If you would like to see Dubai as it was many moons ago, then it is highly recommended that you visit the city’s Heritage and Diving Village, which is located in Al Shindagha, Dubai’s historical neighborhood. This attraction actually consists of two individual sites, the Heritage Village and the Diving Village, and both are unlike any other popular attractions, in that they are essentially living museums. Enjoy a visit to Heritage and Diving Village in comfort and style with one of our bespoke Egypt and Dubai tours.

Heritage and Diving Village in Al Shindagha, the old town of Dubai, UAE.

If you want to shop at the world’s biggest shopping mall, then you should head to the Dubai Mall; if you want to visit the world’s tallest building, then head to the Burj Khalifa, but if you want to see how people went about their daily lives in years gone by, then the Heritage and Diving Village is without question the place to go.

Heritage Village Dubai

Many people only know Dubai as a city of glittering skyscrapers and all things futuristic, but this vibrant city has not always been this way. Long before skyscrapers began to dominate the horizon, Dubai consisted of tiny fishing villages and small Bedouin communities where people earned a living through weaving, pottery making, and pearl diving. Remember, in Dubai, city life as we know it and see it today, only kicked off after the discovery of oil.

In 1997, the Heritage and Diving Village was built in order to showcase how life was before Dubai became a thriving city; a place where visitors can witness firsthand how Emiratis used to live in a bygone era. It is a place where you can see traditional craftsmanship; professions; traditions and customs, just as they once were.

Rather than only being able to see tradition goods on display, Heritage Village allows you to also see them being made, using the same materials and the same techniques that were used hundreds or even thousands of years ago, and of course, you also have the opportunity to mingle and interact with the locals who work at the village.

In short, when you visit the Heritage and Diving Village, it will feel like you have traveled a few hundred years back in time.

Diving Village Dubai

The Diving Village is much the same as the Heritage Village, but its main objective is to showcase all things marine as they were in a bygone era. Fishing, boat building, boat races, and pearl diving are all represented at the Diving Village.

The site contains a nice display of old boats, fishing nets, and other commodities which are all associated with the maritime industry as it was during an era which many young Emiratis have completely forgotten about.

Many of our Dubai and Egypt vacation packages include some free time in Dubai, and this is a wonderful attraction to visit if you want to make the most of any free time you have.

Useful Tips and Information

While you will find some craftsmen at work regardless of when in the year you decide to visit, it is worth noting that a range of crafts are only demonstrated during the high season which runs from October to March. As a result, the Heritage and Diving Village is best visited during the high season, or during special events such as Flag Day and UAE National Day.

We also recommend wearing comfortable shoes which are suitable for quite a bit of walking. The Heritage Village covers an area of around 10,000 square meters, while the Diving Village is an additional 8,200 square meters, which means that most visitors do quite a bit of walking while at the site.

Entrance to both villages is free, so please consider supporting some of the local crafts people, even if you only buy some traditional sweets or one or two inexpensive handicrafts. The venue is open from 08h00 until 22h00 from Sunday to Thursday, and from 15h00 to 22h00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The site is also in close proximity to a number of other Dubai tourist attractions, including Dubai Museum, Jumeirah Mosque, and etc.

Visiting the Heritage and Diving Village with Us

The Heritage and Diving Village is not included by default in all of our Dubai Package Tours and our Egypt and Dubai Tours so please keep this in mind when booking a tour through us.

However, because all of our Middle East vacations are customizable, the Heritage and Diving Village can be added to your preferred tour itinerary even if it is not featured in the itinerary. Simply let us know that you would like us to include this venue, and one of our tour managers will be happy to oblige.