Pathaani Bazaar: A buyers' secret

Dubai: It's the ground floor of a faded old building along Naif Road. It has six entrances. It looks like nothing much, but once you walk in, the colours, sounds and range of shopping available takes you by surprise.

It's a secret among buyers who like a bargain. They know it as a ‘Pathaani Bazaar'.

Sahj Sabbarwal, a self-confessed deal hunter, told Gulf News: "Dubai is known for shopping and malls, but every time I have an urge to just go out and shop and spend my money, the first place that comes to my head is the Pathaani Bazaar and I have never gone home disappointed."

Spirit of Deira

For the 20-year-old Indian expatriate, the market is the spirit of Deira, where she lives. "As I walk through these narrow colourful lanes and among people who give me a very warm reception, I know that I cannot be anywhere better."

Nobody has clear details on how long the place has been running, which gives people an opportunity to shop for less. Khan Mohammad, an Afghan shop owner in the market, said: "I worked here for 12 years and now I am back after a long break back home to continue being of service to my customers with the best quality I can." Naif souq was a refuge for Mohammad when his own country was in a civil war and did not give him any business.

He said: "I am here to make money for my family back home and I want to do it the right way. This is the reason I try to give best service to my customers hoping that they will come back to me."

Hundreds flock to the market everyday in search of a bargain. Small shacks squeezed together offer you all your necessities from make-up and clothing to home décor and accessories. Most of the owners are from Iranian, Indian or an Afghan background. The traders do not understand many languages but stand there with a smiling face and make customers feel wanted.

Juma Khan, a shop owner who sells abayas, said: "I have not gone back home for the past three years but I will be going this winter for my marriage. It's true that I, and others like me, have faced a lot of difficulty to survive, save and send money to people back home, but we still offer good quality products at the bazaar, hoping that the customers will come back." To have a balanced variety of products they get their materials from different suppliers especially Indian, Chinese, Turkish and Korean.

Mohammad added: "I like Dubai because it is peaceful and I want to expand my small shack to a shop in the near future, because all I have earned is from this country so I want to return my services to this country."

Walking through the maze of the market, which is located in the heart of Dubai, you realise that it is really is a place where time seems to have stood still.

Have you ever visited the Pathaani bazaar? Or do you know of other similar bazaars where you get good bargains?