Dubai Souk: the city's 12 traditional markets

Visit Dubai souks look like treasure chests when it comes to buying precious metals, spices, dried fruit, perfumes and other interesting things.

The best places to get your hands on these goods are the souks. I'll take you there to discover them!

Dubai Souk: article summary

Souk Dubai: the Gold Souk

Visit Dubai Gold Souk is a place where you can find all the gold in the world! The magnificent jewels on display will fascinate you. There are hundreds of stores and vendors next to each other on the street selling top-quality gold. Jewelry from 18K to 24K is available according to your desires and needs. are sold at current market rates.

Shopkeepers tend to raise the price when they see a tourist, so I advise you to negotiate as much as possible.

You can quickly reach the location via the Al.

Gold Souk opens :

• Friday from 4 pm to 10 pm.

Le Perfume Souk

Located right next to the Gold Souk on Sikkat Al Khali Street, the Souk aux perfumes from Dubai a truly enchanting scents and aromas. Here you'll find fragrances from every era, from ancient Arab civilization to modern brand-name perfumes.

Incense sticks are also available. To top it all off, you can also get a personalized perfume created just for you, depending on the type of scent you're looking for and the one that suits your skin.

Prices are not fixed and you often have to negotiate to get a better deal!

Perfume Souk opens :

• every day 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Souk Dubai: the spice souk

Let your nose lead you to another of the city's fascinating souks: the Spice Souk. Located next to the Gold Souk, it's an ancient market filled with exotic and local spices. You'll find a rich variety of spices from organic farmers and enthusiasts.

Chat to the friendly sales staff to find out more about the spice, its origins and how you can use it to spice up your dishes! What's more, you'll find several nuts, dried fruit, oils and saffron widely sold on the market. You can buy spices by weight or in packets. Sellers will probably lower the price if you buy in bulk.

The venue is open :

• Every day 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The textile souk

Looking for a new wardrobe? Head to Dubai's famous textile souk, located in the heart of the city. near Bur Dubaï creek. Familiarize yourself with distinctive Arabian fashion by choosing from the finest pieces in silk, cotton and other premium materials.

Try out outfits designed by local artists and designers. In addition to fabrics, there's a wide choice of stones, lace, buttons, sequins and other accessories to remind you of Arabian panache.

Souk Dubai: the Medinat souk

While Dubai's souks offer cheap, local products, the Medinat souk combines the atmosphere of a souk with luxury goods. Located in JumeirahOne of the city's most exclusive districts, the Medinat souk is made up of narrow streets filled with designer boutiques, rare works of art, souvenirs, sculptures and more.

Between two shopping sprees, indulge in a 5-star restaurant, have a drink or a bite to eat. with the iconic Burj Al Arab as a backdrop or take in a live show at the Médinat theater after your shopping spree to end the day in style.

This souk opens :

• Every day 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Al Seef, an old-fashioned souk in Dubai

The Al Seef district is located in the north of Dubai, on the banks of the Khor Dubai and was inaugurated in 2017. If the area is already worth a look for its buildings half modern, half traditionalThis district was built to pay homage to Dubai's traditions, and its Souk is sure to win you over!

It is vast and offers miscellaneous productsFrom textiles to spices and traditional decorations. Everything is very colorful, and most of the stores are right on the street, with stalls set up along the water's edge in places.

Al Seef Souk is open:

• Monday to Thursday, 10am to 10pm, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 10am to 11pm.

The old camel market of Souk Naïf

Located in the Deira districtOne of the oldest in Dubai, this souk is less famous than the neighboring Gold Souk and Spice Souk. Nevertheless, it is pleasant to browsesince it is less specialized than the other two in the neighborhood.

It takes place in a old camel marketwhich makes it even more original!

You'll find superb abayas, you can get henna tattoos, leather products are of the highest quality, and you'll come across beautiful fabric pieces, carpets and other decorative items that will make great souvenirs to take back home from your trip. Dubai. If you like stress-free bargaining, the souk's merchants are quite open to it.

The Souk Naïf is open:

• daily, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

The Souk at Dubai Mall, for a modern souk

Visit Dubai Mall is the the world's largest shopping mallIt covers more than 1.1 million m2 ... ! In addition to its countless stores, superb restaurants and varied activities, it boasts a souk with a variety of stores, including a wide selection of luxurious jewelry, traditional carpets and perfumes for the most discerning connoisseurs.

Much more modern than the others, it lacks the charm of the other Dubai souks in this selection, but is well worth a visit if you're wandering around this immense city. shopping mall.

It is open to :

• daily from 10 am to 11 pm/00 am

Souk Al Bahar, near the Burj Khalifa

Not far from Dubai Mall, a stone's throw from the Burj Khalifathe Al Bahar souk offers a stroll from store to store, under arcades of refined architecture and illuminated in the evening. This makes for a refined shopping session, in the midst of visitors and locals alike.

The Al Bahar souk offers antiquesYou'll also find some great restaurants. If you're feeling peckish when you visit Downtown DubaiIt's a good choice for lunch or dinner by the water.

In particular, there is a Time Out Marketwhere chefs come to test their preparations before exporting them to their restaurants. The perfect way to treat yourself without breaking the bank!

It is open to :

• daily from 10am to 10pm, except Fridays from 2pm to 10pm.

Souk Al Marfa, for modern shopping

Souk Al Marfa is one of Dubai's newest, and in a prime location: right on the waterfront. islands from Dubai Islands. It's a pleasant place to stroll and shop, divided into several areas, including one for spices, one for food, one for lamps and lanterns, and another for clothes.

What better way to do business than in Dubai's souk, which remains less busy than the city's major markets. There are 70 stands, set in a covered, air-conditioned area that keeps you cool when it's too hot outside.

This Al Marfa souk is open:

• Sunday to Thursday, noon to midnight. From 2pm on Fridays, and until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Dubai Old Souk, the city's oldest

Whether you call it Dubai's old Souk or Souk Al Kabeer (i.e. Le Grand souk)It's one of the city's oldest. It's right next to Dubai Creek. You'll find everything here, and it's a good idea to bargain for the best deals.

I invite you to visit this Dubai souk along with the Gold Souk and the Spice Souk. You'll be able to compare prices and discover the many facets of these local markets. Right next door, you'll also find Dubai Museumdedicated to tradition and culture. It's a fascinating visit for history buffs!

The Old Souk is open:

• 9am to 8pm daily, except Fridays, 4pm to 8pm.

Bonus: the Dubai flea market

If you like to buy local and second-hand products, the flea market is for you. There are over 300 stands selling clothes, ceramics, furniture, antiques, musical instruments and more.

Held more than 2-3 times a month in various locations around the city, the market is mainly run by residents who wish to part with their assets in exchange for cash. It's always best to visit this market on the opening day to get your hands on the most useful items.

If you're looking for a bargain and some unique goods, I recommend a trip to the city's souks. You're bound to find the object of your dreams!

Which souk to visit in Dubai first?

If you're not sure which souk to choose on your visit to Dubai, I'd recommend the following 3. As much for their authenticity as for the variety of products they offer:

• Visit Gold Soukfor its ambience, the chic atmosphere, the gold everywhere and the hundreds of boutiques where you can shop for jewelry and precious stones.
• Visit spice soukright next to the Gold Souk. For its magnificent colors and mouth-watering smells. And the low prices, so you can take home a few things to season your dishes.
• The Textile Souk, perfect for discovering the most beautiful local clothes, buying quality fabrics, carpets and other leather goods, at good prices if you negotiate!

For me, Dubai's souks are a part of my life. of the city's must-sees!  Just like its most beautiful monumentsand it's unthinkable to miss out on your stay. Let yourself be carried away by their atmosphere and you won't regret it.

What can you buy in Dubai's souks?

For those unfamiliar with these Dubai markets, which are also found in other Middle Eastern and North African countries, here are a few examples of the goods on sale in the souks:

• From goldprecious stones, jewelry
• Various types of clothingscarves, abayas, tunics, evening gowns, etc.
• Fabrics and fabricsby the piece, by the metre, or already adorning cushions and other decorative items
• From the leather goodsquality
• From varied memoriesThese include small leather camels, bracelets, wooden toys and more.
• From fragranceespecially in the specialized souk
• A wide variety of fruit and vegetablesincluding dates or dried figs, for fans of local flavours.
• From spicesherbs and spices, making them the perfect souvenirs to bring back from Dubai
• From Arabic coffee and camel's milk chocolate, a local favourite.
• And much more... !

Between the traditional souks and the most modern (and often most luxurious) markets, you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping in Dubai.

I'll give you a few tips and tricks to do it the best way possible.

My tips for shopping in Dubai's souks

A visit to a souk in Dubai is a business in its own rightwith its own rules and codes. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of it!

Remember to carry cash

While the use of bankcards as a means of payment is becoming more widespread, it is preferable to have currency with you for small purchases. In the more traditional souks, many traders still only accept cash.

Compare prices

Don't rush to the first stall in a souk, but take the time to find out what you're looking for. around. You'll see that advertised prices can vary, and that negotiation margins can make them drop drastically from one stall to the next.

Stay calm in any situation

Salespeople can often be very (sometimes too) insistent in Dubai's souks. Keep smiling and politely decline the offerso as not to inflame people's spirits unnecessarily.

See negotiation as a game

Negotiating is an integral part of buying in Dubai. In general, the prices you are quoted are significantly higher.  So it's essential to haggle, to pay what seems most reasonable. Sellers are used to it, and it's almost a game with the smiling ones!

Keep your invoices

You can get a refund of airport taxes. Provided, of course, that you purchase items subject to this tax. VAT refund for tourists. To do this, you need to have proof of purchase of your items.

Be careful what you wear in the Souks

In some of Dubai's souks - especially those in the Deira district - you must wear a proper attire. As a general rule, it's best to know how to dress in Dubai to make sure you don't make any mistakes during your visits.

For the souks, avoid anything that shows too much (décolleté, skirts, bare backs) for women. And anything too casual for men. 

 

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