakfasts and lunches. Museum
This museum reveals
the history of the region’s
favourite drink. Exhibits
include old-fashioned
grinders, coffee pots
and antique tins (above),
and you can try a cup
of Arabian-style coffee.
Old City Wall
6
Restoration work of
the original 200-year-old
city wall (left) has drawn
attention to the history of
this section of the city as
a crucial defensive zone.
Eyewitness Travel – Top 10 series LAYERS PRINTED:
Three-column, 8.25pt grid “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.5)
018-019_Top_10_Dubai.indd 18 17/05/2017 12:54
Date 12th May 2015
Size 100mm x 191mm