Explore Meena Bazaar Dubai – A Vibrant, Traditional Market

It is a known fact that Dubai is one of the best destinations for shopping. Apart from hosting the Dubai Shopping Festival (the biggest and the grandest shopping festival in the world), Dubai offers shopping avenues like no other. The city is filled with gigantic shopping malls teeming with almost all the popular international brands you know about. But amidst all the luxury malls and stylish boutiques lay the traditional souks and markets, which have existed since the time Dubai was a modest fishing village. One such market is the Meena Bazaar. Here is everything you need to know about Meena Bazaar.

Location of Meena Bazaar

Meena Bazaar is a traditional market in the heart of Bur Dubai, one of the oldest neighborhoods of Dubai, a place located on the other side of the Dubai Creek. Bur Dubai is home to the historic Al Fahidi Neighborhood, a prime tourist spot included in most Dubai trip package.  Meena Bazaar is a bustling market positioned in the corner of Al Fahidi Street and Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road.

History and Significance of Meena Bazaar

The birth of Meena Bazaar Dubai dates back to the 1800s. Earlier, it was called the Cosmos Lane and was believed to be renamed as Meena Bazaar by the Indian diaspora, as the market resembled Delhi’s Meena Bazaar in India. Another source suggests that Meena Bazaar was the name of the textile store right at the entrance of the market. Over the years, people started associating the store’s name with that of the market and the name stayed. Meena Bazaar began as a market for the locals. But soon, foreign traders from Asia arrived to sell their goods like jewelry, handicrafts, spices, textiles, antics, etc., here. While several stores have closed down and replaced by others, the essence of Meena Bazaar remains intact. It is still one of the places in Dubai where you can shop at reasonable rates, making it one of the must visit places in your Dubai itinerary.

How to Reach Meena Bazaar?

As Meena Bazaar is a prime location, it is easy to reach the place from different parts of Dubai. One of the most convenient ways is by taxi. You can hail a taxi from anywhere in the city, and it will take you to Meena Bazaar directly. Alternatively, you can also come to the place in your own vehicle. There are paid parking spaces in and around Meena Bazaar. However, finding a parking can be a bit problematic during evenings and weekends. One of the cheapest ways to reach Meena Bazaar is by metro. The closest station is Al Fahidi Metro Station, from where the market is just a few minutes away by foot.

What to Buy at Meena Bazaar?

Meena Bazaar is one of the best places to go shopping in Dubai. Most people love to shop at Meena Bazaar because of its cost. Unlike the stores at the shopping malls, Meena Bazaar is where you can shop without splurging too much money. Moreover, the quality is good too. Here are all the things you can buy at Meena Bazaar.

Gold and Jewelry: Dubai is known as the City of Gold, and Meena Bazaar is one of the best places to buy this yellow metal. The stores here offer a wide range of designs, right from simple, everyday jewelry to heavy, bridal ones. You will find gold and precious jewelry with Indian, Pakistani, and Arabic designs. You will find different types of South Asian designs like Meenakari, Polki, Kundan, etc., here. Apart from gold, you can find jewelry of platinum, diamond, and other precious stones as well. It is also possible to get jewelry customized as per your own design. Some of the best stores to buy jewelry in Meena Bazaar are Kalyan Jewellers, Malabar Gold, Joyalukkas, Sky Jewellery, Popley Kewalram Jewellers, etc.

Clothing and Fabrics: If you are on a lookout for traditional South Asian outfits, there is no place better than Meena Bazaar for the same. The place is filled with stores that sell traditional outfits from India and Pakistan. You will find all kinds of women’s ethnic wear hear including salwar suits, sarees, lehengas, shararas, anarkalis, designer gowns, and more. Men’s traditional outfits like kurtas, sherwanis, pathani suits, and Indo-western are also available here. You will also find plenty of bridal boutiques here if you want to do some wedding shopping. Apart from the clothes, Meena Bazaar also has stores that sell a variety of fabrics like cotton, rayon, Pashmina, georgette, linen, brocade, silk, etc., mostly imported from India. You can buy fabrics and get them custom-stitched at any one of the tailoring shops here. Some of the best stores for clothes shopping are Regal Fabrics, Bareeze, Anhar Fashions, etc.

Accessories and Footwear: Apart from clothes and fabrics, Meena Bazaar is also a great place to buy accessories and footwear. The market has a good collection of stores that sell all kinds of imitation jewelry, both traditional as well as modern. You can buy large earrings, heavy jewelry sets, different types of anklets, and a variety of bangles, including metal, glass, and ones with mirror work. Meena Bazaar has footwear stores where you can get traditional footwear for both men and women like kolhapuris, juttis, sandals, and everyday footwear as well. There are stores for handbags, especially the ones that go well with traditional South Asian outfits like potli bags, ethnic clutches, etc.

Attars and Perfumes: One of the most popular things to buy in Dubai is attar, the traditional Arabic fragrance. Meena Bazaar is a good place to place to buy not just attar but other authentic fragrances like oud, bakhoor, musk. The stores also sell various premium fragrances. One of the highlights here is you can get customized perfumes. You just have to tell the kind of fragrance you desire and it will be made for you. These perfume and attar shops also have numerous perfumes in decorative packages perfect for gifting. The best part is that you can buy all these fragrances at budget-friendly rates.

Electronics and Souvenirs: People love buying electronics from Dubai, as the quality is best and the price is low. At Meena Bazaar, you will find stores where you can buy the latest smart phones, smartwatches, and other phone accessories. This is also a great place to buy small gadgets at reasonable rates. Aside all the things mentioned above, Meena Bazaar is frequented by tourists to buy souvenirs like miniature landmarks, keychains, fridge magnets, Arabic calligraphy pieces, and so much more. You can also buy home good like rugs, carpets, lamps, and more at Meena Bazaar.

Dining at Meena Bazaar

While shopping is one of the best things to do in Old Dubai,  especially Meena Bazaar, one thing you must not miss here is the food. The place offers an array of dining options, right from Asian delicacies from India and Pakistan to local Emirati and Arabic cuisines. There are several restaurants that serve international cuisines as well. One of the main reasons that people flock to Meena Bazaar restaurants is not just the variety but also because most of these restaurants offer vegetarian and vegan dishes as well.

North Indian and Mughlai Cuisines: Savor the delicious North Indian and Mughlai dishes like paneer tikka, butter chicken, kebabs, dal makhani, naan, etc., at the popular North Indian restaurants at Meena Bazaar. Some of the family-friendly restaurants here are Satkar Restaurant, Mumtaz Mahal Indian Specialty Restaurant, Kamat Vegetarian Restaurant, Purani Dilli, and more.

South Indian Restaurants: If you are craving for authentic South Indian dishes, Meena Bazaar is the best place to visit. Get ready to relish soft idlis, crispy dosas, delicious vadas, and the mouthwatering filter coffee at the eateries here. Restaurants that serve delicious South Indian non-vegetarian dishes like biriyani, chicken curries, fish fry, etc., are also available here. The best South Indian restaurants in Meena Bazaar are Saravanaa Bhavan Bur Dubai, Mama Kadai Restaurant, Calicut Paragon, Veganesha, Tasty Cochin Harbour Restaurant, etc.

Pakistani Specialities: Those looking forward to enjoy Pakistani specialities in Dubai must visit Meena Bazaar. The place has numerous restaurants that serve the authentic Pakistani delicacies like haleem, biriyani, tikkas, kebabs, and nihari. A few of these restaurants are Pak Liyari Restaurant LLC, Karachi Grill Restaurant, Karachi Darbar Fahidi, Al Ibrahimi Palace Restaurant, Arhan Restaurant, and more.

Arabic Cuisine: Meena Bazaar is not just known for a variety of South Asian cuisines. Rather, you will also find plenty of restaurants that serve traditional Arabic food. A visit to this market is your chance to devour grilled falafels, shawarmas, mixed platters served with hummus, fresh juices, and more. You will also find cafes and eateries offering the original Arabic coffee and tea.

Meena Bazaar is home to small eateries, fast food joints, dessert cafes, etc., where you can enjoy pastries, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, burgers, waffles, etc. You will also find sweet shops here where you can buy original Indian sweets and snacks like samosas, kaju katli, gulab jamun, rasagolla, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

A trip to Dubai’s Meena Bazaar is a way to experience the traditional side of Dubai. You can visit the place while exploring the attractions of Al Fahidi. Alternatively, you can dedicate an entire day to shop and explore the different attractions of Meena Bazaar.