Paved with gold/ Dubai with plans to build a road made of real gold

2026-02-24 19:48:00, Kuriozitete CNA

The new attraction will be located near the city's Gold Souk, where tourists can buy gold and other jewelry. With tax-free wages and a reputation for offering a luxurious lifestyle, Dubai is a city where the streets are said to be paved with gold.

That idiom will soon become a reality, as the United Arab Emirates city is set to unveil a golden street. As part of Dubai's new Golden District, the street will be "built using gold," although what that actually means remains a mystery.

Dubai's Gold District was announced by the Dubai Media Office on January 27. An opening date for the Gold Street has not yet been announced. Dubai's Gold District is a rebranding of the city's current Gold Souk. The area, located in Deira, is home to around 1,000 retailers selling gold and jewellery.

According to the Dubai Media Office, the United Arab Emirates is the world's second largest destination for physical gold trading, exporting gold worth $53.41 billion (€44.6 billion) in 2024-2025.

The Gold Souk is a popular tourist attraction in the city's Old Town and can be found alongside other markets dedicated to spices, perfumes, and antiques.

“Gold is deeply woven into the cultural and commercial fabric of Dubai, symbolizing our heritage, prosperity and enduring spirit of enterprise,” said Ahmed Al Khaja, Executive Director of Dubai Festivals and Retail (DFRE), part of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).

“Through this historic destination, we not only celebrate that heritage, but also reimagine it for a new era shaped by creativity and sustainability.”

Dubai's attractive tourist attractions

Dubai is no stranger to eye-catching tourist attractions, which include the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, Ain Dubai, the world's largest observation wheel, and Deep Dive Dubai, the world's deepest diving pool.

In 2024, a climate-controlled road where it rains every 30 minutes opens on the Heart of Europe, an island off the coast of the emirate. It is part of the World Islands, a man-made archipelago designed to resemble a world map.

The city has also announced a 'ring of the future', a 2km-long air-conditioned bridge to connect areas and buildings including the Dubai World Trade Centre, Museum of the Future, Emirates Towers and Dubai International Financial Centre, as well as nearby metro stations.

It is hoped that the project will make the city accessible on foot all year round, even though temperatures reach up to 45°C during the summer months.

Outside Dubai, the emirate of Fujairah recently inaugurated a musical road. Slope-like ruts on the asphalt produce tire vibrations that resemble Beethoven's Ninth Symphony as cars pass over them./ CNA