Page 61 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Dubai & Abu Dhabi

Deira ❮❮ 59

Food Souk
3
The sights and smells of a
traditional food market provide an
enthralling insight into the shopping
and eating habits of the locals. On
the north side of Deira, this large
warehouse-like complex is the old
city’s major source of fresh food.
The colourful fruit and vegetable
selection has dozens of stalls piled
high with produce, as well as a
section specializing in dates from the
local area. The gory meat section is
for dedicated carnivores only, but the
salty-smelling fish section is well
worth exploring, with ocean-fresh
prawns, hammour and sharks laid
out on display (see p27).
National Bank of Dubai
4
Courtyard at Heritage House MAP L1 • Baniyas Rd
Another architectural achievement
Heritage House
1 is the building housing the National
Bank of Dubai – one of the city’s first
MAP K1 • Al Khor St • 04 226
0286 • Open 8am–8:30pm Sat–Thu, iconic buildings. Built in the mid-
2–8:30pm Fri 1990s by Carlos Ott, architect of the
This beautifully restored airy Opéra de la Bastille in Paris,
courtyard house dates back to the it is inspired by the dhow. Its curved
1890s. Unusually, this 10-room curtain glass wall symbolizes the
building does not have a windtower, billowing sail. The base of the
but the upper floor is designed with building is clad in green glass,
open doors and windows to draw in representing water, and its roof is
the creek breezes. Now a museum cast in aluminium (denoting the
giving an insight into Emirati history hull of the boat). It is most
(with dioramas and touch screens), striking at sunset, when
you can explore the different rooms, the mirror reflects
all with 19th-century furnishings. its gold and
silver lights.
Al-Ahmadiya School
2 National Bank
MAP K1 • Al Khor St • 04 226
0286 • Open 8am–7:30pm Sat–Thu, of Dubai’s
2:30–7:30pm Fri stunning
Dubai’s first school, opened in 1912, façade
was founded by a philanthropist
pearl merchant. Maths, the Holy
Koran and Arabic calligraphy were
taught and the pupils (all male) sat
on palm mats. Many such schools
were located in Emirati coastal cities
with the support of leading merchants
and sheikhs, who subsidised the
education. This school closed in
1963. Now a museum, it offers a
great educational insight into the
past and is worth visiting just for
its sheer architectural grace.

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