Dubai’s Spice Souk is a traditional bazaar in Al Ras, Deira, at 26 34 St, Dubai. You can pair its spice stalls with the nearby Gold Souk and a Dubai Creek abra crossing for a compact outing among the city’s traditional markets.
- Location: Al Ras, Deira, at 26 34 St, Dubai.
- The Spice Souk is a three-minute walk from the Gold Souk.
- The Gold Souk is free to visit; individual shop hours may vary.
Finding the Spice Souk
The Spice Souk sits in Al Ras, in Deira’s traditional market district. Visit Dubai describes it as a bazaar, and the market’s address is 26 34 St, Dubai.
The Spice Souk is about 7 minutes by car or 39 minutes on foot from Pearl Executive, a four-star aparthotel. The market is part of a working commercial area: Dubai’s traditional souks, including the Spice, Gold, Perfume and Textile Souks, continue to serve as shopping centres.
If you need local assistance, Dubai Municipality’s contact number is +971 4 221 5555.
What to look for in the market
The Spice Souk is a traditional market to browse as part of Deira’s wider souk district. Its setting among several established commercial markets gives you the option to make this a focused stop or include it in a longer walk around the area.
Allow time to look through the market before moving on to the neighbouring souks. The Spice Souk is a three-minute walk from the Gold Souk, so the two fit naturally into the same visit.
Pairing the souk with nearby markets
The Spice Souk, Gold Souk and Perfume Souk are close enough to combine on foot around Deira and Dubai Creek.
Start at the Spice Souk, then walk three minutes to the Gold Souk. The Gold Souk is free to visit and sits on the Deira side of Dubai Creek. The Perfume Souk is a further five-minute walk from the Gold Souk.
For more on the neighbouring market, read what to know before visiting Deira Gold Souk. If you want to add a water crossing, the traditional motorized abra connects Deira Old Souq and Bur Dubai; the cash fare is AED 1 per passenger per trip.
How do you get from the souks to Dubai Creek?
You can add a Dubai Creek abra crossing to a Deira market visit, with routes and fares varying by service.
The RTA’s Dubai Old Souq–Baniyas route (CR3) costs AED 2. Its operating hours vary by day: Monday–Saturday 07:00–23:45 and Sunday 10:00–23:45. The Al Sabkha–Al Fahidi route (CR4) also costs AED 2 and runs Monday–Saturday 08:00–23:45 and Sunday 09:30–23:35. The Al Fahidi–Deira Old Souq route (CR5) costs AED 2, with hours varying by day of the week.
For creek crossings, routes and payment details, how Dubai Creek abra crossings work from Deira can help you plan the next leg. Commuter passengers can pay with cash, nol, credit cards or debit cards at all stations. A traditional motorized abra can also be booked as a private charter for AED 120 per hour.
Abra timings may differ during Ramadan and public holidays. Check the official site before you go, and ask at the station customer-service office for detailed timings.
Timing and shopping considerations
Use the Gold Souk’s usual shop hours as a planning reference, but allow for variation between individual stores. Most Gold Souk shops are open from 10:00 to 22:00, though individual hours may vary.
For the Gold Souk, Al Ras and Gold Souq metro stations on the Green Line are about a five-minute walk away. Bus T10 serves Dubai Gold Souk station, about three minutes on foot from the Gold Souk; buses 5, C09 and C28 serve Deira, Old Souq 1, about four minutes away on foot.
When planning a longer day around Deira, you can combine the markets and a creek crossing in sequence; how to plan one day in Dubai from Deira covers a broader itinerary.
FAQs
Where is Dubai’s Spice Souk?
It is in Al Ras, Deira, at 26 34 St, Dubai.
How far is the Spice Souk from the Gold Souk?
The Spice Souk is a three-minute walk from the Gold Souk.
Does it cost anything to visit the Gold Souk?
No. Visit Dubai says the Gold Souk is free to visit; shop hours can vary.
How much does a traditional abra crossing cost?
The Deira Old Souq–Bur Dubai crossing costs AED 1 per passenger per trip when paid in cash. Other RTA creek routes listed here cost AED 2.