OF SCENTS AND STORIES

AL SEEF IN DUBAI IS A SEAMLESS BLEND OF OLD-WORLD CHARM AND CONTEMPORARY FLAIR

- KARTIKEYA SHANKAR

ESTABLISHED IN LATE 2017, Al Seef, a waterfront promenade, pays homage to Dubai Creek's origins as a coastal pearl diving hub. Spanning 1.8 km along the Creek's shoreline, this 2.5 million square foot development is divided into two sections. The first showcases historic architecture, while the second embraces contemporary structures. Once a bustling gateway to the Gulf's thriving pearl diving port, the Creek's historical legacy persists at Al Seef with its wind towers and sandstone buildings.

"Made to look old, you'll encounter narrow corridors, market stall traders, and buildings that have been created to look as if they've been there since the '60s, when my father settled here," says Muhammad Bilal, a 57-year-old store employee from Pakistan, packing a kilo of Mamra almonds for me.

A DIVERSE CULINARY HUB

As I wander around Al Seef, the air is filled with tempting aromas from the many waterfront restaurants where families, couples and friends are sitting around, enjoying their meals and conversations. 

AL FANAR: Housed in a historic dwelling that mirrors Dubai's evolution, this eatery offers authentic Emirati cuisine.

KHOFO: Celebrating Egyptian cuisine, the decor is inspired by the great pharaohs and the ethos of ancient Egypt.

NABLUS: This restaurant is a tribute to the historic city of Nablus in the northern West Bank of Palestine, with its alleyways and brick pathways. You must try the Nablusi kanafeh, a middle-eastern dessert.