A journey into Dubai’s past could well begin through the door of a quaint tea house in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, once known as Al Bastakiya. As you step into the Arabian Tea House you transported into the old times, authentic style with turquoise benches, white rattan chairs, lace curtains and beautiful flowers, enjoying your cup of gahwa (traditional Arabic coffee) in the shade of an old tree and the languid air swoons around you, dreamlike, as if it were always afternoon. It opened in 1997, and remains an oasis of peace and calm where tourists and locals come time and again, to journey back to the city’s past and explore its cultural heritage. Dubai Tourism cites the tea house as a cultural reference point. As Dubai has grown, the tea house has moved beyond Al Fahidi, opened 5 new branches in UAE- Sharjah, Mercato Mall Jumeirah, Jumeirah Archaeological Site, Jumeirah Beach, and one branch in Montenegro – Dubai House. ‘It is time now to take the experience to other parts of the world. Being traditional is not something to shy away from, we should be proud of who we are.
