SPICE SOUK

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.

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. Apart from spices, 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.

Highlights: The collection of incense burners, saffron, sheesha pipes, henna kits etc is the best and largely sold items in the market.

Timing: The souk is open from 10:00 am to 01:00 pm and from 05:00 pm to 10:00 on all days from Saturday to Thursday and on Fridays, it will be open from 04:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Location: The spice souk is located at Sikkat Al Khail Road in Deira, Dubai. It is located at a distance of 14 kms from Dubai via Baniyas Road.

Price: The entrance to the souk is absolutely free.

Dubai Spice Souk, also referred to as the Old Souk is a traditional market in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Other than shopping malls, theatres, and attractive monuments, Dubai is equally famous for this Spice Souk around the world. Through parallel streets filled with open and closed rooftops, it offers a variety of spices, herbs, fragrances, textiles, artefacts, etc. to its customers. And that’s why many cooking enthusiasts arrive here and buy the rich ingredients necessary for a typical Middle-Eastern cuisine. With plenty of spices, nuts and herbs, they just always try new recipes and surprise their patrons.

The small store vendors receive fresh products on a daily basis from different countries such as India, Pakistan and Iran. Buyers can get Arabic spices and herbs at discount prices, and other products at their original rates. Beyond a tourist-perspective, you can see tiny shops selling groceries, plastics, and other house products to locals and sailors from the dhows. Unlike other places like supermarkets and household stores, here the prices are negotiable and worth the cost. You can get the top quality pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, and dried fruits at the lowest prices than you’d expect.

Being situated next to Dubai Gold Souk in Deira on Baniyas Street, it is easily tracked through its unique aroma and atmosphere.  Due to ever-growing demand, the place is open every day in a week at different timings. Besides a tourist destination, it’s a place where numerous healthcare and medicinal products meet their customers every day. The extremely good dried fruits, almonds, cashews, hair oils, lotions, and so on are available at affordable prices. Foreign tourists visit this place at least once and stock their bags with products that ensure good health. Thus, ultimately, it gives them the best shopping experience ever in Dubai.

How To Reach

The easiest way to Dubai Spice Souk in public transport is by metro rail. You need to take the Green line metro and get down at Al Ras Metro Station. Then you’ve to take a small boat that takes you directly to the destination. The boat ride costs AED 1 per person, and it’s available on all days.

Since the shops follow different timings during weekdays and weekends, tourists are requested to plan their visit accordingly and reach the place on time.

Best Time To Visit

As we know, the Dubai Spice Souk is mostly crowded and engulfed by all kinds of tourists to satisfy their travel needs. However, the best time to visit the place is between January and March in a year, where everyone can enjoy the soothing climate and find many varieties of spices.

Other Essential Information

Location – It’s in 26 34th Street, Dubai. It’s adjacent to the Dubai Gold Souk in Deira. Al Ras Metro Station is the nearest.

Timings – The general timing is from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm. However, the shops will be closed between 1.00 pm and 4.00 pm (Saturday to Thursday), and 4.00 pm to 10.00 pm on every Friday. So tourists can spend plan some other activities during the interval.

Price – No fixed prices. People need to bargain to the vendors. At some shops, they accept credit cards for payment.

Shopping Places near Dubai Spice Souk

1. Dubai Gold Souk – The souk is situated in Dubai’s famous commercial business district in Deira, in the locality of Al Dhagaya. It is surrounded by nearly 380 retailers, where jewellery is their main commodity. Surprisingly, it is the largest gold market in the world, and it’s still expanding due to growing demand.

2. Dubai Textile Souk – It’s nothing but a textile souk located in Dubai’s historic Bur Dubai neighbourhood. The place not only offers voguish clothes but also souvenirs, sandals, fabrics, etc. People can walk in and try out all varieties of clothes at ease and have a great shopping experience

3. Happy Lace – This garments and accessories store is a place where tourists buy beautifully embellished garments like shawls, hijab, sarees, churidars, and others in different colours and designs. The shop keepers are extremely friendly and show you only the best-selling dresses.

4. Mamiya Jewelers – If you want to give a surprise present to your partner, then this is the right place for you. More than gold, it offers diamond, platinum, and other jewellery items at reasonable prices. Each jewel is unique and having mind-blowing craftsmanship.

5. Dubai Perfume Souk – It is a hub of popular scents & fragrances in tiny glass containers. It’s an ideal place for alluring scents that includes both traditional and new ones. Many perfume lovers come here and get their perfect one easily.

6. Coffee Museum – Here, the museum contains shops that sell barista equipment like tampers, jugs, art pens, followed by books including recipes, home roasting, coffee-producing methods, etc. Apart from that, one can also get the best coffee powders and other eatables.

7. Hindi Lane – It is a one-stop destination for all clothes, housewares, and souvenirs. The location itself is spacious and wide, and it gives a pleasant ambience to do shopping. People can bargain and get their favourite product at reasonable prices.

8. Meena Bazaar – This Bazaar carries selling items from India. You can get their style of ornaments, clothes, and souvenirs. Moreover, the place is surrounded by cosy restaurants. If this is your first time, you should try some Indian cuisines at least once.

Tips for Visiting Dubai Spice Souk

- Before visiting Dubai Spice Souk is to have a tour guide. He helps you in communicating with the locals.

- Bring your wallet with lots of cash in it. Since the whole market is filled with small vendors, they don’t have any Credit/Debit card withdrawal machine.

- Wear a casual outfit like trousers, jeans, and t-shirts and make sure it looks appropriate to others. Similarly, footwear can be anything like sandals or shoes that matches your dress.