The Arabic word souk’ stands for the market place where goods are brought or exchanged. In ancient times, the shipping vessels of Arabia used to bring in cargoes from China, the Far East, India and Ceylon on the docks, which would be traded in the souks near the docks. Now, the Dubai Gold Souk have become multi-storeyed air conditioned shopping malls and the items that come for sale include Ittar (Arabic Perfume), silks, spices and latest gizmos, designer apparels and gold.