Come with me on a tour of Dubai. We will use the Shiekh Zayed Road to take us from the south of the Emirate, through the tourist and expat area and then up and over Dubai Creek, finishing in Deira, one of the oldest parts of Dubai.

To begin we will be passing through the Dinseyland that is the new Dubai; top class hotels compete for the skyline with exclusive residential high-rises and huge shopping malls. All striving to become either the tallest, most architecturally challenging, or simply the most expensive. It is all stunning, and slightly overwhelming - all this should be desert!!

However, as we approach Dubai Creek we begin to leave all this magnificence behind and enter the older part of Dubai. In my opinion we are now in the REAL Dubai. This is the trading heart of Dubai that can trace its history back more than 100 years, starting with the pearl fishing trade. Take a stroll along the banks of the creek and you will be captivated by the colour and bustle of the loading and unloading of ocean-going wooden dhows which still ply ancient trade routes to places as distant as India and East Africa, plus local trading partners like Iran.

As you click on an image the title will give you a brief description of where you are. Or simply take the slideshow option (top right of screen) and sit back and enjoy the tour.......