<span>Deira's myriad markets, which were established in</span><span> 1850, have been revived as part of a directive from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in a bid to preserve the area's architecture. While the project aims to enhance Dubai's cultural identity, several </span><span>contemporary touches have been added</span><span>. </span> <strong>Look through the photo gallery above to see the renovations.</strong> <span>This includes installing the Al Souq Al Khabeer information centre, well-posted signboards and traditional-looking lounge areas – sprucing up everything from the mattress market to the herbs souq. A sustainable approach has also been incorporated, with materials such as coral stone, gypsum</span><span> and wood used in the restoration, and local trees from the region planted.</span> <span>More than 220 buildings have been renovated, their facades recreated to add to the market’s visual charm and historical significance. </span> <span>"Dubai has witnessed significant leaps in its development over the past few decades and has become a global trading and business hub in a short period of time," says Dawood</span><span> Al Hajri, director general of Dubai Municipality. </span> <span>“However, this drive for modernity has not diminished the importance of traditional markets, which have been at the heart of the city’s commercial and economic life.”</span>
