Fodor's Expert Review Dhow Wharves

Cooking oil heading for Somalia, refrigerators for Iran, and used cars for countries around the Gulf—all of these goods and more are piled high on wooden dhows at the commercial wharf. A stroll around the wharves highlights Dubai's continued importance as a merchant city and offers insights into the low-tech trade that supplies much of the region, from the east coast of Africa to the west coast of the Indian subcontinent. This is not a primped-up tourist attraction; it's a workaday dock, so be aware of trucks and lifting equipment operating in the area.