Souk Al Marfa: A traditional market with a modern vibe
Dubai is more than just the glittering malls and skyline. It is a city full of life and culture. If you are looking for a unique shopping experience in the emirate, Souk Al Marfa is the place to be. Boasting uninterrupted views of the harbour, it has everything you need, from rare finds to daily essentials – all at unbeatable prices. Read on to know more about this vibrant and colourful souk in Dubai.
ABOUT SOUK AL MARFA DUBAI
The 1.9-km wholesale market is located in Dubai Islands, a gorgeous waterfront community consisting of four man-made islands. Developed by DP World and Nakheel Malls, the fully air-conditioned indoor shopping destination offers everything from clothes to electronics and carpets.
There are small kiosks, showrooms, retail stores and street food markets in Souq Al Marfa. The marketplace is located close to Deira Wharfage, Mina Al Hamriya and Mina Rashid. Proximity to the ports makes it easy for traders to ship goods straight to its stores and pavilions.
Souk Al Marfa Market offers various benefits to traders, such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, repatriation of money and profit, logistical convenience and ancillary amenities.
The souk, which covers 3.1 million square feet, features four different villages. Once fully completed, these villages will be home to over 1,000 stores, 3,200 parking spots, and purpose-built loading docks for trucks. The souk also houses an authentic Thai Market that offers Thai food, clothing and handicrafts.
SHOPS AT SOUK AL MARFA DUBAI ISLANDS
Many shops have already been set up at Souq Al Marfa and they offer amazing bargains. You can expect to find only the finest goods, such as lamps, cosmetics, perfumes, skincare products, household goods, toys, building materials and much more. The following are some of the shops that have opened up.
- Blink
- Koichi
- Darwani
- Moonlight
- Marhaptin
- Love Grace
- Game Station
- Health Beauty
- Shines Korean
- Thread and Button
- Zil Altaif Garments
- Simply Made Stylish
For grocery shopping, you can head over to Mohie El-Din Supermarket.
RESTAURANTS AND CAFES AT SOUQ AL MARFA
You will find the most delicious food and beverages at the many restaurants and cafes spread throughout the market. Some of the most popular options in Souk Al Marfa Market are mentioned below.
- Orya
- Fardos
- Pioneer
- OTS Cafe
- El Halawi
- Swadeshi
- Krua Thai
- Ceylon Tea
- Taksim Gate
- Icy Blast Coffee
- The Tea Factory
- Amazing Panda
- Little House Cafe
- Fresh Blends Cafe
- Scoop of Happiness
GETTING THERE
Fortunately, there are multiple options available to get to the beautiful souk for those relying on public transport.
FERRY AND ABRA
There are ferry and abra stations at Souk Al Marfa for the convenience of the visitors. The journey also offers beautiful views of the Deira Corniche, Deira Old Souk, Dubai Creek and the Gold Souk.
The information of the routes connecting Souk Al Marfa Market to Dubai’s Old Souk and Deira Old Souk is as follows.
- Timings: Weekdays 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Weekends (Friday to Sunday) 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
- Duration: 25 minutes
These are the details of the ferry trip that runs between Souk Al Marfa Market and Al Ghubaiba.
- Timings: Weekends (Friday to Sunday) 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
- Duration: 20 minutes
Note that the rides are free for five months starting from March 2022.
COMPLIMENTARY SHUTTLE SERVICE
Visitors can also use the free shuttle service provided by the souk. To get to the market, take a bus from any of the hotels, such as the Ibis Styles Dubai Airport, Hyatt Regency Dubai, Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers, Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre and more.
You can download the shuttle schedule from the official website of Souk Al Marfa Dubai or contact the supervisor at +971-55-805-1962.
OTHER SERVICES
RTA Dubai has launched a dedicated bus route known as SM1 for the visitors of the souk. It runs every 60 minutes from the Gold Souk Bus Station to Souk Marfa, passing through Al Khaleej Street from 06:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Alternatively, you can book cab Dubai, Uber and Careem services to get to the market.
FAQS
WHAT ARE THE OPENING HOURS OF SOUK AL MARFA?
The souk is open from Monday to Thursday, 12:00 pm to 12:00 am, while from Friday to Sunday, the timings are from 12:00 pm to 02:00 am.
WHAT IS THE CONTACT NUMBER OF THE SOUK?
For more information, you can call the management of the souk at +971-8-0062-54335.
WHY SHOULD BUSINESSES INVEST IN THE SOUQ AL MARFA?
Souq Al Marfa Dubai Islands is the perfect development that companies should consider. It offers easy repatriation of profit and capital, 100% foreign ownership, does not require a local sponsor and ensures minimal paperwork via a single-window system.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER SOUKS IN DUBAI?
Yes, there are a number of souks in Dubai that you can visit, such as Dubai Gold Souk, Spice Souk Dubai and Deira Perfume Souk.
That’s the end of our guide to Souk Al Marfa Dubai Islands. There’s a lot that you can do at this retail destination. As more shops and restaurants will continue to pop up you will get the lowdown, so stay tuned.
For more shopping options, you should head over to the best malls in Dubai.
Featured Image courtesy Nakheel’s Official Website
