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EveryMasala

Spices of Dubai Spice Souk

The Deira Spice Souk beside Dubai Creek, where dhows have long brought spices, frankincense and dried limes.

Dubai Spice Souk

Traded and grown here

FrankincenseCardamomSaffronClove

Best time: November to March, in the cooler season.

Dubai was a creek-side trading port long before the modern city. The Deira Spice Souk, near the Creek, keeps that trade alive, with shops selling spices, incense, dried fruit and herbs, while dhows still unload at the creek.

Dubai Creek from Bur Dubai
Photo: McKay Savage, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Spices and trade

Visitors find saffron, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, dried limes, rosebuds, frankincense and Arabic spice mixes. Many sellers come from the Gulf, India, Iran and elsewhere. Compare prices and quality before buying saffron or incense.

The place and its people

The Emirates has a large expatriate population, so Indian, Iranian, Pakistani and Arab spice traditions meet. Gulf cooking uses baharat, loomi and cardamom.

Visiting

Take an abra, the small ferry, across the creek. The souk is open until late in the evening.

A trail idea for Dubai Spice Souk

  1. Deira Spice Souk Browse spice and incense stalls.
  2. The creek abra Cross by traditional boat.
  3. Al Fahidi district Visit the old quarter.
  4. A Gulf restaurant Eat machboos.
About this page

Written by the EveryMasala desk with AI assistance. Background: "Dubai Creek" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and tours change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.

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