Exploring Dubai’s souks
Dive into Dubai’s vibrant culture
When most people think of dubai they think of the famous Burj Khalifa, the huge shopping malls, and futuristic skyscrapers. However, the city has more to offer than just it’s jungle of skyscrapers. If you look amongst the buildings you’ll find souks and Dubai’s old town which are bursting with authentic Arab culture, offering a refreshing contrast to the modern side of the city.
The Gold Souk
When you first arrive at the souks in Dubai it is most likely you will go to the Gold Souk first because it is the most accessible part.
The souks are an intense experience, and walking into the gold souk was no exception. It is a busy place, filled with both locals and tourists as they make their way through the souk.
As you walk through the main pathway of the souk, there are shops either side filled with gold. There are gold earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and even dresses made out of gold! It was really cool to see, even though I knew that buying gold wasn’t in my budget for the trip!
Despite it’s name, the Gold Souk offers more than just an array of gold. As you walk through, owners of shops (who look like shoppers) will approach you and ask you to buy handbags, shawls, and watches. If you’re not looking to buy anything just smile and keep walking. These men are pushy and want you to buy from them - one man asked me to feel a pashmina he was selling, and ended up dropping it in my hand. However, I do encourage you to buy something because not only do you get a cool and authentic souvenir to take home, you are supporting the locals :)
The Spice Souk
The spice souk is the next place you’ll visit after the gold souk - they sort of just lead into each other. Personally the spice souk was my favourite of all the souks as it was a vivid experience for the senses!
As you walk through, there are lots of smaller alleyways you can go down which have lots of smaller shops down them. The spice souk felt like a smaller and more authentic experience, which I loved!
Each shop has an array of different spices and herbs including traditional Arabic spices, as well as more globally used ones. You can find spices in every single shape and colour - all laid out beautifully in bowls. The shop owners will come up to you and offer you to smell various spices, as well as identifying different spices. The owners are very knowledgeable and offer a true cultural insight into Dubai.
Other Souks
Although the most well known souks tend to be the gold one and the spice one, there is also the textiles souk, the perfume souk, and other various smaller markets including the mattress souk and utensils souk!
The textiles souk was my favourite as it was full of traditional Arabic dress such as hijabs, abayas, and niqabs for ladies, and thawbs for men. It was really interesting to gain a further insight into Arabic culture, and the beauty of their clothing.
As you can see in the video there are beautiful lantern ornaments hanging from the ceiling. From what I’m aware there is no souk dedicated to these, however there are lots of ornaments similar to these found throughout all of the souks. All the ornaments are delicately hand painted in pretty designs and reflect the arabic culture whilst all being so individually beautiful.
Dubai Old Town
Getting There:
A quick and cheap boat trip will take you across the river from the souks to the old town. The boat was only 1AED and was the boat that all the locals take. It’s a small and basic boat, with only a bench in the middle to sit on and the boat has no sides! It provided scenic views of the river and the building surrounding it and I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND it on everyone’s Dubai itinerary to feel like a true local!
The Old Town Souks:
The souks in the old town offered a much quieter and calmer alternative to the bustling souks the other side of the river. The shop owners here don’t hastle you to buy from them, instead they just watch you walk by as you admire the shop fronts. These souks are much smaller and older and gives you a very Middle Eastern feel which I absolutely loved!
Similar to the other souks, the old town souk offers clothes, pashminas, handbags, jewellery, crystals, ornaments, and much more!
Exploring the Old Town:
The old town offers the historic quarter of Al Bastakiya which is the oldest residential quarter in Dubai and dates back to the 19th century. There are maze like streets that you can walk around whilst admiring the old buildings - a massive contrast between the skyscrapers seen in the rest of Dubai!
The Arabian Tea house:
When wondering through the old town I came across the Arabian Tea House Restaurant & Cafe. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to visit, but I definitely want to come back and visit again as from what I’ve heard and seen IT LOOKS AMAZING! The outside was really pretty with bright blue chairs and white tablecloths contrasting with the sand coloured old buildings. It looked like something out of Mamma Mia!
Where next?
After a day exploring the souks, markets and the old town, you can either head back to where you’re staying or stay on to explore the rest of the city! It is easy to hail a taxi and it is a relatively short drive to your next destination in Dubai. You could try going up to the top of the Burj Khalifa, walking round the Marina and beach at the palm, or take a shopping trip at the famous Dubai Mall!
Thank you for reading and enjoy your travels!! ✈️
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