When you think of Dubai, you think of tall buildings, mesmerising skylines, flashy cars, luxurious and extravagant shopping centres, and an endless array of wonderful local and international restaurants serving some of the best food in the world. So, what I am going to bring to the attention here is another side of Dubai and therefore I deem this as a hidden gem. The Gold Souq of Dubai is known by tourists as a place to shop for gold, but it is oh so much more than that. From the whole experience of getting there and then the wandering and window shopping and the haggling and eating. It is very different to what people normally consider Dubai to be.
The creek divides old and new Dubai. You’ve guessed it, the gold souq is in old Dubai. You can simply get on the amazing Dubai Metro to get from one side to the other, but that’s boring. You should use what is know as the Abra. An Abra is a water taxi if you like. It is a boat that transports people from one side of the creek to the other and has been doing so way before Dubai became Dubai. Famously, it only costs AED1 and always has done. Also, quite famously, this is probably the one thing that hasn’t increased in price in Dubai. It has a very traditional and old school feel to it as you ride it and cross the creek. Take in the wonderful views of the creek and of old Dubai from a distance. You’ll be wondering how such a brilliant experience is only one dirham! Read more about the Abra here.
When people think of the gold souq in Dubai, they think of gold shopping. The variety of gold and gold items you can buy here at this market, you may not find in many places of the world, but the shopping does not stop there. There is a lot more you can shop for in this area. Think exotic spices (in particular saffron), world renowned perfume and oud, and traditional clothing and accessories – you’ll find areas and roads full of stores that specialise in them. Many of them look identical to the one next to it, but just walking in and interacting with the shop keeper, you shortly realise how each and every store is a unique experience in and of itself. The grabbing your attention, the haggling, the persuading and sometimes the hand grabbing (I don’t like) – it all differs from one shop to the other. During peak hours it can be very full on and in your face – it’s a proper souq experience. If you know, you know. If you don’t, I’d advise you to try it out – you may or may not like it, but it’s worth experiencing.
If you’ve come to Dubai to enjoy the luxury and extravagance, then stay in new Dubai and enjoy the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall and the Burj al Arab etc. But, if you also want to experience some old school Arabian culture and tradition, then you definitely need to visit this part of Dubai. In this part of Dubai, it’ll feel like you’re going back in time (relatively speaking in comparison to the other side of Dubai). You’ll find some rough round the edges buildings and mosques scattered around – they have their own unique charm of course. You’ll find some awesome Indian street food stalls serving up delicious snacks and the famous karak chai.
During peak hours it can be very full on and in your face - it's a proper souq experience.
To summarise, old Dubai is a part of this Emirate that you must visit especially if you want to experience a little bit of culture and witness some of tradition. Shopping will be a big part of the experience, but there is so much more on offer here than just that.
