Dubai is one of the popular destinations in UAE which is famous for its iconic attractions, impressive skyscrapers as well as luxury shopping. In fact, the traditional side of the city also attracts many visitors. Among different places, one of the best places to explore in Dubai is Gold Souk Dubai. This heritage is located in Deira district of Dubai.
Gold Souk Dubai has a traditional market atmosphere which is well known for its glittering jewellery stores. Here, you will find a wide range of gold jewelleries which includes gold chain, ring, wedding jewellery, diamonds, precious stones and many more. It is the popular destination where tourists and residents can buy gold.
If you want to purchase gold jewellery then you must visit Gold Souk Dubai. Here, you will explore the iconic souks on Dubai which will become a memorable part of the trip. In this article, you will find detailed information about Gold Souk Dubai, types of gold and the important tips. So, go through it carefully.
What is Gold Souk Dubai?
Gold Souk Dubai is recognized as a traditional gold market which is located in Deira. It is one of the oldest commercial areas of Dubai. At souk, you will find a wide range of jewellery shops where you will see completely unique and beautiful designs of Gold, Silver and Diamonds jewellery.
Gold Souk is one of the oldest and traditional markets of Dubai. In fact, the surrounding area Deira is also known for its historic trading culture. Visitors can easily walk through the covered lanes, compare designs between different shops. You will speak directly with the jewellery sellers.
You can say that this market is not only a shopping destination but also a window to Dubai’s trading heritage. This city has long standing connection with the precious metals and jewellery.
How to Reach Gold Souk Dubai?
As you know, Gold Souk Dubai is located in Deira which is near to Dubai Creek, the older part of the Dubai. This area is surrounded by the different traditional markets which includes Spice Souk and Perfume Souk.
Reaching the area is much easy as it is connected with the public transportation. You can make use of Green Line of Dubai Metro to read the Gold Souk station. In fact, you can reach the market from different parts of the city in a hassle free manner.
Even more, you can also hire a taxi or car to reach the location. This area also has a nearby bus station which also serves as the most popular transport hub for the Deira area, so you can travel by bus also.
If you want to explore the old Dubai then you can also combine a walk with Dubai Creek and the nearby traditional markets.
What you can Purchase at Gold Souk Dubai?
Visitors will find a wide range of jewellery which is one of the main attractions of Gold Souk Dubai. In these traditional shops, you will be able to find the everyday wear as well as wedding or special occasion jewellery. The most popular items are mentioned below:
- Chain and Gold necklaces
- Rings
- Gold earrings
- Bracelets and Gold bangles
- Gold pendants
- Contemporary jewellery
- Traditional Arabian designs
- Gold coins or bars
- Silver, Diamond or platinum jewellery
- Gemstones
Gold Souk Dubai is famous for its wide range of unique designs. People from different parts of the world visit for variety of carat and style.
What is Gold Karats?
If you are thinking to but gold from Dubai then you must understand about Karat. You should know that Karat indicates the purity of gold. The most common categories of Karat are given below:
24K Gold: It is the purest form of gold which is commonly discussed in the market. It contains the greatest portions of gold. You should know that pure gold is soft which is mainly used for making bars or coins instead of everyday jewellery.
22K Gold: It is commonly used for making everyday jewelleries such as chain, bangles, necklaces, rings etc. It comes with a high gold content which is suitable for making jewellery.
18K Gold: It contains a lower proportion of gold as compared to 22K. It is used for making the jewellery which features diamonds and other stones as it provide greater durability.
Understanding the Karats will help you to compare the pieces more accurately. So, if you want only gold jewellery then you can choose 22K while 18K can be used if you want to feature diamond or other stone.
How Price of Gold is calculated in Gold Souk Dubai?
You should know that the price which you pay for the gold jewellery is not only the market price. Actually, the final price will depend on different factors which are given below:
- Karat or Gold purity
- Weight of gold used
- Making charges
- Complexity of the design
- Price of precious stones
- Applicable taxes
You should know that Gold is a traded commodity so its price always fluctuates. So, before purchasing the jewellery, you must know about the daily market rate. The store will then add the labour or making charges depending the design. Sometimes, a chain will have more price as compared with a wedding set. It is only because of the weight and complicated design.
Can I bargain at Gold Souk Dubai?
You should know that Bargaining is also a part of traditional souk experience. However, the negotiation can vary between the products and shops.
According to Visit Dubai, you should compare the final prices at different shops and negotiate when shopping in the traditional market. Bargaining with the shopkeepers is a part of the experience so you should not miss it.
At the time of purchasing jewellery, you can ask about the making charges separately. After visiting different stores, compare various designs and ask about the best total price. But you should try to remain polite and avoid rushing in making any decision.
What are the attractions nearby Gold Souk Dubai?
The biggest advantage of visiting Gold Souk Dubai is that you can also explore different other attractions which are located nearby. The important ones are given below:
Spice Souk
The Spice Souk is located near the Gold Souk which provides a completely different experience to the visitors. Here, you will be able to explore different types of spices, herbs, dry fruits and other traditional ingredients. Many visitors enjoys the aroma of the market.
Perfume Souk
If you are fond of using perfumes then you must visit Perfume Souk which is another popular attraction. Here, you will get perfumes with traditional Arabian fragrances, oud, bakhoor and other products.
Dubai Creek
Dubai Creek is one of the important part of the history of old Dubai. It provides waterfront opportunities which you can watch from traditional boats in order to explore the trading environment of Deira.
Abra Ride
Visitors are advised to explore both sides of old Dubai. They can use traditional Abra ride across Dubai Creek. It is an expensive way to cross between the Deira and Bur Dubai.
In a short shopping visit, you can combine these attractions to experience the full old Dubai.
What are the Important Tips to Buy Gold in Dubai?
If you are planning to purchase jewellery from Gold Souk Dubai then you should keep some tips in your mind which are mentioned below:
Check the Gold Rate: It is essential for the customers to check the prices regularly before purchasing the jewellery.
Compare in Different Stores: Try to avoid purchasing from the first shop after visiting. You must compare the design, weight as well as making charges.
Know about Karats: It is essential to know about the Karat i.e. 24K, 22K, and 18K.
Ask About Making Charges: The final price can be affected by making charges. So, you can bargain on the making charges.
Request for Itemised Invoice: You need to keep the invoice of all the purchased items safely.
Purchase from Established Shops: It is advised to purchase the gold from the stores within the souk instead of street vendors.
Check the Jewellery: Before leaving the shop, you must confirm that you can kept the jewellery safely and weight, purity are correctly mentioned on the invoice.
Final Thoughts:
Gold Souk Dubai is one of the popular places which will provide you traditional shopping experience in the city. No matter, you have to buy complete wedding set, classic gold chain, diamond, gemstones or other contemporary designs, this market will offer everything according to your choice.
To have a best shopping experience, you must be prepared. Firstly, understand about the purity of gold, daily market rate, compare the making charges, visit different stores and request for proper documents or invoice.
Even if you don’t want to purchase gold, it is advised to walkthrough the glittering lanes of Gold Souk Dubai. It will offer a glimpse of traditional trading which helped the Dubai to shape into a global city.