al-Bastakiyya
Coordinates: 25 ° 16 ' N , 55 ° 18' E
Al-Bastakiyya ( Arabic البستكية, DMG al-Bastakīya ) is a historic, listed district in Dubai , United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is located on Dubai Creek and consists of narrow streets and wind towers . The neighborhood is also home to the al-Fahidi Fort , the oldest existing structure in Dubai.
Together with Schindagha , the Bastakiya is one of the oldest residential areas in Dubai. It is named after the city of Bastak in Iran , from which many of its residents come, most of whom are Sunni Arabs who migrated to Iran in earlier times. In order to avoid the tax liability and the reprisals due to their Sunni religion under Naser ad-Din Shah , they moved back to the Arab Gulf states, especially Dubai, Sharjah , Bahrain and Kuwait .
The construction of the Bastakiya dates back to the 1890s. In its early years, the quarter was able to accommodate 60 houses, separated from each other by narrow, windy streets. Traditionally, the Bastakiya was a stronghold of wealthy residents. However, with the discovery of oil in the emirate of Dubai, the demographic structure changed: many rich families moved to other parts of the city and in their place more and more foreign middle-income families came to the Bastakiya.
The Bastakiya has often faced demolition. In the 1990s, Prince Charles is said to have learned during a visit that the Bastakiya was to be demolished. He then intervened with the sheikh and convinced him not to demolish the neighborhood.
In 2005, the Dubai city council began a project to restore the historic buildings and alleys.
The Bastakiya has meanwhile developed into an artist and cultural quarter with galleries, exhibitions and museums. The plan is to enlarge the Bastakiya with detailed replicas, another museum, its own cultural center, further galleries and restaurants.