Dubai Municipality has completed a landmark heritage project in Deira’s traditional markets, creating three dedicated tourist trails that preserve the city’s cultural identity while enhancing the visitor experience.
The three trails, Gold Souq Trail, Al Ahmadiya School Heritage Axis, and Spice Souq Axis, link surrounding historic landmarks, offering residents and tourists an immersive journey through Dubai’s past. The Dhs 9.5 million initiative covers a total length of 1.7km and connects seven traditional markets, including Herbs Market, Spice Souq, Utensils Souq, Perfume Market, Carpets Market, Textiles Souq and Household Market.
Enhancements include shaded walkways, upgraded lighting, new public squares with seating, and restored shop façades using authentic local materials such as sarooj plaster. These upgrades improve comfort, highlight cultural authenticity, and support more than 500 shops across Deira’s Grand Souq.
These trails create a cultural hub where shopping, history and tourism come together. Bader Anwahi, CEO of the Public Facilities Agency at Dubai Municipality, said: “Deira, with its heritage and traditional markets, is an inseparable part of Dubai’s cultural and historical identity. This project honours that deep-rooted legacy while keeping pace with the present and future. It reinforces Dubai’s global standing as a cultural and tourism hub, offering experiences that combine authenticity with innovation”.
