The traditional markets of Dubai

Many people head for Dubai, a mere 5 hours from the UK, solely to shop. Dubai may be host to some of the largest and most luxurious shopping malls in the world, but for those who care to look beneath the veneer of the shiny new Dubai, there are still a myriad of souks, or traditional markets, in the city where some real bargains and truly unique items can be found.

Each souk tends to specialise, so you will find textile souks, meat souks, perfum souks, jewellery souks - there is a souk for everything. The vast majority of them are in Deira, but there are large clusters of them along the Dubia Creek. This traditional souk area is easy to and inexpensive to cross by small boat, or you can drive around the Creek quite cheaply by taxi or bus.

Souks are open all week, with some shutting early on a Friday, as Thursday and Friday are considered the Dubai weekend. The souks are always busier on these two days. Their hours of trade runs into the evening, with most shutting at around 9pm. Things kick off early at around 7am, but note that souks shut during the hottest part of the day - from 1pm until about 4pm.

One of the key traditions at the souks is haggling! You will be expected to haggle with the seller over the price of anything you want to buy, especially if you are buying more than one item from the seller. Do not be afraid to try your hand at haggling, simply ask what the best price from the seller and take it from there.

The textile souk is a true feast for the eyes. The colours on display here are breathtaking, and the variety of textiles, from lace to silks, rich velvets to broderie Anglaise will delight anyone looking for fabric for the home or for clothes-making. Haggle away to your hearts content, and look out for sales at this souk, particularly around the Dubai Shopping Festival - 24th January to 24th February.

If it is food that you are looking for, try the fish souk. You will be astounded at the variety of fresh fish on offer, and are sure to come across some varieties that are new to you. Watching the haggling and gutting and preparation of the fish is a sight to behold. Try the fresh fruit and veg market across the road to for some super cheap fresh local produce.

The dream souk for chefs everywhere is the spice souk. The sights and more importantly the smells of this souk are breathtaking. The narrow alleys of this historic souk add an air of mystery to your shopping trip. As well as spices, you will now find some organic perfumes, nuts and dried fruits here too.

The gold souk is world renowned, and does not disappoint. Besides the gold, you will find rubies, diamonds, opals and other precious stones too. It can be hard to know where to start as this souk is so vast, and the sheer quantity of gold on offer is simply overwhelming. It is a shopping dream come true for jewellery lovers.

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