One of the narrower alleys in the Souk

A recent trip to the Souk Madinat in Jumeriah, Dubai, had me looking up at the ceilings rather than the goods on offer in the many shops and stalls.

High Rise, Low Rise

When you think of Dubai you will probably be thinking it’s high-rise and beaches. To most people it’s a ‘hot all year round’ tourist destination or simply a stop-off to somewhere else but if you stay a while, there are fabulous low rise buildings to check out too.

One of my current favourites is the Souk Madinat. It’s a recent build but has been designed to look like a traditional old Arabian souk (a market place). There are covered walkways both narrow and wide, outdoor piazzas and waterfront cafes and restaurants.

A Traditional Look

I love all the wood used inside the building with the traditional looking carving. The lighting looks like fabulous old lanterns and even the floor is made up of many different paving stones and marble to make it look like it’s been built up over years.

From the outside you can see all the different levels of the building. The taller towers are designed to look like the old fashioned ventilation shafts that many buildings had before the arrival of ceiling fans and air conditioning.

Possibly a much nicer (if a little touristy) shopping destination than one of the huge modern malls. What do you think?

For me, it’s definitely the best place to shop if you’re looking for a nice meal afterwards outside on the waterfront.