Dubai Spice Souk

Located close to Dubai’s other main market—the Gold Souk—the Spice Souk is a whirl of scents and color. Visitors browse shops filled with bags of rainbow-hued spices and herbs, from saffron, cumin, and vanilla to Arabian scents such as frankincense and oudh (the latter made using fragrant agarwood). Other wares—rose petals, teas, dried fruits, nuts, incense, and candies—also feature here, as does a huge array of souvenirs, from tapestries and perfume bottles to frankincense burners.

Travelers can shop independently, but organized tours offer the bonus of a guide for insight into the products and pointers about haggling. Most tours stop here as a part of a wider Dubai sightseeing excursion that also includes other activities; for instance, crossing Dubai Creek byabra water taxi. Souk visits are also central to many tours that focus on old Dubai. Some private upscale options combine a visit to the souks with a seaplane flight.

• The Dubai Spice Souk is a must-visit for shoppers, foodies, and culture vultures.

• Be prepared to barter—haggling is a way of life for the vendors.

• If you’re buying spices to take home, check the relevant customs regulations and ask vendors to properly seal and label your goods.

• Be ready for the heat: although the souk is shaded, there’s no air-conditioning apart from certain individual shops.

The Dubai Spice Souk sits near the northern bank of Dubai Creek in Deira. It’s easily walkable from the nearby Al Ras metro station or from almost anywhere in the western end of old Dubai. Another option is to ride anabra water taxi from Bur Dubai on the creek’s southern side and hop out at the Deira Old Souk abra station—it’s just steps from the souk.

The souk is open daily all year, although it’s closed every afternoon. Opening hours are 10am–10pm Saturdays to Thursdays (with closure from 1pm to 4pm) and 4pm–10pm on Fridays.

Top products include saffron, dried lemons, and spice mixes such as zaatar, a blend of sesame seeds and dried herbs. Don’t miss the boxes of delicious chocolate-coated dates stuffed with almonds—they’re perfect take-home gifts.

The Dubai Spice Souk is a traditional covered market, with more than 150 small retailers selling a variety of spices, herbs, and other goods. It’s located within the historic Deira neighborhood of Dubai and accessible by public transportation, taxi, private car, and as part of some Dubai sightseeing tours.

The Dubai Spice Souk offers a wide range of spices, particularly those found in the Middle East and Asia, such as saffron, sumac, cinnamon, cardamom, Sichuan peppercorns, chili powder, curry powders, spice mixes such as za’atar (a mix of herbs and sesame seeds) and the North African ras el hanout.

The Dubai Spice Souk is open seven days a week, all year round. Opening hours vary depending on the individual vendor or shop, but most tend to be open from 10am to 10pm Saturday through Thursday and from 4 to 10pm on Friday. Many vendors will often be closed between 1 and 4pm.

Yes. In addition to spices and herbs, you can also find food items such as dried fruits, an assortment of nuts, sweets such as chocolate-covered dates with almonds, tea blends, perfumes and oils (especially oud and bakhoor), incense and burners, shisha, and other souvenirs such as handicrafts and pashminas.

Yes. Bargaining and haggling are expected at Dubai Spice Souk. To start the process, try offering around 50 percent of the asking price. You can sometimes get certain items for a third of the listed price, especially if you walk away. Paying with cash or purchasing in volume will also sometimes get you better bargains.

You can take the Green Line metro to the Al Ras Metro station, then walk a few minutes to the Dubai Spice Souk. The RTA bus also stops next door to the souk. You can also take a traditional abra boat across Dubai Creek from the Bur Dubai abra station.