Dubai- dirt cheap?
Dubai, the modern jewel of the Middle East is often regarded as a playground for the rich and fabulous.
But is there another side to Dubai; a side that doesn't require a well of oil on tap to fund a desire for fun and frolicking under the omnipresent Middle Eastern sun?
I believe there is. During the past 7 years I have lived in Dubai on four separate occasions, totaling about two years. I first traveled to the sandy city in 2005 as a musician working in one of the first bars to cater to English-speaking foreigners.
In 2005 I lived in one of the older parts of Dubai, Bur Dubai. I shared a four-bedroom apartment with the rest of my bandmates which was an experience in itself and will be the subject of many future blogs!
This brings me to the main point of today's blog: Is Dubai dirt cheap? In a word- yes.
Dubai has its unfair share of elite and a far greater share of immigrant workers primarily from India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, who appear to do the lion's share of the work and yet receive only the lion's leftovers of the money generated in the city.
As a result of this, many shops and markets can be found that have priced their goods to sell to the masses that are unable to afford to eat or shop in Dubai's famous malls such as the Mall of the Emirates or Dubai Mall.
One of these markets is located in Bur Dubai and is known locally as Karama or Al Karama. Since the construction of the Dubai metro, Karama is easily and affordably accessible from anywhere in Dubai. Simply hop on the Metro.http://dubaimetro.eu/dubai-metro-map and exit at the Karama station.
The Karama area contains a multitude of stores and eateries selling everything you can think of from Indian rugs and sandals, to freshly cooked Pakistani and Filipino nibbles, and most importantly, musical equipment.
Here is an example of prices of items in the Karama area:
T-shirt: US$3-5
Lunch for two pax: US$4-8
Fake Rolex watch: US$7-12
Metro ticket: US$2 approx
Taxi fare: US$15-18 (if you are at one of the farthest points in Dubai from the Al Karama souq).
N.B: Don't forget to haggle with the vendors. They will often charge outrageous prices at first. In some instances I have managed to get them down to as low as 10% of their initial asking price amidst cries of 'you are taking the milk from my children's mouths' and 'now I am losing money selling this to you' etc etc.
For musicians, I found that prices here were really no different to anywhere else I've lived in the world, with possibly Indonesia being the sole exception, and the selection isn't great. Despite having a huge community of international musicians, Dubai, has a notable absence of great music shops. Don't get me wrong, all of the basics are there, and there is one great music shop in Al Quoz. We bought a Nord Stage Revision C from there in October of 2011. The owner is a big Canadian keyboard playing monster of a man, with a generous nature. We paid in cash so we got a free travel case and stand with the keyboard...nice!
http://www.musicianswarehousedubai.com/
Dubai, the modern jewel of the Middle East is often regarded as a playground for the rich and fabulous.
But is there another side to Dubai; a side that doesn't require a well of oil on tap to fund a desire for fun and frolicking under the omnipresent Middle Eastern sun?
I believe there is. During the past 7 years I have lived in Dubai on four separate occasions, totaling about two years. I first traveled to the sandy city in 2005 as a musician working in one of the first bars to cater to English-speaking foreigners.
In 2005 I lived in one of the older parts of Dubai, Bur Dubai. I shared a four-bedroom apartment with the rest of my bandmates which was an experience in itself and will be the subject of many future blogs!
This brings me to the main point of today's blog: Is Dubai dirt cheap? In a word- yes.
Dubai has its unfair share of elite and a far greater share of immigrant workers primarily from India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, who appear to do the lion's share of the work and yet receive only the lion's leftovers of the money generated in the city.
As a result of this, many shops and markets can be found that have priced their goods to sell to the masses that are unable to afford to eat or shop in Dubai's famous malls such as the Mall of the Emirates or Dubai Mall.
 |
| Inside the Dubai Mall. |
 |
| A sample of spices in Al Karama souq (market). |
The Karama area contains a multitude of stores and eateries selling everything you can think of from Indian rugs and sandals, to freshly cooked Pakistani and Filipino nibbles, and most importantly, musical equipment.
Here is an example of prices of items in the Karama area:
T-shirt: US$3-5
Lunch for two pax: US$4-8
Fake Rolex watch: US$7-12
Metro ticket: US$2 approx
Taxi fare: US$15-18 (if you are at one of the farthest points in Dubai from the Al Karama souq).
N.B: Don't forget to haggle with the vendors. They will often charge outrageous prices at first. In some instances I have managed to get them down to as low as 10% of their initial asking price amidst cries of 'you are taking the milk from my children's mouths' and 'now I am losing money selling this to you' etc etc.
For musicians, I found that prices here were really no different to anywhere else I've lived in the world, with possibly Indonesia being the sole exception, and the selection isn't great. Despite having a huge community of international musicians, Dubai, has a notable absence of great music shops. Don't get me wrong, all of the basics are there, and there is one great music shop in Al Quoz. We bought a Nord Stage Revision C from there in October of 2011. The owner is a big Canadian keyboard playing monster of a man, with a generous nature. We paid in cash so we got a free travel case and stand with the keyboard...nice!
http://www.musicianswarehousedubai.com/
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