All you need to know about the Waterfront Market in Deira

If there’s one place where you can discover the freshest catch in Dubai, it’s the Waterfront Market in Deira. Located near Hamriya Port, the market is a one-stop destination for those looking for fresh seafood, fruits, vegetables, spices, and other grocery items.

Boasting an air-conditioned retail space, the market is equipped with state-of-the-art technology that aids customers in the process of shopping. It is good to know about the place a little bit before heading out for shopping.

What’s all the hype around the Waterfront Market Deira?

The market is a bustling hive of activity. As you move past the beautiful corridors of the place, you will discover a wide array of fish that the fishermen have recently caught. Upon navigating further, you will find all the fresh seafood hauled in both locally and from other countries, such as Oman and India. Other than seafood, fruits, and vegetables, you find also clothing essentials as well as other accessories in this market. It has 5 different food sections that about 5000 people visit every month to buy grocery items.

The prices of items are far cheaper than other stores, so you don’t have to haggle over the rates. The Deira Waterfront Market also has restaurants and cafes so if you feel tired after shopping, you can unwind with a delicious meal or a refreshing drink. 

Excited already? Keep reading to know more about the place and find out all the products you can buy from here.

A brief history of the Deira Waterfront Market

Long before the Waterfront Market emerged in Deira, there used to be a fish market located here, close to the meat and spice souk. The decades-old supermarket had pretty much everything that one would need to sustain a quality lifestyle. From meat and vegetables to spices and clothes, the market was filled to the brim with everyday essentials.

In 2017, the Waterfront Market replaced this long-established market and brought with it a whole new set of facilities to reduce waste and boost efficiency. The fishermen can directly load the catch to the market, ensuring absolute freshness. A lot of the seafood you find here is difficult to procure elsewhere in the city.

What can you find at Deira waterfront market in Dubai?

You can find a varied selection of fish, meat, spices, honey, dates, fruits and vegetables in this waterfront market of Deira.

Seafood

In the section of seafood, you can find kingfish, hammour, large Omani prawns and other more sustainable options such as jesh (yellow bar angelfish), faskar (two-bar seabream), and shari (pink ear emperor). Out of 435 stalls selling raw cuts, 43 are of dry fish and 18 of crustaceans and fish which are taken live from the aquarium.

Meat

If you’re hankering for meat, you can also find beautiful cuts of lamb, beef, chicken, and camel. Split into different stands, these cuts are either produced locally or sourced from abroad. Everything is fresh so you can pick your cut without worrying about the quality.

Fruits and Vegetables

The meat may be the focus, but venture a little further and you will find a kaleidoscope of fruit and vegetables, sourced from local farms in the city and other emirates. Some of these fruit baskets cost as little as AED 1, so buying a variety of locally-grown fruits such as juicy jujubes, figs, and pineapples, all at once, will be a convenient option for you.

Spices and dates

The Waterfront Market in Deira also features quality Middle Eastern spices such as saffron, dukkah, za’atar, ras el hanout, and baharat at affordable prices. Jars of sweet honey and boxes full of locally-grown dates are also available at the market – both of them make great souvenirs for friends and family members back home.

Looking for some premium varieties? Deira Waterfront Market has that too in abundance. You can go for dabbas (honey date) or the popular khalas (everyday eating dates) here.

Clothing items and other essentials

Though it may appear that the market is all about food, it also has many stores that offer clothes for men, women, and children. Similarly, there are many retail outlets where you can find one-off gems hidden from the usual off-the-rail clobber. Spread across a 700m large promenade, the place has pretty much everything on offer from touchscreen phones to exotic perfumes.

An amalgamation of innovation and tradition: Deira Waterfront Restaurants

This Deira market has plenty of restaurants where you can find a wide assortment of delicious meals after spending a long day grocery shopping. You can enjoy Tom Yum soup and dynamite prawns at Yahya Seafood or you can experience the joy of trying traditional Arabian dishes at the popular Finyaal cafe. The cafe has balaleet ( a vermicelli dish, made with eggs), chebab (local pancakes) and other Emirati specialities on offer.

Location, Timings and Contact Details of Deira Waterfront Market

Here is a capsule visitors guide for the Deira Waterfront Market so you are well aware of location, timings and contact information:

• Deira Waterfront Market Location:  Al Khaleej Road, Opposite Dubai Hospital, Corniche Deira
• Waterfront Market Deira Timings: Open 24 hours
• Waterfront Market Deira Contact Number: +971-80-062-7538

If you are keen to discover the other hidden gems in the area, take a look at Deira Clocktower, a significant monument in Dubai that reminds people about the discovery of oil in the UAE. 

Have got the soul of an adventurer? Check out our blog that features some of the most interesting things to do in Deira.

If you are always on the lookout for the latest sales and offers, there are many malls in Deira as well where you can shop or browse through retail window displays.

All in all, Deira is a great place to dwell in. If you are planning on living in this historic neighbourhood, read our blog on how is Deira area in Dubai to make an informed decision.