No trip to Dubai is complete without a stop at their traditional Gold Souk, one of the oldest markets in the world.
Located in the business district of Deira, the Gold Souk is a gold and jewelry-lover’s dream come true. Get ready to haggle to your heart’s content, but make sure you keep your prices fair—the merchants will allow a fair deal, but they will sell never a piece for less than its worth. Keep reading for some tips and tricks regarding the best way to prepare yourself for one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.
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Be prepared to haggle
—nearly all merchants in Dubai love to haggle and deal with people regarding prices, but the best ones are located at the Gold Souk, and they take their business seriously. Though they may be willing to offer discounted rates for some pieces, they won’t give their wares away.
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Savor the experience
—the Gold Souk isn’t something that can be properly experienced in just a day. With nearly 380 vendors and the price of gold fluctuating daily, the Gold Souk is best experienced in a day or two—or more, if you’re a real jewelry lover. Take the first day to look over the wares and see what is available, and then come back the next day if your heart is absolutely set on something
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Bring cash
—Though the modern Gold Souk is more than equipped and ready to handle credit card purchases, the best shopping and haggling experiences happen with cash. Make sure you know the basic rate and worth of gold for that particular day, and if you really can’t afford a specific piece and can’t bargain it down, then ask for similar pieces that are less expensive or just walk away.
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More than just gold
—As mentioned previously, the Gold Souk is more than just gold. Pearls, silver, platinum, and ornate pieces of jewelry, ornaments, and a variety of jewel-encrusted wares are available for purchase as well as on display.
If you love jewelry—no matter what form or metal it happen to be in—then Dubai’s stunning Gold Souk is a must-see for any traveler who loves the finer things in life. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Call your travel agent and schedule your trip today!
