The Old Souk of Dubai is also called Textile Souk or Bur Dubai Souk, because this market is located in the old Bur Dubai area and because you can buy a lot of clothes. In a distant past, goods from other countries were traded on the Old Souk, which were brought here with Dhow ships. Nowadays the Old Souk is very popular by tourists and it is a whole different experience compared to the big malls like Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates. When you visit the Old Souk you get a feel of the old Dubai and you can buy some nice souvenirs.
The Old Souk consists of two streets running parallel to the Dubai creek. The streets are covered and therefore you walk happily in the shade. In both streets you will find many small shops with merchandise such as clothes, spices and souvenirs. The Old Souk is also known as the Indian Souk, because the clothing you can buy here is mainly Indian clothing. But you can also come here for a traditional Arabic robe and headscarf. You will also find common souvenirs such as magnets, models of the Burj Al Arab and Burj Al Khalifa, beach bags, mugs and so on. Other popular items on the Old Souk are silk scarves. In addition, sellers try to get you to their shops behind the Old Souk, where you can buy fake design bags and watches like Rolex.
in front of every shop on the Old Souk there is someone who tries to get you into his shop. These are mostly sellers from India and once inside they do everything to sell something. This is a game and if you want to buy something, do not forget to negotiate. The seller often starts with a price that is too high and expects a counter offer. Take a price in your mind what you want to spend and then start with an offer below that price. Often if you want to buy multiple items, you will get a bigger discount. Dare to walk away if you do not agree with the price. You might get the same product elsewhere on the Old Souk for the price you want to pay.
Within walking distance of the Old Souk you will find the Dubai museum with the historic Al Fahidi fort. This is a nice museum, where you can learn all about the history of Dubai. You will get a better understanding of the souks, the trade and the dhow boats. A little further you will find the Al Fahidi district, also called Bastakiya. In this historic district you will find a labyrinth of streets and you get a good impression of what Dubai once looked like. If want to visit more souks, you can take the abra (water taxi) at the Old Souk to Deira across the the Dubai creek. There you will find the Spice Souk and the Gold Souk and it’s fun to cross the creek, which costs almost nothing so no need to negotiate!
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