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“Pic of the Week”, September 28, 2018: Dubai’s Textile Souk
Situated in the Bur Dubai, adjoining Dubai Creek, is the Textile Souk. This is a pretty market district located within a restored traditional bazaar, its buildings and walkways shaded by a wooden roof (the shade providing welcome relief from the almost unbearable desert heat). There is a main central lane to the market, with side alleys leading to smaller shops.
Most of the shops are now operated by Indian (rather than Arab) traders and the merchandise sold varies from the colorful bolts of cloth (cotton, silk, some embroidered), dresses, blankets, slippers, and assorted Dubai souvenir items. Bartering is expected and often lively. Many of the shops have tailors who can sew you a dress or shirt and have it ready before you depart …
Sep 26, 2018
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.All Trips / Asia / Dubai / Food
A Visit to Dubai’s Spice Souk
When you disembark from the abra (water taxi) that takes you across brackish Dubai Creek and begin strolling the streets of the older Deira neighborhood, you’ll soon enter the market district. A favorite stop here is the spice souk, which you’ll smell at a distance of several blocks before you even enter it. It’s a pleasant aroma, associated with beautiful and colorful displays. The spice souk adjoins the popular gold souk and, like it, is shaded by a high roof.
There are large piles of spices in front of the many shops in the souk, including cooking spices, frankincense, cinnamon, rose (and other flower) petals. You’ll find an assortment of dried fruit as well. One of the most popular spices sold …
“Pic of the Week”, November 24, 2017: Dubai’s Perfume Souk
Dubai has a number of market districts, including a perfume souk. It’s located in the Deira neighborhood, not far from the gold and spice souks. Arab perfumes are not the light flowery affairs you find in European shops — here the scents are spicy and quite strong, and tend to linger. Arabian perfumes are oil based so they may leave a stain when sprayed on clothes, so be careful when using them.
Of course perfumes from around the world are also sold in Dubai’s perfume souk and many shops will even custom craft a scent if you ask, but the local fragrances are a specialty. As are the decorative jars the perfumes can be stored in. The perfumes are reasonably …
Nov 23, 2017
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.All Trips / Asia / Dubai
A Visit to Dubai’s famous Gold Souk
While the image most travelers have of Dubai is of shiny new skyscrapers piercing the desert air (a fair impression to be sure), you can still find places in the city which date to the time before the construction boom that transformed the region. Most of these sites of older Dubai are in the Deira and Bur Dubai neighborhoods which straddle Dubai Creek, the region of the city first settled in the 19th century. A variety of markets can be found here the most famous of which is the gold market (aka souk).
You’ll be welcomed by it’s wood lattice arcade proudly proclaiming, “Dubai: City of Gold”! While it is not enclosed or air-conditioned, the market’s roof provides welcome shade and …
