One of the busiest shopping streets in huge Dubai has become an excellent illustration of how modernity and carefully preserved historical heritage coexist side by side in this city. This colorful little street, only 2.5 kilometers long, is located in the Old Town, but looks very lively and modern.
The ground floors of absolutely all the buildings on Al-Diyafa are occupied by shops, little stores, restaurants, and cafes. If you take a ranking of the best restaurants and nightclubs in Dubai, you will notice that quite a large number of them are located right here. There are also several good hotels on this street, so if you came to Dubai not for laid-back relaxation on the beach, but for fun nightlife and entertainment, staying on Al-Diyafa will be convenient and interesting for you.
Among local residents, the street is popular for its huge selection of little shops offering an incredibly wide range of goods - from local food products to exclusive clothing collections by Arab stylists. And the numerous souvenir shops and the huge number of restaurants with exotic cuisines from different peoples of the world attract tourists here from all over the city.
Although the name Al-Diyafa Street is still actively used in Dubai, it is worth noting that in 2011 it was officially renamed 2nd of December Street. By decree of Sheikh Mohammed, it received its new name in the year of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the liberation of the UAE from the British protectorate. On National Day, which is celebrated annually on 2 and 3 September, people gather on the former Al-Diyafa Street, draw patterns on windows and parked cars with artificial snow from spray cans, and noisily celebrate Independence Day.
