Heritage & Diving Villages

Lonely Planet review

During the Dubai Shopping Festival, the Heritage and Diving Villages bloom with burqa-clad Emirati women making hot dosa (flat, grilled bread made of flour and water), Bedu men offering short-haul camel rides to children, and unusual traditional activities such as rifle-throwing competitions. Unfortunately, for the rest of the year the villages are lifeless, devoid of both tourists and staff, with empty souqs and only a few dreary displays to keep visitors interested.

The occasional performance of traditional music or dance takes place outside the shopping festival - it's worth calling in advance and making sure your visit coincides with an event.