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Gold Souk

Take a stroll through Dubai 's Gold Souk and you'll understand why Dubai has earned the title of the "City of Gold ."

Perfect to visit during the late afternoon and in the evening, when cool breeze slowly fills the city, expect a global atmosphere at the Gold Souk. From Indians to Arabs to Americans, Europeans and even Africans, see the colorful Gold Souk filled with people coming from all over the world.

Selling some of the lowest gold prices in the world, there are about more than 300 jewelers (mostly Iranian and Indian) situated one after the other along the alleyways of the "City of Gold ." Jewelry addicts can definitely buy everything glittering from emeralds, sapphires, brilliants, watches and bracelets to rings and necklaces. The wide array of choices seems to be endless ? ingots, intricately worked jewelry, precious stones and pearls ? all at bargain prices. The typical gold sold here is usually in 18 carats or 21 carats. They are usually priced according to weight rather than design and whether it's machine-made or made by a craftsman. One can definitely make 20 to 60% savings in purchasing gold at the Gold Souk as compared to buying gold jewelries, for example, like in Germany .

Expect the best deals, but double the crowd, at the "City of Gold " during the Dubai Shopping Festival held every year. Make sure that you allot at least 2 to 3 hours for your visit. Most of the gold shops are open from 10:00AM to 1:00PM and then in the afternoon, from 4:00 or 5:00PM to as late as 10:00PM. Few people come in during daytime so if you want to avoid large crowds, morning is a good time to check out the place. But of course the perfect time to shop is from 6:30PM to 7:00PM when Dubai becomes cooler as compared to daytime. Like in other Middle East countries, Dubai 's temperature can be really hot and humid during the day, especially at the Gold Souk where most of the shops are outdoors. So expect throngs of people flock to the shops at night, especially during Thursday and Friday nights.

Haggling about the price is like a tradition. Always ask for the "best price" and "price after discount" and try to canvass first at other shops before deciding where to finally purchase. Credit cards are accepted, but it is always better to bring cash (in Dirhams), because you're more likely to get a lower price.