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Dubai's tradition in a new avatar

Madinat Jumeirah’s souq is refreshingly different, the shopkeepers are not pushy here.

With the shopping festival behind us and day-time temperatures having climbed nearly ten degrees in the last three weeks, we are heading into the lazy days of summer. However, a reminder to not just the tourists, but locals as well: While the sun is not yet blazing, make it a point to step out and take in the local flavour. Winter is well behind us and parks in the sun-lit hours are already too warm.

Maintaining an old-world charm ... The souq at Madinat Jumeirah. — KT photos by Grace Guino

The one place which is a must visit for tourists — besides the ubiquitous malls, of course — is the souq at Madinat Jumeriah.

With its beautiful blend of old world charm in a more modern setting, the souk at Madinat Jumeriah is tailor made for tourists and their cameras. The backdrop is idyllic — the regional flavour coming through in the adobe-coloured majlis, with Burj Al Arab in the background.

What you won’t find here are cries and calls of shop owners urging you to go into their shops so they can sell you their wares. The relative non-pushiness is a major factor that distinguishes this souq from an authentic, bustling bazaar; a discipline that has to be enforced on the premises of a luxury hotel in an upmarket part of town.

A couple in their sixties, Sabine Karachiwala and her husband Gregory McCallSmith, are visiting Dubai en route to Almaty. The couple divides time between Mumbai and Sussex. They’re on vacation this month, and in their four days in Dubai, have visited all the staple sites, having even watched a sunset from the top of Burj Khalifa.

Of all the places they’ve visited so far, Sabine says, they enjoyed “wandering about this souq” the most, having bought two armfuls of presents to take with them to Almaty.

On being asked if they know that prices are a bit steep in Madinat compared to other places in Dubai, where they might get the same items for a third of the cost, Sabine said, “Time is sometimes more important than money saved.”

Of the various products available, brass items seem very popular. Brass animals, beetle nut cutters, tiny prayer bells, and door knockers — all mostly from India, Nepal and Thailand — fly off the shelves. Ranging anywhere between Dh30 to Dh30,000, there’s something in the souq for everyone. For those not so much into shopping, there are coffee shops with outdoor seating. Many a tourist is seen languidly sipping an iced coffee latte overlooking the palm trees and pools and getting the waiters to take a photo of them.

Lanterns in all shapes and colours, aromatic spices, Aladdin-style lamps, silver jewellery, clothes: abayas and kandooras, scarves, and fridge magnets, large photo prints of the Burj Khalifa at night — framed and ready to be bubble-wrapped — all of these treasures are all available in this new age version of an old Arabian market. As long as you don’t gripe about the prices, an easy couple of hours can be meandered away here. And you can get yourself a knick-knack or two to take back home, or buy as presents for loved ones. -nivriti@khaleejtimes.com