[ dubai: a visit to the souks ]

IF YOU want to experience a bit of traditional shopping in Dubai, the souks in Deira are the place to go. Souk is the Arab word for market and here you can find anything from spices to utensils, pashminas, shoes, perfume, textiles and most of all, gold.

We wandered around the narrow streets and laneways in this old part of town on Saturday.

Need a big pot?

...or restock your spices?

Delivery workers are ready to load up...

But the most impressive souk of all is the gold souk...

Dubai sells a lot of gold, most of it 24 carat, out of this souk. Some estimates say that there are 10 tons of gold here at any given time. Gold by the inch, elaborate Arabic and Indian designs or diamond jewelry, you can find it here and haggle for a good price.

After wandering and haggling in Deira, you can take a stroll along the wharf and watch the old boats from neighbouring countries unloading their goods...

Then take an Abra across the creek to the textile souk in Bur Dubai...

It was so interesting to experience this more traditional side of Dubai. It feels like an entirely different world from the glitzy shopping malls Dubai is now known for.

lisa