Photo essay

The Old Souk of Dubai

The Old Souk of Dubai was established in 1850 and it starts from the old Dubai Customs building to Al Shandagha. It considers as one of the most important markets in the UAE, where the old commercial transactions between the UAE and other countries such as India and China took a place over there.

It contains many small shops that sell various products such as gold, silver, eye kohl, fabrics, henna,souvenir, spices and mundus - a box that was used by women to place their clothes and jewelries-. A large number of the workers are Indian, Pakistanis and Afghans. Usually, most of the visitors regardless their nationalities will communicate with these workers using their native languages.

World of Heres 

World of Heres is a spices shop that was established in 2011 by the Iranian entrepreneur Ali Ridha. According to Ajawid, the Indian worker who supervises the shop: "the profit usually increases during winter, where tourists usually visit the Old Souk area at that time to purchase several products".  He added that nationals prefer to go to the supermarket or grocery stores to buy spices instead of coming to his shop since the weather is hot and it is difficult to find a parking there.

Abdul Rahman Ahmed Al Attar 

Abdul Rahman Al Attar is a textile shop that was established from more than 40 years by the Emirati business man Abdul Rahman Al Attar.  One year ago, Mr. Abdul Rahman had passed away, and his daughter Fatma has inherited the shop. Mohammed, the Indian worker who works in the shop from 28 years indicated that 20 years ago, the annual profit was equal to AED1 million but starting from the 2000's the profit had declined gradually, and now it reaches almost AED 100,000  a year. The reason behind this decline is that the number of customers had decrease since there are many textile shops in Dubai and it's located near to their houses.  

Parcham Trading 

Parcham Trading is a souvenir shop that has five Iranian owners. The shop was established in 2007. Abu Adel is one of the owners and he usually supervises the shop; he indicated that after opening the metro station, the number of customers has increased. Also, he said that tourists are the main customers for his shop, where they like to purchase souvenirs. 

Khiara Store

Khiara Store is a kitchenware shop that was established in 1955 by the Indian business man, Mohammed Ashraf. Shawkat, the Indian employee who works in the shop indicated that the profit used to be higher in the past, where there were only few shops that sell kitchenware. 

Abdul Rahman Ismaeeli 

Abdul Rahman Ismaeeli is a grocery shop that was established by the Emirati business man Abdul Rahman Ismaeeli from more than 45 years. Imtyaz, the Pakistani employee who works in the grocery from more than 29 years said that profit was much higher in the 80’s and 90’s. Now it has decreased since there are many grocery shops in Dubai and it is easy to reach since the Old Souq area has a problem with the parking.