Souks: Gold, Spices, Rugs

The Old Souk is also known as Bur Dubai Souk or the Textile Souk. It is a labyrinth of small stores selling clothes, footwear, souvenirs and accessories.

In the East buying without negotiating is considered to be not only a waste of money, but also a bad taste.

Here are a few general tips for negotiating.

• Do not look too interested in a particular item.

• The first price the salesman tells you is likely to be 2-3 times higher than the real one. Answer with your own price 3-4 times lower than the offered one. Meet somewhere in the middle.

• Keep in mind that haggling is not some act of self-defense against “fraud”, it is a game, played with pleasure and mutual respect.

• Even if cards or foreign currencies are accepted, you get the most favourable final price if you pay by cash in local currency.

Located in Deira, an old neighbourhood on the other side of Dubai Creek, the Gold Souk, the Spice Souk and the Perfume Souk are all within walking distance.

The Gold souk is a labyrinth of jewellery shops with famously pushy salesmen. The largest golden ring in the world (64 kg) is on display here. You will hardly see any security measures, which clearly shows how low the crime rate in the UAE is. Still it is better to buy gold in stores, not from street traders.

For the Gold Souk, cutting off 25-30% of the price by haggling is a good deal.

Like hundreds of years ago spices still arrive by the sea in dhow boats.

The place has been getting smaller and more touristy in recent times. But it is still a charming maze of alleyways and courtyards, small shops and cafes, smelling of cumin and cinnamon. No wonder local adepts of street photography recommend the spice souk for a hunt for precious little street scenes and impressions.

Bear in mind that the main market streets are also the most expensive and tourist-oriented ones. To find fresher and cheaper spices go to the back streets where locals shop.

Madinat Jumeirah resort is a modern glamorous version of a traditional Arab village, and Madinat Jumeirah Souk is a glamorous copy of a traditional souk. Here there are dozens of shops selling designer furniture, Italian fur coats, Persian carpets, artworks, jewellery, and souvenirs. There are also numerous restaurants, mostly licensed to serve alcohol.

Perfect for those who want a souk experience but find the style of authentic markets too pushy and trashy.

If you are going to stay in Dubai for some time, you may be considering buying a car. Most cars in Dubai are actually being sold and bought not through authorized dealers but in auto markets.

This is one of comprehensive UAE’s auto markets featuring both used and new cars, of a luxury and economy class. Here you can find a second-hand car at a reasonable price (but, like on any other used auto market you have to know a bit about cars).