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A glimpse into Dubai's past

Dubai - A heritage tour of Khor Dubai takes visitors back in time to the pre-oil era.

Emiratis, expats and tourists can now take a walk back in time to the age of pre-oil Dubai through a 'heritage tour' of the Emirate's Khor Dubai area. The Tales from the Past tour is being conducted by Desert Gate Tourism with the cooperation of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).
On Sunday, Khaleej Times joined a number of officials for a fascinating glimpse into Dubai's past in the Khor Dubai area, including the Heritage and Diving Village and Shaikh Saeed House in Shindagha, as well as the Spice Souk and Al Ahmadiya School in Al Ras.
The tours, all conducted by Emirati staff that have undertaken two-month training periods, provide tour-goers with ample opportunity to see Dubai's heritage first hand.
In the Heritage Village, for example, one can watch elderly Emiratis bake traditional raqaq, khameer and chebab bread and prepare coffee for a Majlis, as well as learn about the various types of construction needed by coastal and mountain communities and the nomadic Bedouin of the desert.
"The tour stems from something bigger and wider, which is the rejuvenation of the Dubai Historical District, which covers about 1.5 square km of Bur Dubai, Al Fahidi neighbourhood, Shindagha and Deira, said Yousef Ahmad Lootah, DTCM's Executive Director of Tourism Developments and Investment.
"We have four aims for this project. One is connecting Emiratis with their heritage, showcasing our heritage to international visitors, creating new commercial opportunities, and preserving our tangible heritage," Lootah added.
Additionally, Lootah said the projects will help Dubai Municipality in its bid to have Khor Dubai declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.
"The rejuvenation project will play a very important part in pushing that agenda," he said.
Saeed Al Nabouda, acting director-general of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, said the tour - and the wider rejuvenation of Dubai's historical areas - is designed to share local Emirati knowledge passed down through families with a wider audience.
"When we as UAE nationals go around historical places, we don't take a tour guide. Our guides are our grandfathers, fathers and uncles," he said. "We had to take (look at) it from a tourist angle. We took tours (earlier) and were surprised to discover that it didn't even cover 20 per cent of the rich information of cultural heritage and historical elements. That's when the seed of thought came of having nationals driving that."
"The cherishing of those memories is different, coming from the source itself," he added.
Nabouda also noted that by highlighting Dubai's heritage, local officials can help promote understanding of the nation as a whole.
"We're not just talking about the culture of Dubai. It's a UAE culture, and a UAE heritage," he said. "We want to present the best of the UAE's culture in Dubai."
"You will live the culture," he added. "You will see people living the heritage."
The tour costs Dh350 per person, and can be booked through Desert Gate's website.