Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Hilton

In ancient times traders would travel from across the deserts and seas of the Gulf, from lands faraway, bringing with them their cultural diversity, their local dishes, delicacies, spices, artefacts and stories. They would arrive on Arabian dhows (traditional wooden boats) to gather around the shores of the Creek, trade and barter and swap stories of adventure, travels and family. As time passed, restaurants opened within the souk (bazaar), fisherman set up shop, pearl divers, grain merchants and spice traders slowly began a village of trade and commerce. Houses of traders sprung up along the Creek and wealthy families built villas around courtyards, creating winding alleyways filled with the sights and sounds of mixing cultures. Travelers started to visit the village of the Creek, Al Seef. They needed rest areas for the nights after long journeys, and so the welcoming Arabian hospitality prevailed and the homeowners opened their doors to these travelers, inviting them into their homes to share their meals and rest their weary bodies. Today, these homes have come together under the Al Seef Heritage Hotel, a collection of traditional, creek-side villas, to again welcome travelers from far and wide.