Deira

Deira is the old city. It grew up along the northern bank of Dubai Creek as the emirate's trading quarter and still works that way, with the Gold and Spice Souks, narrow lanes and heritage buildings sitting among the apartment blocks. Al Rigga, Port Saeed, Abu Hail and Naif are the parts most people actually live in.

Rents are among the lowest in the city and the Metro runs right through it, with Union, Al Rigga and Deira City Centre all walkable from large parts of the area. The buildings are older than almost anywhere else in Dubai, and that shows up in the reviews: maintenance, lifts and parking come up constantly, because many blocks went up before a parking space per apartment was standard.