YOUR FREE GUIDE TO TEXTILE SHOPPING IN DUBAI Copyright: Ansie van der Walt https://www.thefabricthread.com CONTENTS Introduction General Guidelines Accommodation Weather The Local People Dress code & General conduct Tourist Options Sightseeing Desert excursions Water excursions Textiles Old town/Creek-side area - Bur Dubai side Dubai Creek Old town/Creek-side area - Deira side Satwa and Jumeirah Beach Road Malls Out of Town Markets Last thoughts Copyright: Ansie van der Walt https://www.thefabricthread.com Introduction For most people, Dubai is a stopover, somewhere where they spend a few hours or days before moving on. Although seldom a destination on its own, Dubai is known as a shopping destination, a place where bargains can be found. But with little time at hand, it might be a missed opportunity for most uninformed travellers. This guide will lead you through the maze that is Dubai. It will tell you where to go, how to get there and what you will find there. It is aimed at people interested in textiles. Anything from traditional ethnic textiles, to modern fabric, to notions and haberdashery. Even if you are just interested in looking, touching (who can resist that?) and photographing beautiful textiles, this will be a handy guide. General Guidelines Accommodation For the purpose of this guide we assume that your accommodation is taken care of. Dubai is easy to navigate and wherever you are based, you will be within easy access to most places. We.ather Dubai is in the desert. There’s no getting away from it. Even the cooler months are not cold. The best time to visit is from October to April, with December and January as the perfect time. Temperatures are between 15 and 30 C and being outside is really enjoyable. It is also the time of year when most outdoor activities, like markets, festivals and concerts are in full swing. The hotter months from May to September are less enjoyable and it is hard to spend a lot of time outdoors. Many attractions close for the peak summer period of July and August when temperatures hover in the mid to high 40’s C. The Local People In general, the local Emirati population are extremely friendly, welcoming and hospitable. The city is safe, and the crime rate is very low. Dubai is a melting pot of different cultures. Although this is an Arabic country, you will see, experience and buy things that come from all over the world. Many textile shops are owned and run by Indian or Pakistani people, many items are imported from China and the rest of Asia and often shop assistants are Filipino. English is the business language and you do not need to understand Arabic to visit any of the places mentioned in this guide. Copyright: Ansie van der Walt https://www.thefabricthread.com Dress Code and General Conduct This is a Muslim country and a modest dress is advised. It is also a tourist destination and the local population is tolerant and welcoming to all. Normal everyday dress of trousers/skirt and top/t-shirt is acceptable. You will often see tourists dressed in shorts and strappy tops without problems, but the guidelines are to cover shoulders and knees. Alcohol is readily available in hotels and restaurants inside hotels. You are free to enjoy a glass of wine or a beer, but public drunkenness won’t be tolerated. Public transport is safe, clean and affordable. The Dubai Metro is very reliable and easy to use. Taxi’s and Uber are safe and affordable options. Keep in mind that in the old part of town and the more traditional shopping areas like Satwa, Bur Dubai and Deira, the shops and souks close during the afternoon, from midday prayers until around 4 pm. The streets come alive at night and most places stay open until around 10:30 pm. Plan your trip to do sightseeing and shopping in the morning, then take a break, have lunch, visit a museum or mall during the early afternoon. Start your next round of sightseeing and shopping in the late afternoon and evening. In the cooler months it is lovely to be outside at night with open-air eateries and entertainment everywhere. Tourist Options Sightseeing There are two big bus companies offering hop-on, hop-off tours to the main attractions. This is a good option if you want to get an overview of the city or see lots of things in a short time. Desert Excursions There are several desert safari companies and your hotel concierge will help you with recommendations and bookings. A desert safari includes a drive out to the desert, a ‘dune bashing’ trip through the sand, and an evening meal and entertainment at a ‘Bedouin camp’. It is a tourist activity with the obligatory camel rides, shisha smoking and belly dancer included. For those of us living here, it is a bit touristy but if you have never been in the desert, it is a safe, fun way to experience lots of sand and some off-road driving. Water Excursions The Creek is buzzing with boats, ferries, abras, and dhows of all shapes and sizes. When visiting the old Creek, crossing with an abra (a water taxi) is part of the experience. It is cheap, fast and part of life in that part of the city. The Dubai ferry is a highly recommended way to see the city from the sea. It travels between the Dubai Marina and the Creek at scheduled times. The route takes you from the marina around the Palm Jumeirah, down the coast, into the new Dubai Canal, past all the new off-shore developments and into the Dubai Creek to deliver you in the old town. The ferry is modern, air-conditioned, safe and affordable. Copyright: Ansie van der Walt https://www.thefabricthread.com Textiles This is what it’s all about, right? We’re going to walk through the main textile destinations, area by area. In each area I will highlight other noteworthy stops like museums and point out good places to eat. We’re going local now, so no flashy tourist-brochure ideas here. I even made some hand-drawn maps to help you find your way. Old Town/Creek-side: Bur Dubai side . Copyright: Ansie van der Walt https://www.thefabricthread.com Textile Souk This is a colourful pedestrian street with small shops crammed close together on each side. Retail shops selling pashminas and shawls, clothes, jewellery, shoes and ceramics sit side by side. Be prepared to be accosted by the shop owners greeting you, inviting you in, and generally working hard to attract some business. Some people may find this harassing, but I suggest you take it in your stride, enjoy the banter but don’t be intimidated. It is a vibrant place with colourful people. At the top end of the souk is a row of textile wholesalers. Their wares look enticing and beautiful, but they are agents, only supplying to retailers. Once past the first row of shops, at a kink in the road, you will find a few housewares shops selling colourful ceramic wares made right here in the UAE. You will also find the entrance to Bayt Al Wakeel restaurant. A lovely local eatery right on the water’s edge. It is the perfect spot to watch the abras and other watercraft buzzing by. At that same kink in the road but on the opposite side, is a narrow alleyway taking you to a parking lot behind the souk. There you will have a nice view of a blue mosque – a good photo opportunity. At the top end of the souk is a narrow ally accessing the Hindu quarters where several Hindu temples sit close together. It is lined with tiny Hindu shops selling fresh flower garlands, incense and other religious trinkets. It is the only place in Dubai where you will experience it. If you turn towards the water’s edge at this point you will come to an open courtyard with a few shops around. Compared to the rest of the souk it is a quiet area, but this is where you will find one of my favourite shops – Chuk. Palu, a treasure trove of handcraft, carpets and bags from Afghanistan. Dubai Museum The Dubai Museum is located inside the Al Fahidi Fort, just around the corner from the Textile souk. It is a compact museum and can be taken in in a couple of hours. It is informative, fun and user-friendly. It shows the old way of living in Dubai before the discovery of oil and in the days of the pearl trade. It is also a great place to see some of the clothes and textiles from that era. Copyright: Ansie van der Walt https://www.thefabricthread.com Al Fahidi Neighbourhood The Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is one of the oldest parts of town and houses several heritage organisations. The most popular is the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. The centre offers a range of activities, from traditional Emirati breakfast events to conversations with local Emiratis. They have an open doors, open minds philosophy an encourages visitors to ask any questions no matter how sensitive. Two of my favourite galleries are located here: XVA Gallery which also include a guest house, a cafe and a gallery shop where you will find some traditional textiles. The Majlis Gallery is the oldest fine art gallery in Dubai and showcases wonderful art from local artists. They also offer a range of workshops. You will find a carpet and textile shop and several art and craft shops here.