Dubai Spices Souk

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.

Dubai’s Spice Souk is a colourful, aromatic and sensory experience. Discover new flavours and recipes as you explore the traditional spice market in Dubai's heritage area. Savour the atmosphere of the past as you are introduced to the mounds of aromatic herbs and spices, all spilling from large baskets at every turn.

Wander among many different stalls and chat to the vendors who will give you plenty of ideas on how you can use the exotic spices on offer. Some may be rich and powerful, whereas others light, airy and sweet. A wide variety of fragrant teas from all over the world are on offer and you are sure to learn all of this as you go.

Spices are sold both by weight and in packets. Like other souks, you can save money when you buy in bulk quantities – and vendors expect you to haggle. Lots of Arabic spices are on offer, as well as those from the subcontinent. Whether you’re a cooking expert or looking to experiment a bit with your favourite recipes, you’ll discover many new tastes at Spice Souk – with a great selection of nuts, oils and saffron also available.

Famous for its amazing quality and variety of herbs, spices and flavours, Dubai Spice Souks, also known as Old Souk, is all you need to visit for a visual as well as for a taste treat. The air is filled with a unique blend of smells and aromas. Situated in Deira, visitors can find other products like unique Arabian rugs and lanterns, dried fruits and traditional UAE clothing as well. It is the perfect place in Dubai for souvenir shopping.

Things to Do in Dubai Spice Souk

1. Shopping – 

The main objective of this Old Spice Souk is doing unlimited shopping. When you’re looking for buying home-made items, food ingredients, and healthcare products, etc. this is the right place to come. With lots of small stores, one is easily engaged in shopping for a few hours.

2. Sightseeing – 

As we know, Dubai Spice Souk is surrounded by many tourist attractions, where each place has its uniqueness. Tourists generally take a stroll across the streets after finishing their shopping and enjoy the mere landscape. Thus, they are sure to get an incredible sightseeing experience.

3. Eating – 

Besides many stores selling spices, herbs, and so on, there are still plenty of street food available around the Spice Souk. Tourists can fill their tummy with an exquisite meal, snack or a fresh drink that boosts one’s energy and shopping mood.

4. Exploring – 

The place is featured with hundreds of small vendors and shops, selling the best quality food items, groceries, nuts, dried fruits, and other rich ingredients for masala. In addition, one can find plastic products, textiles and apparels, etc. Thus, it gives a big opportunity to explore all kinds of products satisfying one’s daily needs.

5. Photography – 

With a variety of items, the entire landscape itself looks vibrant and colourful. Hence, it’s worth capturing in pictures and sharing their people’s charm and beauty in social media. For foreigners, this place is nothing but a whole new world, filled with spices, fragrances, and other medicinal products.

What to Buy 

1. Fine herbs and spices (white peppercorns, yellow turmeric, red chilli powder)

2. Nuts & dry fruits

3. Exotic teas and sweets

4. Dried flowers

5. Chandeliers and lanterns

6. Hookahs/sheeshas

7. Kitchen utensils

8. Plastic and hardware

9. Marble goods

10. Rugs and carpets

11. Clay mortar-pestle

12. Special chocolates

13. Volcanic pumice stones and scrubbers

14. Traditional Abayas

15. Flavoured-smoke tobacco pipes

16. Essential oils and incense sticks

Why Visit the Spice Souk 

Old World Charm

One can find this vibrant gem amidst the narrow passages and alleys and can quickly locate it with the help of its strong, pungent fragrances. This well-known Arabic market has been in existence for more than 50 years and has correctly represented the country's age-old heritage and culture. This Souk is an array of myriad flavours and recipes and is famous among tourists, natives and traders across the world.

This place lets you try and taste and savour the aromatic, spiced snacks while you browse through the market. The fragrance of hundreds of flavours and condiments would compel you to dig in the interiors of this market and go through everything that it has to offer.

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 shopkeepers 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 has 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 include 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.

Best places to visit near Dubai Spice Souk:

1. Dubai Gold Souk – 

This place is famous for the bustling environment featured with many small and large gold stores selling glittering jewellery. You can find different varieties at different prices.

2. Dubai Creek – 

This small voyage on saltwater relishes one’s mind and gives sightseeing experience to all. It’s mainly indulged to relax and enjoy the soothing atmosphere around.

3. Dubai Municipality Museum – 

This building was constructed in 1957, which is usually called as ‘wakalah or Khan’. Due to its historical significance, it was well equipped and furnished by the government. It’s located in the middle of the Trade Center, and it retro-look makes one curious to know about it. It carries a huge historical significance since its opening.

4. Seawings Seaplane Tour – 

This marine-based tour is exciting yet adventurous to tourists. One can traverse the coastline, charters, and enjoy the very climate of Dubai

5. Heritage House – 

If you want to go 100 years back, you must visit this great place. The Heritage House has the exact lifestyle of a typical Emirati family lived during the 1890s.

6. Bur Dubai Abra Dock – 

Being emerged as the sought-after tourist destination, Bur Dubai Abra Dock gives way to sightseeing and at the same time tranquil from the busy hectic life

7. Shiva Temple – 

For all Hindu deities, there is a Shiva temple exclusively for Hindus to worship and offer eatables. Besides this, there is also another temple dedicated to Lord Krishna.

8. Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding – 

This non-profit organization promotes awareness of Emirati culture and heritage among foreigners and aims to remove the cultural barriers.

9. Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood – 

This beautiful construction is unique and sophisticated, compared to other buildings in Dubai. It represents the culture practised since age-old times. It houses several art galleries like Majlis Gallery, XVA and the Alserkal Cultural Foundation.

10. Meena Bazaar – 

To attract women buyers, this place is embellished with plenty of shops stocking apparel, gold jewellery, restaurants, etc. Curiously, this place was previously referred to as Khus Ruz (Day of Joy) in the earlier Mughal era.

Best Hotels to Stay Near Dubai Spices Souk

1. Raffles Dubai : 

The pyramid-shaped Raffles Dubai is a confluence of Asian and Middle Eastern architecture. It features a range of over-sized rooms and suites with private balconies, outdoor pool, Spa, mini-bar, flat-screen TV, luxurious bathrooms and fine toiletries. Raffles 7 in-house bistros serve national and international gourmet dishes and mind-refreshing drinks.

2. XVA Art Hotel: 

Housed in a century-old wind-tower building, the 15 compact rooms are decorated with local themes like Henna Room or Dishdash Room by eminent designers and artists of the region. The rooms are provided with modern amenities like air-conditioning, private bathrooms, tea and coffee making facilities. XVA art stores present local objet d’art, handmade handbags, and gold ornaments.

3. Rose Garden Hotel Apartments : 

It is one of the best hotels in Dubai and the highlight of the hotel is the roof-top pool that offers a panoramic view of the city. A trendy hotel with an ultra-modern gym and sauna beckons sporty types. Studios and suites with air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, fully equipped kitchens including microwave and refrigerators, and satellite TV’s offer clean, comfortable and convenient living standards.

4. Savoy Central Hotel Apartments : 

The hotel comprises 123 executive studios, 7 family rooms, and 24 interconnected rooms with elegant interiors and great amenities that gives stress a vacation and invites gratification. The roof-top swimming pool, well-equipped kitchenette, health centre with gym, and satellite TV are the additional facilities provided by this hotel. An In-house eatery provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

5. Barjeel Heritage Guest House: 

A budgetary heritage hotel set against the dazzling blanket view of the Dubai Creek gives a taste of traditional Arabian hospitality in this 21st century. The capacious and stylish Arabian themed room located on the ground floor alongside the waterfront and amidst the serene courtyard lawn mesmerizes the visitors.

6. Grand Hyatt Dubai: 

A 5-star hotel decorated in Italian style comprising 674 well-appointed rooms features a swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, kids’ club, 24-hour gym, running tracks and a fitness centre. Some of the rooms offer a bay view. All rooms fitted with walk-in rain showers, bathtub, and branded toiletries.

7. Four Points by Sheraton Downtown : 

The 43-floor Hotel with 244 capacious well-appointed rooms and modern facilities is the 40th tallest structure in Dubai. A range of accommodation that includes guestrooms and suites with well-equipped Gym, refreshing and scenic roof-top swimming pool, pub, and 3 restaurants provide ultra comfort and cosiness.

8. Movenpick Hotel: 

If living life King-size is your attitude, then look no further than Movenpick Hotel. The 5-star hotel located in the vicinity of key commercial areas, shopping complexes, and attractions is home to 255 cosy rooms and suites that deliver an unrivalled experience to customers. An additional 57 apartments with provisions up to 3-bedrooms along with individual kitchens make visitors feel at home and pampered. Seven in-house bistro’s supply an entire range of gastronomic delights from Indian to International cuisines that leave guests gratified. A top class bar, vibrant nightclub, roof-top pool, fitness centre, and sauna help visitors unwind and relax

Other Essential Information About Spice Souk

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 plan some other activities during the interval.

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

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 match your dress.