Among the glistening new skyscrapers of Dubai lies an ancient village of mud huts, fishing boats, and a 200-year-old mosque. Created by potters and weavers thousands of years ago, a wonderful little region known as Heritage and Diving Village preserves the Emirates vivid past.

About a ten minute drive from Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, this fascinating locale offers visitors a chance to explore simple houses and learn about the lifestyles of earlier civilizations of pearl divers and date farmers. Located at the mouth of Dubai Creek, the village's emblematic streets are dotted with cafes and shops that offer all varieties of handicraft items like woven baskets, colorful cotton robes, and incense burners. Culture comes alive here, and it's not uncommon to hear traditional Arabic music fill the streets, as groups of locals in Bedouin dress parade through town. Climb one of two towers, constructed in the 19th century to protect the city from attack, and get a bird's eye view of these ancient lands. Or ride a camel through the village, and take a journey into Dubai's rich past.