I needed a little getaway, and mama even more so, so we decided a week in Dubai would do the trick. Our trip was somewhat the beginning of my love for travel, and even more so, something that sparked something greater. I’ve always had a fascination for architecture, particularly Islamic architecture, and this was an opportunity for me to see and learn more.
Dubai was the first Muslim majority city I visited, other than the time we visited Harar, Ethiopia in 2003. Prior to my visit, I did have high expectations for how it would be, considering it’s a Muslim country. To say the least, my visit reminded me that, whether it being a Muslim or non-Muslim country, it’s really the politics, cultural norms, safety, and how livable and tolerant a place is that matters the most. This gave me a different perspective on how as a western Muslim I may glorify or rather look up to Muslim countries because I myself dream of living in a place where I may not be seen so much as an outsider. The experience was all very new to me, and I appreciated it.
I still picture what life would be like living in a country where Islam is extensively practiced, and maybe one day I’ll have the experience inshallah.
About Dubai
Before you get into the meat of this blog, here are some fun facts about Dubai:
- Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates.
- Dubai is one of the 7 Emirates, including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, and Umm al-Quwain.
- It is an international hub for all nationalities, and foreigners make up the majority of the population.
- Dubai is a very young city, but a very fast-growing one.
- Shawarma is the most popular local dish (so bomb!).
Dubai was beautiful, hot, and a sanctuary for every market lover. The architecture was spectacular. We would hear the athan echoing all over the city, and it all felt so heartwarming. I loved how much I was able to relax, and I know mama even more. She even wanted to extend the trip, but of course, work was awaiting us back home. Next time, right…
We visited the markets, saw and prayed in many masjids, walked a lot, talked a lot, ate good food, and made good memories. I’ve also come to realize, you cannot put two market lovers together. If one of us gets tired, you know it’s because we’ve done too much.
To give you a little sneak peek of what we did, here’s a list of places we visited. I wasn’t the best at keeping my phone out, so I didn’t capture everything, but hey at least my eyes did. Enjoy!
We spent the majority of our time walking around the markets. Trying to stick to the more local shops, we disregarded a lot of the touristy-looking spots. Our trip was mainly about markets and masjids, ya know, the good stuff 🙂
Markets
Naif Souq
This was the closest market to our hotel, about a 5-minute walk. Walking out of our hotel we would be bombarded with men selling items on the street, and it was everything from handbags, watches, jewelry, to little souvenirs. It became very overwhelming at one point, so I started wearing shades to avoid any form of eye contact and awkward interactions.
Naif Souq is a historic market and a great place for bargain shopping. The shops sell a range of items, from clothing, souvenirs, henna products, and accessories. We visited during the wintertime, so many of the abayas were going on sale for as cheap as 25 dirhams. There are a couple of mosques around the market, so finding a place to pray is not a problem. Although, we came across some that did not have a prayer space for women. We spent most of our time in this area, eating street food, shopping, visiting mosques, and taking long strolls.
Gold Souq
Roughly a 12-minute walk from Naif Souq is the Gold Souq. Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, it’s a nice market to stroll and look at the variety of gold and prices.
Bargaining is highly recommended if you do plan on shopping, and that goes for anything you’re looking to purchase.
Old Textile Souq
Most likely my favorite market, and mama would also agree. We took a boat across the river and it only cost us 1 dirham each. The market is full of spices and sweets, ornaments, and handmade crafts, all the things I get ecstatic for. We walked all over the market and even went as far as going to a supermarket well past the flea market to look for a specific candy mama used to love called Mackintosh’s. We eventually found it, but unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly the same as she remembered.
Central Souq in Sharjah
This souq was recommended to us by one of the hotel workers, as well as the Old Souq. We took the city bus to get to the market, which roughly took us an hour or so. With the kind of heat, there was that day, it was worth the trip.
We got lost along the way, but of course, people were kind enough to help. When we arrived at the final bus station, we walked for some time to reach the souq. It was easy to spot from afar, with the building uniquely designed with blue tiles.
The Central Souq is also commonly referred to as the Blue Souq.
Masjids
We came across many masjids, prayed in some, and indulged in their beauty. There were many cases where some did not have a prayer space for women as well. It was something very new to me, but of course, every country has its differences. Nevertheless, I was happy to have visited and captured many of the structures.
One thing I will say is, Dubai has some of the most spectacular Islamic architectural sites I’ve yet to see. Though I wasn’t able to capture it all, that always gives me a reason for a next time.
Shukran Dubai. And here’s to my very first blog post! To all my readers, welcome to the Boundless Mind of Mine journey!
What are some of the things you look for when you visit a new place?
