Updated: March 19, 2024

■ DUBAI GOLD SOUK:
It is a traditional market in Dubai, UAE. The souk is located in Dubai’s commercial business district in Deira, in the locality of Al Dhagaya. The souk consists of over 380 retailers, most of whom are jewelry traders. Some of the shops are as old as four decades, while some are as new as a year. The major items of mall includes Gold, Platinum, Diamonds and sometimes also deals in silver. Dubai Gold Souk is bordered to the north by the Dubai Fish and Vegetable Market and the Deira Corniche near Baniyas Square at Sikkat al-Khali Street which is in close proximity to the Deira Bus Stand. On the other side of the Dubai Creek lies Dubai Textile Souk. Dubai Gold Souk will be soon renovated. The Dubai Municipality plans to make Dubai Gold Souk an upbeat tourist destination. Guinness World Record: The Dubai Gold souk was host to the largest ring in the world weighing 64 kg. The piece is owned by Dubai-based Taiba.

■ EXPO 2020:
It’s a World Expo, currently hosted by Dubai from Oct 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. Originally scheduled on Oct 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Expo was officially opened on Sept 30, 2021. It is organized around a central plaza, entitled Al Wasl, enclosed by three large thematic districts and a theme called “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”. Each having sub-themes: Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability. Listed below are nations and organizations participating in Expo 2020 according to their sub-themes:

□ Opportunity District Country Pavilion: Afghanistan, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Partner Pavilions include: DP World, Emirates, Emirates National Oil Company and PepsiCo. Organization Pavilions include: African Union, Arab League, Dubai Cares, Gulf Cooperation Council, Investment Corporation of Dubai. Special Pavilions include: Baden Wurttemberg, Good Place and Mission Possible.

□ Sustainability District Country Pavilion: Andorra, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Comoros, Cuba, Czech Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Kuwait, Lesotho, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Montenegro, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Yemen. Partner Pavilions include: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, PepsiCo. Special Pavilions include: Terra and Women’s.

□ Mobility District Country Pavilion: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Cote d ‘Ivoire, Croatia, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominica Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Gambia, Grenada, Haiti, Holy See, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Laos, Libya, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Russia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, South Korea, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uruguay and Vanuatu. Organization Pavilions include: ASEAN, Muslim World League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, United Arab Emirates University and World Expo Museum. Special Pavilions include: Alif.

■ MORE WALK TOUR VIDEOS:
1. Baniyas Square to Al Rigga Stn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VydwH_lWDds
2. Al Rigga Stn to Reef Mall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56A2-Q_SGpQ&t=25s
3. Exploring Deira Gold Souk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH40TzkKFN4&t=832s
4. Exploring Naif +Baniyas Square: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6awgGbVwaY&t=4s
5. Naif Street to Al Ghurair Mall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1zpcd_aZR8&t=242s
6. Exploring Al Rigga Road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKNBq008i8U&t=1s

■ REFERENCE:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai_Gold_Souk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_2020