The old city on the southern side of Dubai Creek — Al Fahidi, the textile souk, the abra landing, the Indian and Pakistani cafeterias that feed a third of the city for AED 12. Continuously inhabited since the 1830s, and it carries it: the lanes around Al Fahidi are the only part of Dubai where the built environment meaningfully predates the 1970s.

Predominantly South Asian — long-established trading families, newer workers, textile merchants whose presence goes back generations. The most affordable and most densely diverse district in the city. It will be substantially different within a decade as redevelopment continues around the heritage area.