We’re Thankful We Got Lost at Grand Souk Deira in Dubai
Online shopping has made my life so much easier, but I recently missed going out, chatting with people, or just, you know, touching some grass. But don’t get me twisted—the internet is super duper helpful, but it can also be a tool for brainrot.
That’s why I convinced my sisters to bring me to a one-stop shopping destination. They accompanied me to the Grand Souk Deira, but ditched me to look at some fabrics! Without a map, it was only a matter of time before I got lost—and I totally did!
But looking back, I’m glad I did. This took me to the best antique chair I’ve ever seen! My sisters soon saw my awesome find and we’ve been coming back here ever since. Here are some of the best things we’ve picked up from our mini retail therapy:
What is Grand Souk Deira known for?
Grand Souk Deira is known for being a shopping destination for traditional Arabian products. This market has plenty of goods to offer, including toys, housewares, and gifts.
Best Time to Go
The best time to go to Grand Souk Deira is during the evening when the temperatures are cooler or more pleasant. And at night, the narrow paths would be filled by twinkling lights from the shops in the area.
Things to Know
How to Get Around
What to Do around Grand Souk Deira
Check Out the Local Architecture
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If you’re a traveler and want to explore the old culture of Dubai, we think visiting the Grand Souk Deira is among the best ways to do it.
Since it was established in 1850, you’ll come across plenty of souks or “markets” that look like its original architecture. For us, this place is the perfect backdrop for that classic aesthetic vibe—no need for filters when snapping some pics!
Get Your Bargaining On
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Do you have basic negotiation skills? To those unsure, we think now’s the time to test your haggling skills at the market to get the best deals while being easier on your wallet.
There are plenty of friendly vendors around, though there are some who are tougher to crack. We recommend researching the approximate prices of items you’re interested in beforehand, then starting low with your offer.
If you want to take things one step further, it’s best to pick up a book (or two) on negotiation or practice with a trusted family member or a friend—preparation to chat with the vendors is key! We say show your interest, not desperation.
Snack on Local Treats
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Shopping can be exhausting, and what better way to fuel up than enjoying local snacks? Around the Grand Souk Deira, you’ll find street food like shawarma (pita-wrapped meat), falafel (chickpea fritter balls), and juices to regain your energy.
But for those with a sweet tooth, we suggest going for local delights like baklava (layered pastry dessert), luqaimat (Middle Easter donut balls), and ma’amoul (date-filled cookies)!
If you come across anything unfamiliar, we advise you to ask the sellers about the ingredients. This can help you avoid eating anything too spicy or stuff you’re allergic to. Because hey, we don’t want to cut our trip short because of a food mishap!
Visit the Heritage House
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Address: Al Ahmadiya St – Deira – Al Ras
Want to expand your knowledge of Dubai culture as well as take more photos? The Heritage House is just a 3-minute car drive from the Grand Souk Deira!
From its name, this historic dwelling has restored rooms that can make you marvel and appreciate what life was like for past residents. In our opinion, visiting this place before the market can actually inspire you on which antiques and trinkets to look for!
Take a Boat Ride
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Website: https://www.rta.ae/
Contact Details: +971 800 9090
Looking for a romantic date idea? One of the best activities to try around the market is hopping on an abra (traditional boat) from Dubai Creek. This separates the Bur Dubai and Deira neighborhoods, so we reckon there’s tons of lovely scenery to look at.
Each boat can hold around 20 passengers. So even if it’s not entirely private, we think it’s still pretty intimate. The trip starts at 6 am daily, so we recommend arriving as early as you can to see the picturesque sunrise.
Where to Shop in Grand Souk Deira
Spice Souk
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Feeling like your dishes at home could use a little bit more flavoring? Well, Spice Souk offers endless options as a traditional spice market in the city’s heritage area.
Everywhere you look, we like that there are huge baskets filled with tons of colorful herbs, spices, and nuts. For us, this is your chance to buy in bulk to save more in the long run! This is also because bulk shopping can put you in a better position to haggle.
Besides the spices, we say don’t skip the fragrant teas too—these are gathered from all over the world! We think these would go well with savory dishes that would taste better with bland beverages.
Textile Souk
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If you’ve already gone on the boat, you might’ve had a glimpse of Bur Dubai. This side of the Creek is where you’ll see the Textile Souk, where you can get the finest fabrics for your next tailored outfit.
With the numerous colors, designs, and patterns, we think it’s no wonder that many emerging fashion designers and tailors shop here. Shoppers can choose from elegant silks, breathable cottons, one-of-a-kind weaves, and vibrant sari fabrics!
On top of that, there are plenty of tailors around where you can get measured for a dress or suit. We believe this is pretty efficient, since many orders can be finished within a couple of days—great for a last-minute splurge, in our opinion.
Gold Souk
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As the City of Gold, Dubai is known for all things gold and glamorous. This is why we believe your trip to the Grand Souk Deira wouldn’t be complete without exploring the jewelry stores.
When it comes to buying a present for your loved ones, we feel gold doesn’t get old. Still, there are pearls, platinum, and silver on the side if the world of golden ornaments and carats are just not your thing.
And don’t worry about buying fake goods—the Dubai government is pretty strict in regulating the authenticity of all the goods here. Phew!
Perfume Souk
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Did you know that scents are significant to Emirati culture? At Perfume Souk, you can see (and smell) a broad range of unique scents to add to your collection.
Some popular stores are the Ajmal Store and Swiss Arabian. As for the perfumes, we say explore the scent of oud (from an agarwood tree) for a more traditional scent. Or, go for something sweeter like bakhoor (Arabic incense made from fragrant oils).
We think that a new scent—more subtle or strong—could help you make a better impression in your day-to-day life. So, allot some time for this and choose wisely!
Souvenir Shops
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Those who are more intentional (or just plain picky) with their souvenirs or gifts are definitely looking for something special. Luckily, there are many souvenir shops at the market for this!
You can pick the quirkiest keepsakes like antique furniture, trendy tea sets, miniature boats, traditional lanterns, unique ceramic plates, and more! There are also toys for the little ones, so we reckon people of all ages can find something to love.
Just remember to be mindful of the shops you’ve already been in. You don’t want to get lost and roam around the same areas more than you have to—it can also get a tad hot here too!
Where to Eat around Grand Souk Deira
Bustan Mandi
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Website: https://bustanmandi.com/
Address: Dubai Gold Souk – Gold Souq DUBAI – opp. Rak Bank – Deira – Al Ras
Contact Details: +971 50 583 1903, [email protected]
Pricing: $
Bustan Mandi is a Mediterranean restaurant in Gold Souq that’s good for a date night, family dinner, or special events. This spot offers outdoor seating with umbrellas, which we believe is amazing in the evening because of the twinkling lights.
Now, onto the food. We say go for the flavorful and tender mandi (spiced chicken with yellow rice), as well as the kebabs (skewered meat), and fish plates.
We also like the free soups, fruits, and water, so you’ll have a complete and satisfying meal for a reasonable price.
Coco Mango
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Address: Moza Plaza 1 – 77FW+JM6 Al Khaleej Street Deira F&B 1 & R19 – AL CORNICHE Al Khaleej St
Contact Details: +971 4 284 5301
Pricing: $
Coco Mango is a refreshing Thai restaurant cafe to try near the market if you’re craving something fruity or creamy for a snack.
We love the mango cheesecake served with hot mango sauce—a well-balanced combo with a decent portion size! Of course, we can’t forget about the classic mango sticky rice as well. And for us, any of these options go well with the coconut juice or ice cream.
But if you want something savory, we suggest the Pad Thai, fried rice with prawn, or Massaman chicken curry to balance the sweetness of the desserts.
Grand Barbeque Restaurant
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Website: http://www.grandbarbeque.com/
Address: 24 Gold Hotel – 79 Sikkat
Contact Details: +971 4 336 6700, +971 4 355 5404, [email protected]
Pricing: $
Hungry from exploring the Grand Souk all day? Grand Barbeque Restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes from the Indian subcontinent. It’s got a lavish unlimited buffet too!
From the a la carte menu, our favorite BBQ kebabs are the creamy boneless chicken and the drumsticks, as well as the spiced lamb. We appreciate the seafood and veggie options too, such as the jumbo prawns and spiced cottage cheese.
Dessert-wise, we suggest rounding out the meal with the matka malai lassi (sweet yogurt and milk cooler). In our book, it’s also pretty cool that this delight is served in a traditional earthenware cup—very Instagram and TikTok-worthy!
Bayt Al Wakeel
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Website: https://www.wakeel.ae/
Address: Inside Textile Souk – Diera Old Souk – Bur Dubai – Al Souq Al Kabeer
Contact Details: +971 4 353 0530, [email protected]
Pricing: $
Bayt Al Wakeel serves a fusion of seafood and Arabic dishes to cater to those who want to try a bunch of flavors for the first time.
This spot is also located by the river, so we bet you can enjoy it twice as much with the fantastic views! Or if you’ve just taken the abra (traditional boat) ride, this seems to be a convenient spot for lunch.
For the mains, we like Singapore noodles and grilled lamb chops with fries for a hearty meal. We also suggest getting the fresh fruit platter or Greek salad to add something healthier to your meal.
Where to Stay near Grand Souk Deira
Super 8 by Wyndham Dubai Deira
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Website: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/ramada/ordu-turkiye/ramada-plaza-ordu/overview
Address: Rd– 113 Makani # 2868096261, Maryam Plaza – 1 Al Daghaya St – Deira – Al Sabkha
Contact Details: +971 4 525 5222, [email protected]
Pricing: $
Super 8 by Wyndham Dubai Deira is a chill 2-star accommodation that’s conveniently only a 4-minute walk from Dubai Gold Souk.
But for us, don’t let the 2 stars deceive you. We think the airy rooms with the floor-to-ceiling windows still make it look sleek and comfy. And if you upgrade your room, you’ll get fantastic souk views from the balcony too!
And when you feel peckish, there’s an international dining spot, as well as an atrium lounge with modern Arabic designs and decor. We believe you won’t be late to the airport with the free shuttle here, either!
Best Western Plus by Pearl Creek Hotel
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Address: Deira Creek 90 – 90 Baniyas Rd
Contact Details: +971 4 222 4555
Pricing: $$
If you want someplace high, Best Western Plus by Pearl Creek Hotel is located in a tower that overlooks Dubai Creek. We bet the sunrise and sunset would look gorgeous from this point of view.
The vibrant and patterned rooms have all the basic necessities like Wi-Fi and minifridges. But should you be coming with a medium-sized crew, we recommend upgrading to suit for added living rooms—more space to play board games at night!
As for the grub, we appreciate that there are 3 restaurants to choose from. Yet, what we liked the most is the one specializing in barbecue. And for relaxation, we think you’ll enjoy the rooftop pool—it’s heated so say goodbye to cold dips!
Mercure Dubai Deira
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Website: https://all.accor.com/hotel/A7N4/index.en.shtml
Address: Al Yazia plaza – 110 Al Khaleej St – Deira
Contact Details: +971 4 491 0971
Pricing: $$
Mercure Dubai Deira provides a combo of contemporary comforts and traditional charms—great for small families or work trips, in our opinion.
While we feel that rooms are quite small, we appreciate that they have all the basic amenities, including a small working area. Plus, we love the light hues of blue with white, making the spaces more conducive to zen or concentration.
And since this hotel is right in the middle of a busy business hub, we appreciate that it’s near the Dubai International Airport and other cultural spots. This involves access to public transport like the Gold Souk metro station.
Tips When Visiting Grand Souk Deira
Now that you know all about the famous market, here are some tips to make your shopping experience more hassle-free:
Carry (a decent amount of) cash.
Most sellers still prefer cash over debit or credit card payments, so make sure you have enough dirhams for your shopping trip.
Bring an umbrella.
It’s way too hot in the middle of the day to not have any sun protection. Be sure to wear and reapply sunscreen every 2 hours as well!
Mind the observant vendors.
When asking the prices from stores, ask it as subtly as possible. Otherwise, vendors from other shops might overhear and charge you more when you visit their spot.
Ask for samples.
If you’re hesitant about some spices (there are way too many!), don’t be afraid to ask for a free taste. Who knows? You might just find the missing herb to perfect your recipes at home!