Riggat Al Buteen

Riggat Al Buteen is a neighbourhood in the Deira area of Dubai, UAE. It lies on the northern bank of the Dubai Creek. It is bordered by Al Rigga, Port Saeed, and Al Muraqqabat districts.

Two major roads run through the area:

• D89 (Al Maktoum Road)
• D85 (Baniyas Road)

Deira Clocktower, a landmark, lies at the northeastern corner of the area.

The area is primarily known for its government and municipal buildings and its commercial district, which consists of office buildings, hotels, and serviced apartments.

Few people live in Riggat Al Buteen. There are just a few residential buildings in the area. According to the Dubai Population Bulletin 2021, the district’s population was 3,016, around 0.09% of Dubai’s total population.

Other English spellings of the locality include Rigga Al Buteen and Riqqa Al Buteen.

Businesses and Government Offices

Riggat Al Buteen is a commercial and administrative centre in Dubai, housing various businesses and government organisations. Some of the specific establishments in the area include:

• Dubai Chamber of Commerce: A public organisation that supports the business community in Dubai and promotes the emirate as an international business hub.
• Dubai Land Department: Responsible for overseeing land registration procedures and promoting the real estate sector in Dubai.
• Etisalat Dubai HQ: Etisalat is a leading telecommunications provider in the UAE, with its Dubai headquarters situated in Riggat Al Buteen.
• Emirates NBD HQ: A major bank in the UAE.

Hotels

Hotels and places to stay in and around this area include:

Shopping

There are no major shopping malls in the district. A handful of supermarkets provide residents easy access to groceries and other essentials.  

However, there are large shopping malls in neighbouring areas. 

• Al Ghurair Centre: Located in the neighbouring district of Al Muraqqabat, Al Ghurair Centre is a well-established shopping mall with several hundred stores, a diverse selection of eateries, and a cinema.
• City Centre Deira: Situated in the adjacent district of Port Saeed, City Centre Deira is a popular shopping destination with a wide range of retail outlets, dining options, and entertainment facilities.

Riggat Al Buteen – Transport and Public Transport

Riggat Al Buteen has excellent transportation links, making accessing other parts of Dubai easy. 

Two major roads run through the district:

• D89 (Al Maktoum Road)
• D85 (Baniyas Road)

The D89 offers a direct connection to Dubai International Airport. Both roads link to the E11 (Sheikh Zayed Road). 

Both roads also link to the D78 (Tariq Bin Ziyad Road). This road crosses the Dubai Creek via Al Maktoum Bridge and connects Deira to Oud Metha and Bur Dubai.

Several bus services run along the D89 (Al Maktoum Road). They include:

• C01 – Satwa Bus Station to Dubai International Airport – Stops on the bus route include Sharaf DG Metro Station, Union Metro Station, Etisalat Dubai HQ, Al Maktoum Road, and Garhoud.
• C04 – Gold Souq Bus Station to Jaddaf – Stops on this bus route include Union Metro Station, Al Maktoum Road, Oud Metha Metro Station, Wafi City, Garhoud, Creek Metro Station, and Al Jaddaf Marine Transport Station.
• C05 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Gold Souq Bus Station – Stops on the route include Sharaf DG Metro Station, BurJuman Metro Station, Karama, Rashid Hospital, Al Maktoum Road, and Union Metro Station.
• 27 – Gold Souq Bus Station to the Dubai Mall – Stops include Union Metro Station, Al Maktoum Road, Deira City Centre Metro Station, Umm Hurair, Al Jafiliya Bus Station, and DIFC.
• 53 – Gold Souq Bus Station to International City – Stops on the route include Baniyas Square, Al Maktoum Road, Deira City Centre Metro Station, and Dubai Festival City.

Union Bus Station is nearby. From here, you can catch buses to Ajman, Fujairah, and Sharjah.

There are no Dubai Metro stations within Riggat Al Buteen. However, there are stations in neighbouring districts. 

• Union Metro Station – Transfer station on both the Red Line and the Green Line. It is one of the busiest stations in the city. In Al Rigga district.
• Deira City Centre Metro Station – Red Line station in Port Saeed. It is located next to the City Centre Deira shopping mall.
• Al Rigga Metro Station – Red Line station. It is located in Al Muraqqabat.

The Red Line offers direct transport to destinations such as Dubai International Airport, BurJuman, Dubai World Trade Centre, DIFC, Downtown Dubai (for Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall), Business Bay, the Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Marina, and Jumeirah Lakes Towers.

Boats can be taken from the nearby Baniyas Marine Transport Station across Dubai Creek to destinations like the Dubai Old Souk and Al Seef.

Taxis are readily available in the area. 

Attractions and Things to Do

The Dubai Creek lies at the southern edge of the neighbourhood. The Dhow Wharfage is here. A walkway runs along the bank of waterway.

Visitors can stroll along the bank and view traditional wooden dhow boats that still transport goods across the Persian Gulf. Visitors can take a romantic dhow cruise along Dubai Creek in the evenings. Walking north leads to attractions such as the Spice Souk and Gold Souk.

The Baniyas Marine Transport Station is just north of Riggat Al Buteen. Boats leave from here for destinations in Bur Dubai:

• Dubai Old Souk Abra Station – Abra station at the Old Souk. The atmospheric alleys of the Old Souk offer a more traditional shopping experience than Dubai’s shopping malls. Vendors sell spices, textiles, souvenirs, and more.
• Al Seef Marine Transport Station – Dock at Al Seef, a waterfront retail and leisure development.

The closest beaches are at Al Mamzar Beach Park. The public park features several pristine beaches, gardens, and facilities like showers and changing rooms.

The nearest cinemas are the VOX Cinemas City Centre Deira and Star Cinemas Al Ghurair Centre.

Local Schools

There are no schools in the area. The area is not a popular residential location for families. 

Mosques

There are a few notable mosques in Riggat Al Buteen for residents to pray and worship. They include 

• Yaqub Mosque – A prominent mosque on 6B Street, close to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. It has traditional Islamic architecture with domes and a tall minaret.
• Masjid Marfa Al Sufn – This mosque is situated near the Dubai Wharfage.

Hospitals

There are no hospitals within Riggat Al Buteen. There are hospitals in nearby areas:

• Rashid Hospital – A major government hospital located in Umm Hurair. It provides comprehensive medical care across most specialities.
• Medeor Hospital – A leading private hospital situated 3km away in Umm Hurair. It offers advanced medical services and has several centres of excellence.

Residents have access to a decent range of healthcare options despite no hospitals in the area.