The Gold Souk in Dubai is worth a look. The prices are cheaper than many other parts of the world, but you need to really haggle to get the best price. Never believe it when someone says you don't need to haggle in their shop as their prices are already low.... of course they are not.

There are many stores, but they all sell similar items, so it pays to shop around. Haggle them down as far as they will go, and say that you are going to keep shopping but may come back to the store later. They will normally reduce price either further upon hearing this, and you can compare the prices between stores. This is how you really do end up getting cheaper jewellery than in other countries.

Be wary of reviews of individual stores - I have noticed a few, but doubt their authenticity.

Also watch out for rogue traders - you will get approached numerous times by people wanting to sell you fake watches and handbags. They will inevitably take you down a back alley and into a building then shut the door to stop prying police eyes.

The gold souq is a very interesting place to go see when your in Dubai. Word of advice, don't bother driving there yourself during rushhour...traffic and parking is very bad and a headache! Get a Taxi to easily drop you off and pick one up. My three hour visit to the Gold Souq was enjoyabe even if your not crazy about jewerly and not buying any. It was a neat place to walk around and take pictures of all the shiney window displays. Although the Gold Souq has lots of gold, the boutiques do sell pearls, silver, and precious gems. Also they have small gift items made of gold. I saw a gold baby pacifier,... so much for the saying...'Born with a silver spoon in the mouth'. The gold souq was definetly a place to head too in Dubai and there is plenty to see and easily to get lost when you walk in the busy district outside the souq. I was trying to find the spice souq but ended up a bit turned around. So get a really good map! I went in the evening and the whole area is very busy, so be careful when crossing the roads. There tons of cheap shops to buy shoes, beautiful fabrics, electronics, and gifts, etc. The whole area is swarming with people, mostly Indians, so at times it feels like little India. The area is not exactly good looking and it looks like old Dubai, so leave the high heels and fancy outfit for another place. Oh yes, please wear comfortable shoes, you will be doing a lot of walking! And if you go to the gold souq in the summer or in hot weather, go exploring at night. Overall, it's was fun but the next time I will take a friend along with me.

Take the bus to get there if you are in Deira or at the City center. The bus terminal is right accross the Gold Souk entrance. One thing is sure you should take a taxi to go back to your hotel where ever you are even if you are staying in Deira. A magnificient watch for the eyes. Bargain is the key word if you want to buy. Tell the vendor your price and say sorry and walk away slowly he will sure call you back they can't resist the cash money!!
Have fun because you will never see such a souk in America or North America!!

Have your hotel concierge procure a taxi and ask him to direct the driver to the Gold Souk in Deira, because there are many unscrupulous cabbies who take you to more distant 'gold centres' with similar names. Most of the dealers are from India...they are wam and friendly...enjoy a cup of tea, and ask questions...they love to share their knowledge...my dealer took me to lunch at his villa, wow! ("Shukria" is Hindi for "thank you".) As you'd expect, the best deals are made farther away from the entrances, which are pushy and inflexible on price. Don't buy the first thing you fall in love with--the selection is so vast you're sure to find something to make you regret an impulsive purchase. Do know the current rate of gold per gram. Understand that 21 and 22k gold are the standard, which is much yellower than other jewelery--it won't match in color! (At these low prices, you can buy a whole set for the price of a piece in other countries!) Yes, 10, 14, and 18k are also available. Diamonds are best purchased loose...they come in sealed clear plastic packets, similar to mini-bullion bars, and are clearly marked as to color, clarity, etc., and each is laser engraved with identification information. Most of the shopkeepers will gladly clean your jewelry for you while you shop. Have an exit strategy for dealing with persistent merchants...have a friend "rescue" you on a pre-arranged signal such as a tug of the ear--it works! I especially recommend the ornate earring, necklace, ring and bracelet sets from Madras province in India, which are breathtaking in their ornate craftsmanship...best of all--you pay for just the weight of the gold, the craftsmanship is free! Enjoy!