'Old Dubai soured by souk worker antics'
Not long ago, there was advice in 7DAYS about going to discover the ‘old’ Dubai. Me and a group of my female friends followed this advice and deeply regretted it in the end.
Even though we enjoyed the Dubai Museum, Bastakiya and the views around, everything was spoilt by the shop sellers in the Old Souk. I felt like I was in the zoo surrounded by wild apes, animals that couldn’t control their sexual instincts! The male shop workers were coming too close to us with their products.
I understand business is business but this does not give them the right to harass women! We were all dressed decently yet the shop men were acting in such a disgraceful manner. It was so disgusting and disturbing when they were approaching us with dirty smiles. The way they talked to us, the way they acted is below my understanding!
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This behaviour of the shop men scares and, needless to say, completely turns off the visitors and tourists. The civilisation (that includes civilised behaviour and a civilised shop service) of the new Dubai has not been adopted by the old city.
Marina, Dubai
5 Comments
by skootch
Thursday, February 07 2013, 8:16AM
“The authorities should send their inspectors to speak to the shop keepers representative and make it quite clear that this behaviour is unacceptable. They can also put up written warning notices in every shop about the non harresment of customers.”
by Alex White
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 4:52PM
“It is the zoo indeed! I feel sorry for the lady and her friends. :(
I've been told the same story.
My friend's wife had a pretty similar experience when she and her mother went to the Old Souk with an intention to get some cheaper souvenirs and to explore the historical Dubai. The so called "shop men" harassed my friend's wife and even his mother in law who is over 65 (the men tried to flirt with her and touch her)!
They left the Souk in a hurry without buying anything. My friend's mother in law left Dubai with a strong opinion that it was not a safe place for women.”
by FatBhoyTim
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 12:33PM
“I wouldn't call the "new" Dubai anymore civilised than the "old", if anything - far, far less.”
by Soleil
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 10:06AM
“I have to whole-heartedly agree with this young lady. I recently took my two young nieces and my in-laws here. We did the museum, which was lovely, wandered around Bastakiya, then headed to the Souq, only to have our visit ruined by the lewd, rowdy & totally inappropriate behaviour of these erm....'sales people'. They are completely in your face, pulling your clothes, invading your personal space, one put his arm around my niece at one point and called her 'darling', at which point he got both barrels from me. Surely there is some kind of Trading Standards body who could go down and observe this ridiculous behaviour which, quite frankly, gives the area bad name. If you want us to spend money in your shops, you are going the wrong way about it. We couldn't get out of there fast enough.”
by Mallking
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 9:04AM
“I agree, its like zoo down there, no manners, it is not a relaxing afternoon out seeing sights. it is a stressful perv fest for all the workers. Wouldnt bother taking any visitors there”