Adjacent to the popular Dubai Gold Souk, in the eastern part of Dubai, in Deira. There are a lot of inner lines and stalls which exhibit the fresh aroma of different types of spices. In large baskets, the intense fragrance of spices, rose petals, medicinal herbs are kept safe and those who walk around will fall for these items in the basket.
The largest, oldest and one-of-a-kind gold market happens to be in Dubai. In spite of the fact that the commodity is gold, it is the only market in the whole wide world that has no security outside the shops. A maze of covered walkways having glittering shops on either side is surely a breathtaking place to visit even if you are not buying anything from here. Fun fact: the largest gold necklace is displayed right here in the Gold Souk.
It is located in an area called Deira which comes under the old part of Dubai. You can come here by crossing the Dubai creek by sitting in the frequently running abras (water taxis) in the creek. While window shopping through the shops, you will be able to see the market price of gold displayed outside the shops in Dirhams and it is constantly updated each time it changes. The variety starts from the mixed 18 carats gold, going up to 21, 22 and then to the pure 24-carat gold. After you select the piece(s) of jewellery, the retailer weighs the piece and lets you know the price. The making charges are added as well with the product.
You will find a vast variety of intricate gold jewellery sometimes studded with precious stones like rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. Other than gold, you can also buy genuine and carefully inspected diamonds, pearls, and other precious metals from a few shops. The visitors do not have to worry about the quality and authenticity of gold here because of the regulation of prices by the Dubai government. But the price isn’t. Believe it or not, you have a scope to bargain for this precious metal as the shops sometimes set a high price for their products mostly for the reason that there is a high tourist turnover at the market. Know more about Places to visit in Dubai
Highlights
• The collection of incense burners, saffron, sheesha pipes, henna kits etc is the best and largely sold items in the market.
• Spices ranging from frankincense to shisha are sold here along with numerous traditional herbs which were the ingredients added to give more flavours to Arabic and South Asian food items.
• The stores have household articles, textile items, artifacts, rugs etc. Haggling is the main type of trading in the souk.
• The establishment of large supermarkets and stores have influenced the number of the stores in the souk to be decreased, however everything here is authentic.
• Bargaining skills are really required here, you can easily find budget options if you have the bargain power.
How To Reach
The distance between Dubai International Airport and Dubai Gold Souk is 8.6 Km which can be covered in approximately 20 minutes. You can quickly get a metered taxi from Dubai International Airport. It will drop you at the creekside where Abras (water taxis) frequently cross the creek. Sit in the Abra and reach the other side in just 1 Dirham. After getting down on the other side, walk towards the Dubai Fish Market and Deira Corniche, which are adjacent to the Gold Souk. Burj Khalifa is near Dubai International Airport accounting distance of 14.7 Km an expected ETA of 13 min experiences the activities by booking Burj Khalifa Tickets
Best Time To Visit
Dubai encounters the peak tourist season from November to March when the weather is pleasant. The tourists mostly have Gold souk on top of their itineraries, so during these months the Gold Souk witnesses a lot of crowd for the whole day. The prices of gold are rarely affected by the number of customers at the souk but you can try to barter for some extra discount during the off-season months.
Also Read: Things to do in Dubai
Other Essential Information
Tips for Visiting Gold Souk
- It is one of the safest places to buy pure and authentic gold, that too at discounted prices if you haggle.
- There is a massive selection of jewelry to choose from and more than 300 retail shops are happy to help you if you get confused.
- Take as much time to select a piece of jewelry and roam around to discover more designs.
- Beware of the street vendors who sell gold and other items. They may sell you gold for cheaper rates, but they do not adhere to the government rules and regulations and hence cannot be tagged as authentic.
- It is always a good idea to stick to the retail shops in the souk.
Suggested Read: Vegetarian Restaurants in Dubai
Dubai Spice Souk Market
Visit this place for a burst of sensational smells and sights and sometimes tastes. You can buy haggle for some of the best quality spices and herbs sold by both weight and packets. The vendors also suggest the use of these spices in food and drink recipes.
Feeling the temptation to eat something then read Best Shawarma Places in Dubai
Al Fahidi Historical District
With most of the original infrastructure preserved, you can get a good understanding of the Emirati culture in the mid 19th century. Formerly known as Bastakiya Quarters, now they are restored into museums, cafes, cultural exhibits, craft shops, art galleries, and two boutique hotels.
Click here to book: IMG World Tickets
Deira Perfume Souk https://www.thrillophilia.com/tours/trip-to-i-m-g-worlds-of-adventure
Just east of Gold Souk you can find thousands of exotic and traditional Arabic fragrances at the Perfume Souk. Buy oud or bakhoor for your home or get a personalized scent made according to your personality and skin type.
Recommended Read: Best Market Places In Dubai
Tourism Board Alliances
Gold Souk FAQs
What is the best time of the day to visit Gold Souk?
The best time to visit the Gold Souk can be in the evening time. While crossing the creek, you can enjoy a beautiful sunset and its golden light reflecting on the creek. By the time it is evening, the weather becomes quite pleasant. You can also avoid the afternoon heat by coming here during the evening.
Experience cruise like never before by booking Dhow Cruise Dubai Creek
What are the operating days and timings of Gold Souk?
The Dubai Gold Souk opens every day at 9.30 am and closes at 9.30 pm. Only on Fridays, which is considered as a weekend in Dubai, the Gold Souk opens at 4 pm in the evening and closes at 9.30 pm. Sometimes, a lot of shops remain closed from 1 pm to 4 pm because of the ongoing prayers.
Suggested Read: Cafes in Downtown Dubai
What is unique about Gold Souk?
The most unique thing about the Dubai Gold Souk is that there is no security outside the souk and even outside the shops. The law is so strict and the fine is so high here in Dubai, that no one dares to commit such a crime. Other than this, the Gold Souk has more than 300 retail shops lined up in this covered market where you can get a lot of designs to choose from.
Visit world's largest tourism, leisure and shopping spot by booking Global Village Tickets
How long does it take to go around Gold Souk?
The time taken to go around all of the Gold Souk would depend on how much time are you taking at a particular shop. If you don’t have an agenda of going inside a shop and purchase something, then it might take you around two to three hours. If you have an intention to purchase gold, then you may have to explore for a longer time- maybe four to five hours to search the design of your liking and then haggle with the retailer for some discounts.
Also Read: Things to do in Dubai in December
What is the gold purchase limit in Dubai?
There is no purchase limit for gold as such but there are restrictions on how much amount of gold can a traveler take back to his home country. Every country has different customs rules for the gold carrying limit.
Click here to book: Dubai Aquarium Tickets
What is the payment mode accepted in buying gold?
Almost all types of payment modes are accepted at the Dubai Gold Souk. But you may want to pay by cash because in that case, you can barter for lower prices with the retailer. Payment by Debit card or Credit card will incur 1-2% transaction charges or convenience fees. If you are not comfortable in carrying and roaming around with lots of cash, you can bargain with the shopkeeper to waive-off the extra convenience fees but it is no guarantee that he will do the same.
Must Checkout: Museum Of The Future Dubai
What are the documents required to purchase gold from Gold Souk Dubai?
Mostly, while making the bill, the retailers ask for your photo identity card to keep a copy with them for the records. You may present them your PAN card, Adhar card or your driver's license. Either one of these would be okay.
Click here to book: Dubai Theme Park
How do I get to Dubai Gold Souk via public transport?
The closest metro to the Gold Souk is Al Ras station. You can board from the metro stations which are situated on the green line and get down at Al Ras metro station. From Al Ras metro station, walk to Al Khor road and then northeast towards Old Baladiya Street. It is only ten minutes' walk away from the metro station. You can even ask the locals for the way to the souk.
Get an experience to see from the high-top by booking Observation Deck at 300
Are there rental and transfer facilities in Dubai?
Yes, rental & transfer facilities are available in Dubai, which you can book through Thrillophilia:
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
