Visitors to Dubai should make it a point to visit the city’s bustling souks (traditional markets). If you enjoy exploring unusual places and bartering, a visit to the souks is sure to be an enthralling experience. A number of exotic souks can be found in Dubai, including the Covered Souk and the gold, spice, fish, vegetable, meat, textile, perfume and electronics souks. Each of these souks offers an array of merchandise which may be unequalled in other venues anywhere in the world.
The amazing Spice Souk will captivate anyone with an interest in exotic spices and related products. As soon as you enter, you will encounter the fragrance of a vast multitude of every imaginable kind of spice. Innumerable bags and sacks will be seen, bursting with a myriad of fascinating and unusual merchandise. Amongst the narrow lanes and alleys you will find fragrant frankincense, saffron, rose water, cinnamon, chillies and a host of other exotic delights. Peppercorns, cardamom and a whole host of different curry powders are just a few of the varied specialties that may be obtained at the souk.
If you enjoy drinking herbal teas, there are a number of specialties on offer, including dried flowers like lavender, chrysanthemum, and hibiscus. Dried lemons are another interesting foodstuff used principally to flavour and enhance the taste of culinary creations. These lemons have been dried to the extent of being seemingly rock hard, but retain their flavour. Natural vanilla pods are another popular specialty, which may be used to flavour desserts and other preparations. Different kinds of incense and time-honoured medicinal goods may also be found at the market.
Bargaining and haggling are the norm at the marketplace, and it is important to bargain to obtain the best prices. By doing so, you will be able to obtain attractive deals, with great value for money. The souks of Dubai are a truly amazing shopping experience which probably cannot be matched for value for money and variety anywhere in the world.
Marvel at your purchases from a Palm Juemeirah hotel, which is what you will discover at the Anantara Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa. This elegant property of recent development is part of an exclusive range of accommodation in Dubai that has popped up on Palm Jumeirah Island.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday.
