Murshid Market in Dubai.. a story of solid brotherhood and historic partnership

In the heart of the ancient Deira area, Murshid Market stands as a living witness to an early stage in the commercial history of Dubai, and a mirror of the deep-rooted fraternal relations that brought together the United Arab Emirates and the sisterly State of Kuwait before the establishment of the union. At that stage, the individual initiatives of Kuwaiti merchants, led by businessman Murshid Al-Osaimi, contributed to revitalizing the commercial movement and consolidating bridges of cooperation between the two countries, so that the market became an early model of economic and social interaction between the two brotherly peoples.

The story of the establishment of the market dates back to the period between 1944 and 1949, when Kuwaiti businessman Murshid Al-Osaimi came to Dubai and began his commercial activity, thus laying the foundation stone for one of the oldest commercial markets in the emirate. The market was named “Murshid Market” in appreciation of his pioneering contributions.

In its early stages, Murshid Market was a major center for wholesale trade, exports and imports, where commercial activity was active before the emergence of modern commercial centres. It contributed to meeting the needs of the local market and linking Dubai to regional trade routes.

The market is distinguished by its strategic location in the heart of the historic Deira area, near prominent commercial landmarks such as the Gold Souq and Naif Souq, in addition to the Emirati Women’s Museum, which enhances its position as a commercial and tourist destination at the same time. The market also includes a wide variety of products, including perfumes, fabrics, spices, jewelry, antiques, electronics, and many others.

One of the most prominent features of Murshid Market in Dubai is its competitive prices that attract shoppers and merchants alike, in addition to the heritage atmosphere that reflects Emirati and Arab culture, and its ease of access via public transportation.

Murshid Market remains very popular, attracting visitors and tourists from all over the world, in light of continuous efforts to develop the heritage area in Deira through projects that enhance the pedestrian environment, preserve the historical character, and establish its presence as a prominent tourist destination.

As for Murshid Al-Osaimi, he was born in the 1920s, and left Kuwait in 1944 heading to Dubai in search of livelihood and work opportunities. He later became one of the most prominent merchants in the emirate, where he began his activity in the timber trade, before expanding his business to include real estate, trade and entertainment, and opened the first cinema in Deira in 1956.

Al-Osaimi’s role was not limited to the commercial field, but rather he had a prominent contribution to the educational and administrative field, as he played an important role in the work of the “Kuwait Office in Dubai” before its official opening in 1963. He also contributed to supporting the beginnings of formal education in Dubai, until he was nicknamed “Father of Teachers” in appreciation of his humanitarian role with teachers.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, in his book “My Story… 50 Stories in Fifty Years,” referred to the Kuwaiti businessman Murshid Al-Usaimi in the chapter “The Conquest of the Brotherhood,” as part of his presentation of examples of cooperation between the two countries in the period before the union of the Emirates.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid says in his book: “Kuwait was not another country for us in the Emirates or in Dubai. Kuwait was in fact a part of our lives. It was a part of the lives of most of our citizens: from their childhood, from their studies in its schools, from their treatment in its clinics, and even from their economic lives.”

His Highness adds: “Many do not know that Murshid Market, one of the most famous popular markets in Dubai, was named after a distinguished Kuwaiti businessman, Murshid Al-Osaimi, and that formal education entered Dubai through teachers from Kuwait.”

Thus, Murshid Market does not represent just a popular market in Dubai, but rather tells the story of a firm brotherhood, a historical partnership, and human and economic integration that extended for decades, and was embodied by personalities who made a difference and contributed to building strong bridges between the Emirates and Kuwait, the effects of which are still present today.