Dubai Spice Souq, an old Arabic market (traditionally called souk) is located in Deira, eastern Dubai, next to Dubai gold souk, another famous Arabian market in the United Arab Emirates. The vibrant, aromatic spice souk, with all sorts of flavors, herbs, spices, soaps, precious salts, and other eye-catching goods that you may find strange and unknown, is standing between Al Abra street, old Baladiya street, and Baniyas road, on the north bank of the Dubai Creek. The mysterious souk is home to over 150 small retailers. As one of the popular tourist attractions in Dubai, many enthusiastic travelers become interested to walk through this extraordinary maze of color and scent, maybe buying souvenirs or exploring a new world. An exceptional experience at Dubai's heritage area, going around narrow lanes, in a line of open stalls and roofed stores. Imagine an Arabian journey in time, going back to the most fascinating tales, through old-fashioned shops, passing big standing bags of various spices and fragrant herbs, chatting with vendors who tell you about the great benefits of exotic spices, remedies, or even recipes. They might recommend the use of all sorts of herbal medicine, different types of teas, or drinks. While preserving the history and cultural authenticity, Dubai Spice Souk is another magical adventure and a nice change from modern huge malls massively overtaking the megacity.

History of Dubai Spice Souq

As you must be curious about the real side of Arabian life, and to have a glimpse into the original unblemished market, a brief history of the place can be very useful. It is interesting to know that Deira is the oldest neighborhood and the first developing business focus on the riverside. In the glorifying Dubai you see today, with all the modernity, and unimaginable resorts, palaces, and towers, this suburb is all that is left of the originality and mystical culture of this land. Therefore, the most ancient and traditional center of the town with a real exotic look of Arab old paradise, the one you have probably only read about it in stories can be Deira, with the extraordinary sights, mesmerizing smells, and sounds which definitely create a very unparallel encounter. This specific souk is almost as old as Dubai itself, mostly because used to be a part of a very large and the most significant market in Dubai by the name of “Al Kabeer” souk (means the big market). The Spice Souq was started around 1850, in the adjacent of dhow moorings, in order to load easily and facilitate trade . Spice Souq was built inside this great bazaar more than 160 years ago, and since then has become a very favored trade point for travelers and residents here. The place might not seem as old as we described it but evidently, because it has been remodeled and restored over the years, some shops added or transformed but you can still find old stores, remaining good as new, thriving for generations here. As an old tradition that is apparently too proud to die out, dhows crossing the ocean from India, Iran, and beyond, bring their products, and literally, all sort of spice can be found in these stalls.

What to Look for at Spice Souq

In front of every tiny store, you pass by, big colorful sacks overflowed with different ingredients such as cloves, turmeric, and cardamom for cooking, dried fruits, and nuts as snacks, and even ambergris and jasmine for their aroma or as a remedy are presented. Not to mention a great selection of nuts, oils, and amber is also available with perfect quality here. Other traditional spices with fantastic taste and aroma are dried rosebuds, dried limes, chamomile tea, dried chilis, and different types of frankincense (fragrant and remedial resin gum extracted from a tree which creates one of the priciest perfumes and an ingredient in a lot of expensive scents around the world). Speaking of which, you can also look for the incense burners here. And just when you think, you have seen it all, items like alum (a type of chemical compound which in old days used as a natural deodorant) or saffron surprise you. Saffron is known as the world's most costly spice that is the dried crimson stigma and styles of saffron flowers, a very powerful ingredient for seasoning and coloring. The best saffron imported from Iran and Afghanistan can be found here, as 1 Kg saffron could sell for up to 10,000 Dh. Arabic cuisine has an unimaginable dependence on spices and flavoring. And knowledgeable vendors would be a good guide for you in this adventurous shopping path. Sellers eagerly invite you to their shops, politely lure you by introducing remarkable products, giving private tours around, teaching how to use different goods you may be interested in, and finally creating a relaxing space for you by letting you have a taste or just use your nose to understand the value of the items, so you can finally come out of there with your hands full. Local shop owners with a long history of chatting up customers from all over the world have become familiar with different languages. They may speak with you in English or French, German, or even a little Italian and they are very good at making you feel comfortable. In short, the souk is not only full of great and unique products, and a nice place to walk around and breathe in fabulous smells, but also a source of valuable knowledge, and so many instructive information awaits you in this place.

Tips for Shopping at Spice Souq

• You can buy spices both in packs or by weighing, but as a tip, you better don’t go for packaged material, because it is cheaper to ask to buy directly from sacks or barrels.

• like in other traditional markets around Dubai, by buying in large quantities and bulk, you make a profit. • Besides, haggling and bargaining in a respectful way with shoppers over merchandise is another old tradition of Arabic markets, that you can expect in Dubai Spice Souq as well.

• We suggest you take a taxi (drivers are completely familiar with the route) bus or use the subway to get to the Souq. Using your own car can be tricky considering finding parking spots next to Spice Souk is a very difficult task. The closest metro station is Al Ras (with 6 minutes’ walk)

• Spice Souq is open from Saturday to Thursday from 10 am to 10 pm and Friday from 4 pm to 10 pm. By the way, some of the shops are closed between 1 pm to 4 pm. With all that been said the best time to visit this market is mid-morning around 11 am. At that particular time, the Spice Souq might be somehow busy but less overcrowded than the afternoons.