Spice Souk

About Spice Souk

Traditional market in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Dubai Spice Souk, also called the Old Souk, is a traditional market in the Al Ras locality of Deira in eastern Dubai, on Baniyas Street near the Old Souk abra station on Dubai Creek and adjacent to the Gold Souk. It is one of the oldest markets in Dubai, established some 160 years ago, and was once nicknamed the "medicine souk" for the natural herbs sold there as remedies. The souk is a cluster of narrow lanes lined with open and covered shops that pile colourful sacks of spices at their doors: saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, turmeric and the herbs of Arabic and South Asian cooking, alongside frankincense, incense, oud, tea, nuts and dates, household goods, textiles, rugs and curios. Most trading is done by haggling. The spices come from East, South-East and South Asia, and trade in the souk has declined in recent years as larger stores and supermarkets have taken over, so it is now more a tourist attraction than a market for residents, but it still preserves the scents and colours of old mercantile Dubai at the mouth of the Creek.

Where:

Dubai, United Arab Emirates