Dubai Gold and Spice Souks

Before the skyscrapers, Dubai was a trading port on the Creek, and Deira still feels like it. The Gold Souk’s covered lanes are lined with hundreds of jewellers, their windows stacked with bangles, necklaces and bridal sets, while the neighbouring Spice Souk is fragrant with saffron, cardamom, frankincense and dried limes.

Most visits start on the Bur Dubai side, in the restored Al Fahidi historic district with its wind towers and small museums, then cross the Creek on an abra, a wooden water taxi, for a few breezy minutes on the water.

Shopkeepers are used to Indian customers and bargaining is part of the fun. Keep your invoices for customs on your return to India, and come in the late afternoon, when the lanes are cooler and at their liveliest.