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Organisers claim the 45-day extravaganza will live up to its often-branded logo of One world, One family, One festival. Head to Al Seef Road from 4pm daily and the proof is visible.
You see it in the jokes and conversation shared among people from all over the world; it's in the friendly banter among vendors from countries that are at war with one another; it's in the faces of the children as they watch the street performers, and most of all it's the smiles from the hundreds of people who arrive each night.
Maze of bargains
Okay, so it took me 90 minutes to get there and another 20 minutes to park, but it was worth it in the end. The Night Souq stretches for almost 3km along the Dubai Creek and is a maze of bargains, performing artistes, fun fairs and traditions.
It's easy to get carried away by the atmosphere among the vendors from the Middle East who try to grab your attention as you pass by. But the conversation invariably goes beyond mere selling.
Livelihood
Imran, a honey dealer from Yemen, said: "I cannot lie — of course I want to make a sale, after all I am a businessman. But there is much more to it than that. The Dubai Shopping Festival is a unique experience for me and I am genuinely interested in meeting and speaking to people from all over the world. I want them to understand what I do.
"Many people from this part of the world and the western world don't appreciate that we work with our hands to produce something they buy on the shelf of a supermarket. It's like the old days for them. This skill and product is my livelihood — it puts food on the table for me and my family at home.
"So maybe if you pass by a stall and the holder wants to say hi, just bear in mind we are people too and want to get to know others from the world which we all share."
Brings people together
The Dubai Night Souq, also called the World of Bazaars, is a permanent venue that runs daily from 4pm to midnight until February 4.
The World of Bazaars showcases the evolution of Islamic culture through the centuries, highlighting the Khan Al Khalili in Cairo to the Isfahan Bazaar to the Al Madina Souq, with workshops on crafting, painting, carpet weaving, copper engraving and many more.
The Dubai Shopping Festival has created one world that brings together friendly people from all corners of the earth. The one family part was demonstrated to me when an Iranian family offered me a sample of a traditional dish called Maast-e-Khiar, made with yoghurt, cucumber, onions, mint, salt and pepper, along with Naan-e-Paneer-e-Sabzi, Iranian thin bread with feta cheese and herbs. It was delicious and we chatted for a while about our experiences in life.
And one festival is the obvious one — get to Al Seef Road and you will find everything you want in one place.
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