Our Neighborhood · Behind the courtyard doors
XVA Hotel Dubai:
stay a little
longer.
An art-filled house in Al Fahidi, a courtyard café and a reason to leave your afternoon unhurried. Your guide to staying, eating and exploring at XVA Art Hotel.
A courtyard table. A patch of shade. A painting that makes you stop on your way to somewhere else. At XVA, these small pleasures belong to the same address.
In the lanes of Al Fahidi, choosing where to pause is part of the pleasure of exploring. XVA Art Hotel brings a place to sleep, a café and a contemporary gallery together, making it an address you can build a visit around or simply leave time to discover.
This guide is for both kinds of traveller: the one comparing boutique hotels in Old Dubai, and the one looking for a thoughtful stop between the wind towers and the Creek. It is a researched neighbourhood guide, rather than a review of an overnight stay.
Is XVA Hotel Dubai worth visiting? It is a good choice if you enjoy art, intimate architecture and a courtyard meal. You can plan a café or gallery visit without booking a room. For an overnight stay, compare the room categories carefully: the appeal is character and location within Al Fahidi, with compact rooms rather than expansive resort accommodation.
The story behind
the courtyard doors.
XVA opened in 2003. According to the hotel’s own history, it occupies the former home of the Seddiqi family, transformed by Mona Hauser with artists and designers into a place where art and hospitality could meet.
That origin helps explain the experience. A former home invites you to pay attention to the spaces between its rooms: a shaded passage, a place to sit, the way a courtyard gathers people around it. At XVA, the building is part of what you have come to see.
You may see the area called Al Bastakiya in older writing. Today, look for Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood when planning your visit. Read XVA’s own account of its history for the story of the house and its transformation.
Pause before taking the wide courtyard photograph. A doorway, a ceiling beam or the relationship between a painting and its wall can tell a more personal story of the space.
Staying at XVA:
choose the room,
not just the hotel.
The hotel lists 15 individually designed rooms. Its published categories are Single, Standard and Deluxe, with the following sizes and bed arrangements.
| Room | Published size | Bed / feature |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 12–13 m² | Single bed |
| Standard | 13–15 m² | Queen bed |
| Deluxe | 15–17 m² | Queen bed; private outdoor seating |
Listed amenities include an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, ceiling fan, minibar, safe, robe and slippers. The hotel also advertises complimentary Wi-Fi. Consult the official XVA room information for specifications and enquiries.
Who is this kind of stay for?
Our recommendation: put XVA on your shortlist if you want to spend meaningful time in Old Dubai, enjoy individual interiors and prefer a smaller property. Think about how you will use the room. If you expect to spend most of your day exploring, a compact base may suit you well. If a large private living space is essential, look closely at the dimensions before deciding.
Families should ask about permitted occupancy, extra beds and the layout of the specific room offered. Travellers with access requirements should request details of the route from the street to reception and their room, including any steps. Those questions are more useful than relying on a general hotel label.
What does a night at XVA cost?
There is no single price that will describe every stay accurately. Request a quote for your dates and number of guests, then compare the total including taxes and any additional charges. Ask whether breakfast is included and read the cancellation terms before paying.
Use XVA’s direct reservations contact for a current offer. You can also browse our Old Dubai accommodation guides when choosing your base.
XVA Café:
lunch with room
for a little lingering.
XVA Café serves vegetarian food with vegan options and Middle Eastern influences. The official café page lists daily opening hours of 7 am to 10 pm and highlights its mint lemonade.
A café stop is an easy way to include XVA in a day out without staying overnight. Come for a drink and a pause, or make it your meal stop between exploring Al Fahidi and heading towards the waterfront.
Read the official café page and linked menu before choosing a dish. Vegetarian does not automatically mean vegan: if you avoid dairy or eggs, or have allergies, explain your requirements when ordering.
For a meal, our suggested allowance is around an hour, with more time if you want to see an exhibition. For a larger group or a particular seating request, contact XVA ahead of your visit.
If you enjoy planning a neighbourhood through its tables, continue with our places to eat and drink in Old Dubai .
A gallery visit
with its own rhythm.
Established in 2003, XVA Gallery presents contemporary artists from the region alongside emerging voices. Its exhibition programme changes, so a photograph from a previous visit will not necessarily show what is on the walls when you arrive.
The gallery currently publishes opening hours of 10 am to 6 pm, Monday to Sunday. These are separate from the café’s longer hours. Check the current XVA exhibitions before setting out, especially if art is the main reason for your visit.
You do not need to arrive with specialist knowledge. Choose a work that holds your attention, read its label and spend a little longer with it than you normally would. Notice what you saw first, and what only appeared once you stopped looking for the next thing.
Ask the team about photography before taking pictures inside an exhibition. If a work interests you, ask about the artist and the ideas behind it. Let the gallery be a visit in its own right, with the café as a welcome place to continue the conversation.
Discover how Al Fahidi connects to the Creek and the souks.
A suggested half-day
Let XVA be one chapter
of your Old Dubai walk.
You can make XVA the first pause of the day or a place to return to after exploring. The sequence below is our suggested independent outing, not a fixed tour itinerary.
-
01 / BEGIN
Al Fahidi
Explore the lanes and wind towers. -
02 / PAUSE
XVA
Choose a café stop and gallery visit. -
03 / CONTINUE
Dubai Creek
Walk towards the waterfront. -
04 / EXTEND
Deira’s souks
Take a suitable abra across.
Keep the timing comfortable
We would leave three to four hours for a leisurely outing with food, art and the onward walk, adding time for shopping or longer stops. This is a planning suggestion, not a measured duration. Heat, boat queues and your interest in each place will affect the pace.
If you are mainly coming for the gallery, aim for its opening window rather than an early café breakfast. If you would rather keep the day short, stay in Al Fahidi and save the souks for another visit.
Our guide to Al Fahidi, Dubai Creek and the souks explains the wider route. For more cultural stops, explore the Old Dubai culture guides .
Check your booking confirmation for the actual meeting point. XVA is not automatically the starting point or an included stop on our tours. A café bill, gallery event or hotel booking is separate unless your experience explicitly says otherwise.
The practical notebook
XVA opening hours,
location & getting there.
Address
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Bur Dubai, Dubai, UAE. Use the hotel’s official map and taxi directions to locate the entrance.
Café and gallery hours
Café: daily, 7 am–10 pm. Gallery: daily, 10 am–6 pm. Published hours checked on 6 November 2026; reconfirm for holidays, events or a time-sensitive visit.
Arriving by metro
Sharaf DG (G25) is on the Green Line; older guides may call it Al Fahidi. Consult the RTA metro map and allow for the onward walk.
Arriving by taxi
Share XVA’s exact location, rather than just “Old Dubai”. Ask the hotel for the most convenient drop-off and luggage arrangements, especially for a first visit.
Hotel reservations
+971 4 353 5383
reservations@xvagallery.com
Ask about room availability, arrival time and
any special requirements.
Gallery enquiries
XVA Gallery lists +971 4 353 3462 and xva@xvagallery.com for art-related enquiries.
A few questions
worth asking.
- Which exact room or category is available for your dates?
- What is included in the total price, and what is charged separately?
- What are the cancellation, check-in and check-out arrangements?
- Are there steps or other access considerations on the way to your room?
- Can the café accommodate your dietary needs or group size?
For a short visit, make one clear choice: a meal, an exhibition, or both. That gives you time to enjoy XVA without turning the afternoon into a race between addresses.
Before you turn the page
Your XVA questions,
answered.
Where is XVA Hotel Dubai?
XVA is in Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, on the Bur Dubai side of Dubai Creek. It is not in Deira. Use the hotel’s official map for the entrance and taxi instructions.
Can I visit XVA without staying overnight?
Yes, you can plan a café or gallery visit without reserving a hotel room. Follow each venue’s opening hours and ask about any arrangements for events or group visits. Hotel guest areas should be treated as private.
Is XVA Café vegetarian or vegan?
The café is vegetarian and offers vegan options. Check ingredients for the dish you want, and mention allergies or dietary requirements before ordering.
Do the gallery and café have the same hours?
No. The published café hours are 7 am–10 pm daily; the gallery lists 10 am–6 pm daily. Check directly before a special trip, as operating arrangements may change.
How much does it cost to stay at XVA?
Ask for a current quote for your dates, room category and number of guests. Compare the final amount, breakfast arrangements and cancellation terms rather than relying on an older starting price.
Is XVA a good base for exploring Old Dubai?
We would shortlist it for a stay focused on Al Fahidi and the Creek area. Consider your wider itinerary too: if most of your plans are elsewhere in Dubai, factor those journeys into your choice.
Which metro station should I look for?
Look for Sharaf DG on the Green Line, shown as G25 on the RTA map. This is the station formerly called Al Fahidi. Plan the walk from the station to the hotel using a current map.
Can I combine XVA with an Old Dubai tour?
Yes. A separate café or gallery visit can fit before or after your tour. Check the meeting point, finishing point and schedule first; do not assume a stop at XVA or food there is included.
Sources & editorial note. Researched by Visit Old Dubai; practical details checked on 6 November 2026. Sources: XVA history, rooms, café, hotel contact, gallery programme and RTA metro map. Images retained from our original article; interiors, artwork and dishes may have changed. XVA manages its hotel, café and gallery reservations directly.
There is a whole
neighbourhood outside.
Come walking with us through Al Fahidi, towards the Creek and into the souks. Discover the details that turn a place on the map into a story you remember.
View the actual itinerary, inclusions and available dates.
For a hotel stay, contact XVA directly ↗