Deira's myriad markets, which were established in 1850, have been revived as part of a directive from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in a bid to preserve the area's architecture. While the project aims to enhance Dubai's cultural identity, several contemporary touches have been added.
Look through the photo gallery above to see the renovations.
This includes installing the Al Souq Al Khabeer information centre, well-posted signboards and traditional-looking lounge areas – sprucing up everything from the mattress market to the herbs souq. A sustainable approach has also been incorporated, with materials such as coral stone, gypsum and wood used in the restoration, and local trees from the region planted.
More than 220 buildings have been renovated, their facades recreated to add to the market’s visual charm and historical significance.
"Dubai has witnessed significant leaps in its development over the past few decades and has become a global trading and business hub in a short period of time," says Dawood Al Hajri, director general of Dubai Municipality.
“However, this drive for modernity has not diminished the importance of traditional markets, which have been at the heart of the city’s commercial and economic life.”
