• The Jumeirah Fishing Harbour in Jumeirah 2 in Dubai. While there’s no clear signage, it’s easy to find: drive along Jumeirah Beach Road with Mercato Mall to your left, pass two traffic lights and then turn right.
    The Jumeirah Fishing Harbour in Jumeirah 2 in Dubai. While there’s no clear signage, it’s easy to find: drive along Jumeirah Beach Road with Mercato Mall to your left, pass two traffic lights and then turn right.
  • Luis Salgueiro, chef and general manager of Alto Mar restaurant at Jumeirah Fishing Harbour. It is separate from the rest of the area and promises to serve the “taste of the sea”.
    Luis Salgueiro, chef and general manager of Alto Mar restaurant at Jumeirah Fishing Harbour. It is separate from the rest of the area and promises to serve the “taste of the sea”.
  • It’s an area where you can eat, drink, stroll among the boats and enjoy the fresh breeze from the sea, and meet the heart of Dubai, the old Emirati fishermen.
    It’s an area where you can eat, drink, stroll among the boats and enjoy the fresh breeze from the sea, and meet the heart of Dubai, the old Emirati fishermen.
  • Omnia Blue restaurant at the souq
    Omnia Blue restaurant at the souq
  • It has a charming set-up of traditional designs with modern touches, such as lanterns with lamps inside, wooden roofs, barjeel (wind towers) and zigzag geometric decorations. It has the feel of a traditional ­neighbourhood.
    It has a charming set-up of traditional designs with modern touches, such as lanterns with lamps inside, wooden roofs, barjeel (wind towers) and zigzag geometric decorations. It has the feel of a traditional ­neighbourhood.
  • The building labelled Al Souq isn’t a souq at all, but four dining outlets — beautifully decorated restaurants with mosaics of fish, turtles and all kinds of kaleidoscopic designs along the floors and walls.
    The building labelled Al Souq isn’t a souq at all, but four dining outlets — beautifully decorated restaurants with mosaics of fish, turtles and all kinds of kaleidoscopic designs along the floors and walls.
  • A children’s play area
    A children’s play area
  • Omnia Blue restaurant at the Souk in Jumeirah Fishing Harbour in Jumeirah 2 in Dubai.
    Omnia Blue restaurant at the Souk in Jumeirah Fishing Harbour in Jumeirah 2 in Dubai.
  • There’s an elaborate guide map illustrating the different sections of this small complex: Al Souq (which has four dining places), a boat-repair workshop, prayer hall, fishermen’s majlis, Dubai Customs office, fish market, Dubai Police office and fishermen’s restaurant.
    There’s an elaborate guide map illustrating the different sections of this small complex: Al Souq (which has four dining places), a boat-repair workshop, prayer hall, fishermen’s majlis, Dubai Customs office, fish market, Dubai Police office and fishermen’s restaurant.
  • “Buildings and restaurants may come and go, but the sea remains as it is: uncontrollable, free, ruthless,”
    “Buildings and restaurants may come and go, but the sea remains as it is: uncontrollable, free, ruthless,”
  • If you happen to be there in the early morning or after 4.30pm, then the best place to start is the fishermen’s majlis, for conversation and reminiscences.
    If you happen to be there in the early morning or after 4.30pm, then the best place to start is the fishermen’s majlis, for conversation and reminiscences.

A day at Jumeirah Fishing Harbour — in pictures

James Ohara

February 05, 2015

It’s where the old meet the young, and the past converges with the present. Tucked behind rows of beautiful houses, overlooking the sea, is the Jumeirah Fishing Harbour. Words by Rym Ghazal. All photos by Pawan Singh / The National

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