About Dubai
December 19, 2025
5 min read
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When people think of Dubai, the first thing that comes to mind is skyscrapers, the infamous skyline, all the glamour and luxury malls, and all kinds of supercars. But there is a more authentic side that shows the origins of where the city started and where its roots lie. Hidden in the older neighborhoods of the city that can be overlooked by the people who come to visit the city, along with industrial zones that show a different type of economy, this is a side of the market that has been built by hand. There is a lot of patience, skill, and tradition. This is the underground artisanal economy of Dubai, welcome to a world full of custom tailors, perfume blenders, ceramists, and many more craftsmen who work for the love of the art, not for fame and trends.
When we talk about an underground economy, it doesn't mean illegal; in this case, it means that this market is under the radar and not known by many. There are no advertisements that run to promote these businesses or billboard signs that are put up. These are small shops that are run by families and individuals, operating in areas such as Al Quoz, Bur Dubai, and Satwa. The only thing they have going for them is word of mouth, reputation, and the old customers that are loyal and hopeful, bringing in their friends and families to keep the business running. This is the human touch that still exists in the corners of the city, which is known for its technological innovations and the fast-paced lifestyle.
If you take a stroll through the streets of Naif or Deira, you'll come across a lot of small shops where you can find tailors who measure, cut, and stitch clothes by hand. These are places where you don't go to get clothes that are ready-made. They specialize in stitching the national Emirati dress, called Khandura, or known more commonly as a thobe. These are made to custom fit you, and they adjust the fit of the sleeves, the length, and the fabric type according to your personal preferences and style. Custom clothing is what makes it special. You don't buy a size on a rack, but go through the process of choosing everything about it and have a garment made specially for your body type.
Looking past the branded bottles that sit on shelves at big stores in the mall, there are master blenders who mix together oils in back rooms. This oil is a perfume that is known as attar. So how is it done? Well the process starts by using a palette that uses Oud as a base, along with rose, musk, amber, and floral notes to make their own signature scents, You can go to these master blenders and simply describe a mood or memory and they can use those to find notes that give you similar feels and nostalgia, it's a skill that takes years and decades to master. This is a fragrance you'll hold closer to your heart than any branded perfume. It uses the art of translating feelings and emotions into another medium.
Another gem, hidden in between the warehouses made for auto repair shops, is Al Quoz, where you can find bright-colored studios where you find artists who are experts in dealing with material like clay. These are independent artists who throw a clump of clay on the wheel and produce masterpieces like pots, sculptures, coffee cups, and even decorative tiles. These are locally made goods, and each piece has the personal touch of the artist who created it. No matter how well replicated, the human touch makes every piece one of a kind.
This is a part of the city that ties it down and holds on to the roots, reminding itself and others who come to visit of where the city started from. It speaks a lot to the values and morals that make up the cultural values of people who live in the city, where these practices and items originated. It's a way of keeping culture alive in a city where people come from all over the world and bring along their own practices and values. It's easy to forget where we ourselves come from and what our identity is.
This underground artisan economy is the quiet, steady heartbeat beneath the city’s dazzling surface. It’s a reminder that behind the glass and steel are human hands shaping, stitching, blending, and restoring. For residents and visitors looking for something real, something with a story, these hidden workshops offer a priceless connection to the authentic, handmade soul of Dubai.