The Spice Souk

The spice souk also famously known as the old souk is a traditional old market common in Middle Eastern countries. The one in Dubai is a must visit because of its historic architecture, its traditional wind towers and an assortment of spices, fabrics, incense, rugs, handicrafts and historic artifacts.

The spice souk is littered with both open and covered shops selling all kinds of goods. If you plan on shopping here be prepared to haggle, sometimes shopkeepers will reduce prices by up to 50%. Go during the day and you will surely enjoy the colorful display of spices in jute sacks.

The spice souk in Dubai is situated in eastern Dubai in a locality called Deira on Sikkat al Khail road and is adjacent to another great place called the Gold Souk.

There are three ways of visiting the spice souk.

1. If you are staying in a hotel in the Deira side of Dubai, you can ask for directions and walk it the souk should be walking distance from your hotel.

2. You can get a cab; every cabbie in Dubai will know how to drive you to the spice souk.

3. Some tour operators have city tours of Dubai that include a trip to the spice souk but this is not recommended because they only visit for a very short time and you would not be able to enjoy the trip if you are hurried.

The spice souk is a good place even to see and window shop, you get to see how an arab market used to be in the olden days.