Situated on the banks of the Dubai Creek, adjacent to the historic Al Bastakiya district and across from the Deira Twin Towers, lies the Al Seef area. This new district opened in 2017 and occupies the spot where pearl diving in Dubai began. Today, along the shores of the Dubai Creek, there is a 1.8-kilometer-long boulevard and shopping area covering over 230,000 square meters.
Al Seef is one of Dubai’s newer attractions, offering not only a large number of shops and restaurants but also unique architecture and stunning panoramic views over the Dubai Creek. A visit to Al Seef can be perfectly combined with a stroll through the historic part of Dubai, including the Al Fahidi neighborhood, the Dubai Museum, and Al Bastakiya. Moreover, if you visit Al Seef last, you can enjoy a delightful lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants in the area.
Shopping along the boulevard
The district of Al Seef is divided into two areas with a central boulevard that runs along the banks of the Dubai Creek. There is an area with traditional architecture that pays homage to the history of Dubai and an area with a more contemporary and modern architecture.
The part with traditional architecture is built according to the old Arabian style that was prevalent in the area around the Dubai Creek in the 19th century. This style is also prominently featured in the historic district of Al Bastakiya, which is adjacent to Al Seef. Here, you’ll find characteristic narrow alleyways, brown clay houses, and traditional windmills atop houses that were once used to keep the houses cool.
The two main areas, each with its own architecture, are further divided into 9 different zones. For example, the floating market is a separate zone, and Zone 1 mainly consists of two hotels and several restaurants. Click below on the map for a complete overview of all the shops and restaurants in the various zones of Al Seef.
Shopping and dining
Al Seef is often described as a “retail hub” and offers not only shops but also many restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a cup of coffee during the day and in the evening. The retail hub concept has been applied in Dubai in recent years at places like La Mer, The Beach, City Walk, and Boxpark. Not entirely coincidentally, all these shopping areas are developed by the same developer, Meraas, and they are all built in the same recognizable style.
However, Al Seef deviates from other retail hub projects of Meraas in Dubai in one aspect. Due to its location on the Dubai Creek, the project has its own marina where many super yachts can dock.
Winkelen in Al Seef
Shoppers will find plenty to enjoy in Al Seef. The shopping area not only features a traditional Arabian souk, but also offers shopping at the floating market or in one of the many stores along the Creekside.
In terms of shops, the selection in Al Seef is quite broad, featuring a mix of trendy stores where you can find well-known fashion brands, as well as stores offering traditional Arabian clothing and fabrics. For the trendiest handbags, you can visit Zeneve London. If you’re looking for custom-made and unique jewelry, Wired Up is the place to go. For the best Arabian perfumes, head to Eter Story, and the finest designer watches can be found at Galerie Hindam.
You can grab snacks and drinks for your journey at Gala Mini Market, which is open daily from 8:30 AM to midnight. For the full range of shops in Al Seef, visit the website www.alseef.ae.
Restaurants in Al Seef
Food enthusiasts will find themselves in paradise in Al Seef. Spread across the area, you can find almost every cuisine from around the world. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite, a family dinner, or a romantic meal by the banks of the Dubai Creek, you’ll find it all in Al Seef!
Among them, you’ll find the Lebanese restaurant 961LB, the American/Arabic restaurant Dukkan Burger, and the Italian/Lebanese restaurant Sul Fiume. For the best in Arabic specialties, head to the Ila restaurant or the Syrian Al Hamidieh restaurant. Are you a fan of Japanese cuisine? Then Yuki No Hana is the place to go. Or enjoy a dinner on the water at Bateaux Dubai.
Indulge in Thai cuisine with a stunning view over the Dubai Creek at the Pad Thai restaurant. Yum Yum Tree offers the best in Chinese cuisine, but you can also find pizza and pasta on their menu. Coffee lovers can visit Kava & Chai coffee house or the Silver Beach Cafe. For a complete overview of restaurants and cafes in Al Seef, you can check out the Al Seef website.
Hotels in Al Seef
The district of Al Seef isn’t just about shops and restaurants; you can also stay overnight in one of its three hotels. In total, the hotels of Zabeel House by Jumeirah and Zabeel House MINI by Jumeirah offer 550 rooms and suites.
Zabeel House by Jumeirah is a modern hotel and is part of the renowned Jumeirah hotel chain, which also includes hotels in Madinat Jumeirah and the famous Burj al Arab hotel. The highlight of Zabeel House by Jumeirah hotel is undoubtedly the rooftop pool located on the top floor of the hotel. From the pool, you have a stunning panoramic view over the old part of Dubai and the Dubai Creek.
Where is Al Seef located?
Al Seef is in the old part of Dubai on the banks of the Dubai Creek. Al Seef is easy to reach by public transport. If you want to travel to Al Seef by metro, you can get off at Burjuman station on the red line. From here it is just a 10-minute walk to Al Seef.
You can also travel to Al Seef by RTA water taxi or the abra. You must then get off at Al Seef Marina Transportation Station 1. Of course you can also travel to Al Seef by your own transport. There are several locations where taxis stop and parking is available in the underground parking garage or at the valet parking. The shops and restaurants in Al Seef are open daily from 10am to midnight. Public toilets can be found in various places throughout the shopping area, along with separate prayer rooms.
