Deira Creek (aka Favourite Beauty Spot)

Clear day + unexpected free evening meant I HAD to get to my special spot to capture this shot of what was Dubai's original skyline. (It's been replaced now by the skyscrapers on SZR.)

As I've said before, Dubai exists because of this body of water which flows in from the Arabian Gulf and is tidal. It allowed the wooden cargo boats (called dhows) to enter and Dubai became a major centre for importing and re-exporting cargo (mainly gold, textiles and electronics).

All the main business areas started out along the banks of the Creek and to get from one side to the other, you hop onto an abra which until recently, cost all of 10p and is loads of fun.

The Creek isn't as busy now as it used to be when the dhows were sometimes berthed 7 deep. I love the contrasts of this particular part of Dubai; the old existing side by side very happily with the new.