Deira covered souk

Considered one of the city’s main souks, Deira’s covered souk is located between the gold and spice souks, and consists of a set of small streets that are not only covered, unlike its name, but spread over several blocks.

The shops in this area specialise in textiles, as well as homewares, accessories and fashion. In a place like this, bargaining is a must, for tourists and residents alike, and the shopkeepers will be happy to help you discover the best bargains.

Even if you’re not keen on shoes, cheap fabrics, fakes by Gucci, Armani and Prada, as well as kandoura, i.e. everyday clothes worn by men and women, you’ll certainly be enraptured by the energy in these streets.

The Deira covered souk area is divided into several sectors; the perfume area, closest to the gold souk, is mainly interesting for the numerous bakhoor (incense) and oudh (scented wood) bags, fragrances that are very popular among the locals.

Some time ago they were more expensive than gold, but even today both of these aromatic products can be sold at exorbitant prices. A little further east begins the semi-covered part, the oldest of Dubai’s souks.

It is less interesting for its contents, with a lot of kitchen utensils and household tools for sale, unattractive to tourists, but it gives an idea of Dubai’s multiculturalism, especially in a neighbourhood like this.

Another very interesting wing of the Deira covered souk is the spice souk. One of the last remnants of the old souk, it is the perfect place to find undiscovered and unobtainable spices from the Middle East, and well worth a visit for its unmistakable scents, flavours and smells.

Some of the vendors speak excellent English and can provide fascinating natural and traditional remedies that are often used by locals even more than modern medicines, such as herbal teas and teas that regulate blood pressure, are good for the skin and purify the body.

How to get to the Deira covered souk

The Deira covered souk spreads out in the area of the Creek peninsula, in the Al Ras district. It can be reached fairly easily by metro, getting off at the Al Ras stop and then walking a few minutes into the heart of the district.

It is also easy to reach by one of the many buses that run along Baniyas Road, the road that runs along the Creek on the Deira side, taking them, for example, from the green Baniyas Square metro stop or at the Union stop, where there is an interchange between the green and red lines.

But to reach Deira’s covered souk in an original and intriguing way, the best means of transport is the abra: the traditional wooden boats used by the inhabitants to cross the Creek are now regulated by the RTA, the body that manages Dubai’s public transport.

The nearest abra stop to Deira’s covered souk is Al Sabkha; once you get off, just cross the street and you will immediately be in the heart of the market.