‘I went on holiday to Dubai on a budget – here’s how I did it’
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Exploring the other side of UAE city. Across the creek from the bright lights and skyscrapers of Dubai, I feel like I’m another world away in a quiet and still traditional Emirati-style house. People come from all over the globe to climb the world’s tallest building, see the heaviest gold ring or to try and get their hands on the viral Dubai chocolate bar made famous on TikTok.
![[Guide Noora Al Marzooqi explains traditional hospitality in Dubai]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/13/11/20215636-cab80b45-787e-44e2-bf6e-bc2df53a325c.jpg)
But there is another side of Dubai, rich with Emirati traditions, and dare I say it, even accessible on a budget. From a dull and cold morning in the UK, it’s a shock to the system as I land in 38C heat and a city that even at 2am is busy and bustling. A drive across the creek to the historic Al Seef area transports me to some welcome tranquillity.
![[Enjoying a desert safari]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/13/11/20222921-2fa6169c-d78e-4622-badb-701b572dae79.jpg)
Read more: Defending Dubai’s last patch of pristine desert and its animals – how to see the ‘other side’ of the emirate. I’ll never say no to walking in the footsteps of Beyoncé. The next morning, I follow her lead by visiting the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) in one of the oldest areas of Dubai for a feast of both food and culture.
Over a brunch that includes a chicken biryani, rice, bread and small round donuts covered in date syrup, guide Noora Al Marzooqi explains traditional hospitality in Dubai. Noora describes the layout of the old house and how the rooms were once used for living and hosting. She reveals that being served a small cup of coffee illustrates affection for guests – implying the hosts want you to stay with them for longer.
