Top 10 Dubai Souks/Souqs

Souks are known as Arabic Markets, are one of Dubai’s greatest attractions. You will find all kinds of goods are bought sold and exchanged in this traditional market. Habitually, dhows from the far China, India, and East were discharging their cargo’s to the coast. Most of the souks are residual near to the corniche. As a time passed sailing items have been changed from spices, silks and perfumes to contain electronic good and the latest common consumer trends.

The countless of souks are to be found on both arrays of the Creek, but principally in Deira. It’s worth discovering both sides. Wandering around the atmospheric souks is a good way for visitors to get in touch with how life was in Dubai, before oil was discovered. The best part is the vibrant Spice Market, which flourishes with bizarre aromas and activities with residents pursuing good deal. You can cross among the two banks of Creek in about ten minutes by the help of Abras (small wooden dhows) which line of to the Creek side by costing 1AED only. Alternatively, most taxi drivers identify where to drive if you inquire for a precise souk and the tariffs are sensible. If you have the time, why not courageous the public transport. Number of buses is running frequently throughout the day and visits all of the souks, by both sides of the Creek.

Top Ten Dubai Souks

‘Souk’ or ‘souq’ is the Arabic term, it attributes for the market or place where any kind of goods are brought or bartered. Dubai souks are bright, colorful, noisy and fascinating like any other market place.

1. The Gold Souk

World famous Gold Souk is Dubai’s Gold Souk, where narrow streets are lined with shop windows glinting with ornaments made in 22 and 24 carat gold. Along the slightly larger lanes of the gold souk, each shop window is crammed with gold necklaces, rings, bangles, earrings and brooches. On display in one of the shops is the World’s Largest Gold Ring, certificated from the Guinness Book of World Records. Designs can be traditional or modern, bold or conservative, loud or sober, sturdy or delicate. Along with designs, you will find many different shades of gold like pink, white, yellow or green hues in one piece. Dubai Gold Souk is worth a visit even if you have no intention of buying. It would be hard to resist the temptation to buy them. Haggling about the price is like a tradition. Take your time and plan 2 to 3 hours for your visit. The best time is the late afternoon. Usually, the shops are open until 10:00 pm. The initial unsure in bargaining gets lost pretty quickly, and you will really enjoy “haggling” about your favorite piece.

Gold Souk is located near the Dubai Creek in Al Ras area of Deira. You can reach it with public buses, metro, taxi or water taxi (from Bur Dubai). We don’t recommend to go by car as the area is very crowded and to find a parking could be difficult.

2. Spice Souk

The spice souk is settled just succeeding to the gold souk. The flashy war of spices and their heady smell is tantalizing. You cannot get over the incredible identify of spices that are purchasable. Here you faculty hears spices of all varieties: cardamom, bark, yellow, turmeric, Chile, curry, cloves and lots writer. And that’s not all; you leave also conclude basmati lyricist, dates, dry fruits and nuts of endless varieties, divergent sets of tee, Shisha, enticing perfumes, pottery as rise as baskets. As you move on from one store to another, you leave be enclosed by these sensory delights. The spices are brought from the Midriff Eastern part as fine as from around other

3. Perfume Souk

The Perfume Souk is the name assumed to the assortment of scent shops on Sikkat Al Khail Road, Deira, just east of the Gold Souk.

Thousands of diverse sweet fragrances will invite you in the Perfume Souk of Dubai. Here you will find yourself abandoned while determining which fragrance to buy. If you will find it difficult, keen and hasty shopkeepers will certainly assist you out in picking one. Aromas here series from customary Arabic Ittars to latest perfumes all under same roof. Perfumes are also offered in shopping malls but perfume souk is the best place to choose between a wide variety.

In addition to perfumes, you can also bargain incense at the Dubai perfume souk. They are traded in the form of sticks, powder, crystal, rock and wood. Arabian perfumes are oil founded and they have a tendency to leave a pigment when sprayed on clothes. So be careful and make sure you don’t do so. The perfumes are well priced and you can buy a few bottles if you know how to negotiate.

Frankincense is the most widespread incense and is obtainable in every store at the Dubai perfume souk. Respire in the perfumed constructions and imbibe within you their traditional implications charm.

4. Old Souk/Textile Souk

The Old Souk or Textile Souk is situated over the Creek in Bur Dubai. The bazaar involves of a long line of renovated sand-colored pebble buildings, covered by a wooden roof in one area, and topped with gorgeous wind towers. The multitude of trivial shops here offers a massive range of fabrics (cashmere, silk, cotton, wool etc.) plus garments, slippers, souvenirs, and other merchandise. The Textile Souk can be reached from Deira (Gold Souk, Spice Souk, Perfume Souk) by crossing the water on Abra or water taxi. Otherwise travel by Metro on the Green Line and land at Al Ghubaiba Metro Station or Al Fahidi Metro Station. The Bastakia Quarter and Dubai Museum are close and well worth a visit while in the area. It is also recognized as Cosmo Souk… Just to make things more complex 🙂

5. Meena Bazaar

Dubai is well-known for its great intercultural community living together in peace. After the Arabic locals, Indian minority is the biggest in Dubai and Indians have always played the most important role in the business life of Dubai. Therefore Dubai has several Indian areas.Meena Bazaar is a hub for Indian where they can get just anything coming from their motherland. The most significant goods include traditional Indian jewelry and wedding jewelry, watches, Indian textiles, Indian equipment and accessories or Indian spices. Of course, these are only some of the dozens of goods that are sold in Meena Bazaar, which, together with its area will actually make you feel as if you were in India.

You can also get to grasp two Hindu temples in the Meena area: one is devoted to Shiva and the other to Krishna Gods. Meena Bazaar is situated in Bur Dubai, next to Al Bastakiya area.

6. The Friday Market

You have to go a little bit further for this one but the drive is lovely- the Friday Market is held in Masafi- yes where the water comes from- and it is located on the East Coast Road between Dhaid and Masafi. Traditionally it was a Friday souk for dealers in the less inhabited areas but the roadside market has now become a preferred stopping place for tourists and is on all week now not just Fridays. It is a row of stalls on either side of the road that sell all sorts of things from carpets to pottery, fruit and veg, carpets and rugs, inflatable, household pots and pans. A trip there is more for the experience really and you may pick up some plants and pots as they are miles lower-priced than in Dubai and some fresh bananas from Salalah. There are slight touristy workshops too. To get there from Dubai head up the Emirates Road Sharjah direction and once past Sharjah look out for a sign saying the East Coast region

7. Fruit & Vegetable Souk

The fruit and vegetable market is constructed in Ras Al Khor off the Emirates Here you will find stands with all fresh crop mainly sold in wholesale but you can buy smaller measures too. There are some great savings to be had equaled to prices in the supermarkets and extensive range of choice. The market has been renovated and most stalls are now under sheltered areas. You can hire men with trolleys who will assist you carry your stuffs around the market until you have finished shopping and help you to your car. Certainly worth a visit and purse friendly too!

8. Naif Souk

Naif Souk is located in the old Deira district of Dubai. This souk is amongst the oldest souks of Dubai and in days gone by it served camel sellers as a camel market and from that, it has developed into a full-fledged marketplace. Today, the rebuilt Naif Souk expects its visitors with more than a hundred shops and air-conditioned climate. The souk is well-known for its souvenirs, watches, jewelry, leather, handbags and textiles.

9. Karama Market

Love it or hate Karama is one of Dubai’s most popular souk areas- largely due to its “real fakes” available- here you will find everything from bags, shoes, DVDs, watches, jewelry and everything in between! It has recently had a facelift and there are many more shops selling tourist items and souvenirs and at a fraction of the cost in the malls so it really is a great place for gift shopping and to take your tourist friends too. Prepare to be jumped upon by sellers and also prepare to haggle! Tell them you are a resident to get the best prices. It is not what you would expect a market to look like as it is a warren of alleyways with proper indoor small shops. Make sure you keep an eye on your bearings it’s easy to get confused- it is open all day and till late in the sundown although a few shops close in the afternoon during the week. This is a definite trip to make sure you have lots of water with you, flat shoes and a tight grip on your purse- you will want to splurge!

10. Modern Souks

Souk Madinat at Jumeirah, Souk Al Bahar at Downtown Dubai and Khan Murjan at Dubai Wafi City), are a few of the more modern Dubai Souks. These souks are vibrant and a mixture of then and now. These places inspire the works of local artists and bring back the magic of the Middle East.

Roadside Stalls

As you explore and drive around the Emirates you will no doubt see little stalls scattered throughout the Northern Emirates by the side of the road selling carpets, fresh produce, charcoal, firewood, pottery, household goods, melons, candy floss and inflatable toys! Most provide excellent value for money and their produce is normally fresh and good quality. Most are worth a look and offer visitors and tourists a friendly experience- give them a try! And if you liked my blog please leave your comment for my better enhancement for the new blogs about Dubai.