Dubai's Markets as they used to be

Today Dubai has an abundancy of supersized shopping malls and supermarkets. Dubai's Residents can buy what they want, where they want and any time that suits them. They are spoiled for choice!!!

Buying fresh fish, fruit and vegetables was an adventure in Dubai as it used to be ! Dubai's Markets were the only places to buy fresh food. Choices were limited by the seasons and supply. Quality varied so careful selection was necessary. Buying was usually best early morning or late evening. Astute Shoppers developed relationships with particular individual Sellers getting to know what was the best on offer. Customers were rewarded with free bananas or apples or whatever other fruit or vegetable the Seller thought his Customer would like. These Markets were busy, bustling and noisy places. Sellers shouted to attract Customers and constant calls of "Barlik Barlik" warned everyone to clear the way as porters strained to pull their overladen trolleys through the crowd.

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  There were no Supermarkets in 1965. If you wanted fish, you went to a Fish Market to buy freshly caught fish - no frozen or refrigerated fish in Dubai as it used to be. Deira Fish Market was a "Barasti" shelter laid out on Deira's Beach.

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  By 1967 the "Barasti" structure had been replaced by a purpose built building with separate areas for processing and selling fish. Deira's Fish Market became more modern but still lacked refrigeration to store fish.
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  Dubaiside had a purpose built Fish Market located at the edge of Dubai Creek.
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  The building was not sophisticated but served to shade the Fish Stalls from the sun.This Fish Market remained in place until the late 1970s. It was demolished as part of Dubai Creek's development and a new Fish Market built in Shindagah.

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  Fish was always fresh and probably landed at Jumeirah Beach only a few hours earlier.
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  Selecting the best fish and haggling for the lowest price was a routine part of buying fish.
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  Dubai had a number of Vegetable Markets located in both Dubai and Deira. Dubai's population bought their fresh vegetables here. Much of the vegetables were grown locally in areas such as Daid.
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  Some markets sold goods as well as vegetables but mostly Dubai Markets sold vegetables.

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  As Dubai's communications improved these markets began to sell imported fresh fruit and vegetables as well as locally grown produce.

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FOOTNOTE: Market Change!

www.Dubaiasitusedtobe.com