The Gold Souk -

What's the one thing that Dubai has been famous for almost all through it's recent history? Even when it wasn't this thriving, modern glass metropolis? It's Gold Souk of course! Dubai has been synonymous with gold, at least in the Indian sub-continent, and, I suspect everywhere else too. So it was natural, that when we have visitors, we take them to see the gold souk.


I last remember coming to the Gold Souk in 1992, when I had come to Dubai on work, and of course, the Gold Souk had been recommended as a must see. I remember walking through alleys lined on either side with shops with gold glittering in the windows. I have a distinct recollection of horses made of solid gold, which I think successfully put me off buying any gold on that trip - tragically of course, given that gold prices are now practically unaffordable!

Located in the heart of Dubai's commercial district Diera - the idyllic way to reach the Souk is to go to Bur Dubai and take the Abra (local boats) to the Souk. I think its barely a 10 min journey in toto, and, a very enjoyable one!

Purportedly, at any time, there is about 10 tons of gold in the Souk in every conceivable form - from rings, necklaces to bracelets, coins and bars! The stratospheric price of gold seems to have done away with the horses though, sigh!The mind boggles, at even comprehending the value of all that gold! India of course, is Dubai's largest buyer of gold, so it isn't a surprise that many of the shopkeepers are of Indian origin!

The place is atmospheric with show window after show window dressed in glittering gold, and you have the option of choosing modern designs from known names like ARY, Damas etc or more traditional stuff from smaller retailers. I have been told that you can haggle, but not having bought anything so far, don't really know!

Over the past few years, a number of shops have sprung up by the side selling "fake" watches and leather goods! We had someone show us fake watches ranging from Cartier to Rolex to Phillip Patek!

There is a Gold & Diamond Park on Sheikh Zayed Road, which I understand is cheaper than the Gold Souk and any design that you want can be easily replicated by the craftsmen there, but I think the Gold Souk is worth a visit, not only to buy gold, but to soak in the atmosphere and take a look at what's been such an integral part of Dubai's history!

Route to the Gold Souk by road

1.Take Al Wasl Road and continue down the road, past the New Gold Souk. Alernately, you can take Sheikh Zayed Road and take Exit 51 and use that exit to go on to Al Wasl Road (exit in the direction of Jumeirah)

2. Keep left in the direction of Shindhaga tunnel (see signs), the road turns right.

3. Enter the tunnel, and, take the 1st right after the tunnel, do a u-turn and continue tillyou reach Al Maha hotel.

4. There is a sign for Damas jewellers immediately after Al Maha hotel, take left at this sign.

5. The Gold Souk is in front of you!

Route to the Gold Souk by Metro

1. Take the metro on the red line going towards Jaflia. (I would board at MOE). Get off at  Khalid bin Waleed metro station.

2. Change from red to green line on the metro.

3. Take the green line metro going towards Etisalat station

4. Get down at Palm Diera station.

5. From here the Gold Souk is walking distance.

Route to the Gold Souk by Metro & Abra

1. Take the metro on the red line going towards Jaflia. (I would board at MOE). Get off at Khalid bin Waleed metro station.

2. Change from red to green line on the metro.

3. Take the green line metro going towards Etisalat station

4. Get down at Ghubaiba station

5. From here walk (10 mins)or take a taxi to the Abra station that will drop you to the Gold Souk. 

Route to the Dubai International Airport

Have just inadvertantly deleted the route to Dragon Mart from my phone, so have decided to post the routes I do know here, as a ready reckoner for me, and for any poor soul who might stumble on this. Living close to Sheikh Zayed Road (SZR), my reference points are always from SZR!

1. Get on to E11 (Sheikh Zayed Road ) going towards Dubai/ Sharjah

2. Keep to the three left most lanes on SZR (2nd from the left is ideal)

3. Continue till you reach the Trade centre tunnel & go though it - the lane that you are in, will take you through the tunnel.

4. Keep to the left most 2 lanes so that you continue towards Al Garhoud with Lamcy Plaza on your left.

5. Continue moving straight in the same lanes, till you see Wafi Mall on your left, then move right to the 4th lane, you will start to see signs showing Garhoud Bridge.

6. Climb the bridge, keep to the 2nd or 3rd lane from the right. Leave the last lane on the right. This will take you to Festival City.

7. Get down the bridge, take the right fork in the road,and then immediately after that the left fork. Actually, its quite simple, the overhead signage clearly shows the way to Al Garhoud and the airprot.

8. Continue straight in the middle lane. You will pass Rotana Hotel on your right.

9. Move to the right lane. When you come to the Cargo Village signal (you can see a big Emirates Flight Catering sign in front of you to the right) turn right. You will start to see signage for Terminal 3 and 1. Choose the one you need to go to!

Route Planners

Having driven through England with immense help from AA Route Planner, have been looking round for something similar for the UAE.

I am map challenged so the GPS is a complete no-no, God alone knows I need help with directions esp when I head towards Diera, Gold Souk, Spice Souk etc - all touristy places and with friends and family over, I inevitably end up taking cabs cos I am clueless how to get there. Just the other day, wanted to drive to Mirdiff City centre to get my son to see an acrobat show - it was an unmitigated disaster! We drove to somewhere in the wilderness, I suspect to en route to one of the other Emirates, when hubby decided he was not upto a trip to Al-Ain, Fujiarah or wherever it was that I was headed!

Have googled, and googled, with some luck.

The RTA UAE website does offer something called Wojhati which is a route planner if you are planning to use public transport. A good guide, but of a limited use from my perspective unless like the early pillion riders, I do a reconnaissance trip prior to going to place. Nah, too much stress and effort.

Wojhati

While googling, came across the following aricle published by Gulf News that tells you how to use Google Maps to get round UAE.

Gulf News

I beleive Dubai (for some strange reason spelt Dubbay) is also on MapQuest .

MapQuest

Also this one was quite helpful!

Nokia Maps

I guess all of these suffer from the same problem - an everchanging route / road landscape in Dubai. A roundabout yesterday, a signal today! Roads appear and dissappear faster than you can remember routes, :-) rendering any mapping system fairly confusing. But the three above are quite useful to get a general sense of direction.