How Bazzar! Dubai’s Souks

A surprising amount of Dubai‘s traditional commercial activity is still conducted in traditional markets known as souks. Dubai’s souks are chaotic labyrinths filled with energy, movement, sights and smells. I can’t tell a lie. In almost 50-degree heat (122 Fahrenheit), there is a little less energy and movement and a little more to smell. As a result, the best times to see these old-style markets are during the morning and evening’s cooler hours.

Dubai has many of these atmospheric, vibrant, old-fashioned souks, each with their own specialization. I checked quite a few of them out but didn’t buy anything. If you do, plan on haggling. It looked like part of the fun.

The Grand Souk Deira, a bustling textile souk, is Dubai’s oldest and busiest bazaar. Dating from the 1830’s, it contains hundreds of businesses that sell everything from cheap, good quality pashminas to exquisite fabrics to junk. I giggled when the salesmen remembered me walking down the street earlier and many of them will try to strike up a conversation to sell to you.

On the other side of the river, the 300 stores of the Gold Souk, are filled with a dazzling array of cheap gold. The souks are regulated by the government which ensures the quality and that items are of the purported the quality. Silver, platinum, diamonds and other precious stones are also for sale. By the way, if you are in the market for gold, you can also get a good deal at Dubai’s Gold & Diamond Park.

The nearby restored Spice souk sells exotic herbs, colorful spices and aromatic frankincense. The barrels and jute sacks contribute to the atmosphere. Not just a tourist attraction, it also sell groceries, and household goods to locals and workers on nearby dhows.

Dubai also has perfume fish and probably countless other souks that I don’t even know about.

For me as an American, it was really interesting to see so many similar business located in such proximity. Americans tend to think about things differently and prize convenience. Therefore, in the US, you don’t usually see many districts with a singular-type business or industry that sells goods to consumers. Businesses in the US tend to try to take advantage of proximity to the consumer. That’s not to say that you don’t see a Home Depot near a Lowe’s. I just mean that you don’t see 10 independent small business of the same type all in a row, let alone 50 or 100.

Enjoy the atmosphere and the unique merchandise. Just don’t expect the souks to be untouched by globalization. I was amazed by the large array of goods made in China that I could by at a dollar store or Asian market in Charlotte, North Carolina.