Dubai is renowned world over since ages as the City of Gold. This is despite the fact that the tiny Emirate imports most of its gold from many Asian and other neighboring countries. The amazing fact is that the gold available here is said to be among cheapest in the world. Dubai with its special tax-free shopping status has of late carved a niche for being a hotspot in the Middle East for purchasing fabulous gold jewelry at highly affordable rates. If you are planning a shopping sojourn anytime soon, then consider visiting Dubai for buying gold ornaments and jewelry. Here’s a brief guide providing an insight into where and how to buy gold in this magnificent city-state.
Overview
Gold jewelry and ornaments can be purchased at the traditional market specially meant for the purpose known as “Dubai Gold Souk”. Presently, two gold markets exist in the city. The Old Gold Souk is located in Deira business district in eastern Dubai. The New Gold Souk has also come up in Deira itself and located nearby the old one. You will find similar offerings in both the souks. More than 300 retailers have their shops in the Old Gold Souk. Well-established stores such as ARY Jewelry, Joy Alukkas Jewelry and Damas can be found here. There are smaller stores as well operating exclusively. At any given time you will find nearly 25 tons of gold being displayed in more than 600 shops here.
If you are visiting Dubai for the first time on a shopping holiday, you will be prompted to pay a visit to the Old Gold Souk, where you will many jewelry shops scattered. Your visit here will also prove to be a sightseeing tour of the old city. After visiting the Old Gold Souk, you can then proceed to visit the New Gold Souk, which is housed in a two-story building. In both the souks gold is sold based on weight. You will get opportunity to visit famous designers for buying gold at incredibly low prices. The best thing here is that there is no VAT on gold in the UAE thus reducing the prices significantly. The items are also however not tagged, and you need to employ your bargaining skills to get good deals. The range of designs and variety of jewelry varies from modern and sleek to the old and conservative. Gold in different hues are also available at the souks such as yellow, purple, white, and even pink. The traditional gold merchants are also there for you for creating custom-made items.
When and Where to visit
The annual Dubai Shopping Festival is undoubtedly the best time for visiting the Dubai Gold Souk. This largely tourist area is quite lively and full of activity during the month-long festival. The evenings are dazzling as you will find the shops well lit and the glittering gold presenting a stunning look. The shops are usually open till 10 pm. Avoid visiting during peak hours or else you will find the transportation to be a nightmare. The best way to reach the Dubai Gold Souk is to first of all travel down to Creek in Bur Dubai and then take a water taxi or Abra, and then walk for five minutes from the Spice Souk station and arrive here.
Apart from the Old Gold Souk and New Gold Souk, there are many other places in Dubai too from where you can buy gold jewelry. One such place is the Gold & Diamond Park at Sheikh Zayed Road. This venue is though less alluring in comparison to Dubai Gold Souk. However, you can also buy items at cheap rates here. You will be able to find some unique jewelry. You can also order for custom-made pieces at reasonable rates. Moreover, gold jewelry can also be purchased from the Dubai Mall as well. However, gold jewelry sold here can be expensive.
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