Dubai Gold Souk Grand Arch: City of Gold Treasury
Why is it significant?
Look up at the monumental carved wooden archway that marks the grand entrance to the Dubai Gold Souk on Sikkat Al Deen. Beneath this traditional timber portal lies a pedestrian promenade bordered by more than three hundred retail jewelry shops whose shop windows blaze with dazzling gold.
Key Facts
| Place | Dubai Gold Souk Grand Arch: City of Gold Treasury |
|---|---|
| Address | Al Khor St & Sikkat Al Deen, Al Ras, Deira, Dubai, UAE |
| Geo Coordinates | 25.27010, 55.29810 |
| Part of Walk | Dubai: Deira Souks, Spices and Historic Dhow Wharfage |
| Generated | Generated |
Look up at the monumental carved wooden archway that marks the grand entrance to the Dubai Gold Souk on Sikkat Al Deen. Beneath this traditional timber portal lies a pedestrian promenade bordered by more than three hundred retail jewelry shops whose shop windows blaze with dazzling gold. Chains, crowns, armbands, and elaborate bridal necklaces crafted from 18, 21, 22, and 24-karat gold create an overwhelming sea of yellow, white, and rose metal. Dubai's famous moniker as the 'City of Gold' was born right here in this historic covered market, which handles approximately twenty percent of the world's physical gold trade.
In the window of the Kanz Jewels boutique near the entrance, stop to marvel at the Najmat Taiba, or 'Star of Taiba'. Certified by the Guinness World Records as the heaviest gold ring in the world, this colossal creation weighs over sixty-four kilograms, including five kilograms of diamonds and precious stones. It was crafted by fifty-five master goldsmiths working continuously for forty-five days, standing as an outrageous symbol of Dubai's boundless love for precious metals.
The gold trade in Deira expanded exponentially during the 1940s and 1950s due to liberal trade policies and strict zero-tariff regulations on gold imports enacted by the ruling family. Furthermore, the Dubai Central Laboratories Department enforces the strictest purity standards on earth; municipal inspectors test gold hallmarks daily, ensuring that counterfeit metal is virtually nonexistent. Prices are calculated transparently based on international spot market weight plus a negotiated 'making charge' for the craftsman's artistry.
Notice the electronic tickers mounted at the street corners: they display live international gold bullion prices updated every sixty seconds in multiple currencies.
Continue through the market and turn north into Al Sabkha to discover the inspiring Women's Museum at Bait Al Banat.