Dubai, the shopping paradise

Dubai is one of the best cities in the world for shopping and its products attract people from all over the world. Traditional souks are picturesque places to browse and shop, but the city has embraced air-conditioned shopping malls with temperatures of up to 38 degrees. Who would refuse? The huge centers The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates are the two most notable.

You can now begin to understand that “shop until you drop” becomes a reality here.

Precautions

There is no VAT or sales tax in Dubai, but prices are not always cheaper than abroad. For example, designer items have the same prices as in Europe or the United States. If you intend to buy an expensive product in Dubai, find out its price before you go on your trip, so you will know if it is a bargain.

Perfumes and incense

Aromas have great relevance in Arab culture and perfumes are oil-based. Essential oils can be applied to the wrists or behind the ears, mixed with carrier oils for massages, and burned to perfume a room. Perfume shops mix the oils and package them in decorated glass bottles, which are perfect for giving as gifts. There are also a multitude of different incenses, as well as burners (in every home there are several but Oman frankincense is the most appreciated).

Gold and jewelry

Many people come to Dubai attracted by the exceptional prices of gold and jewelry. International markets set the price of gold, but Dubai jewelers buy less for goldsmithing work and there is no sales tax. That's why it's possible to find bargains, especially at Gold Souk.

spices

At the Spice Souk there are sacks full of saffron, pepper, turmeric, cloves, nutmeg and chili. Buy what you need by weight or opt for ready-to-go spice selections.

Arabic crafts

There are objects for every room in the house, from simple copper pots to ornamental lamps, blown glass and carved wooden jewelry boxes.

modern middle eastern art

Dubai is the center of a growing art market particularly works by Emirati and Persian artists. The galleries in the Al Fahidi neighborhood are a good starting point, but Al Quoz, near Mall Of Emirares, is becoming something of an art district.

 

Books

  • Agas traders: With business contacts from across the Persian Gulf, Western Turkey and the Kurdistan area, AGAS offers an excellent collection of handmade rugs and rugs and a small but high quality selection of antiques and crafts.
  • Magrudy's: Since 1975 it has been everyone's favorite bookstore. This is where immigrant children find their textbooks and adults buy the latest hits. Tourists love Dubai's picture books.

Rugs

Dubai is a major importer of hand-woven Persian rugs. Prices are lower than in London or New York. Generally, sellers take care of the export procedures and transportation abroad.

  • Miri Creation: Small but excellent selection of handmade Persian rugs and rugs made of wool dyed with natural dyes. There are also ceramics and decorative items.
  • National Iranian Carpets: This family-owned business, founded in 1917, has built its reputation selling excellent hand-woven carpets and rugs in the Persian tradition. The family is originally from Isfahan, east of Tehran, and imports silk and wool carpets and rugs from the best Iranian producers.

 

electronics

Jumbo Electronics: It is one of the largest stores of this chain in Dubai and is full of large and small appliances. If you need plugs, cables or chargers for your electronic devices, you will find them here.

Fashion

If you like brands, Dubai is a paradise. When it comes to big design names, the concentration of items in one place is incredible. If there is no budget for haute couture, more common brands also have their space.

  • Bimba and Lola: Young and fun clothing and accessories from Spanish designers. Colorful bags set the trend.
  • Bur Dubai Old Souk: The old souk of Bur Dubai or fabric souk is one of the first bazaars in this city of commercial tradition and one of its liveliest corners. A whole kaleidoscope of color.
  • Souk style: This wide alley was covered with a vaulted wooden roof in the 1990s. A myriad of small shops with doors full of goods offer a spectacle worthy of the backstage of Moulin Rouge. The favorite products of foreigners are the shiny tools of gold and silver threads, turned into colorful saris, kameez or pashminas, very useful for covering the shoulders. Arab kitsch is everywhere, from ornate Sinbad-style slippers to belly dancing outfits. Cheap, mass-produced items such as T-shirts, hookahs, and hitar flasks abound.
    Serious business. If you want to buy large quantities of fabric, perhaps to make curtains or costumes, this is the perfect place. You can purchase rolls of cashmere, silk, cotton, calcium and chintz and have them delivered to your home. Settle inside the store, let yourself be served an Arabic coffee and examine the samples.
    You can also have a dress or suit made during your stay: the tailors are very expert and work quickly. Also in the area is the Meena Bazaar, a tight cluster of streets with an eclectic offering of items at bargain prices.
  • Folli Follie: Colorful and coordinated accessories, well finished and cheaper than those of the main brands. A fashionable call for the younger generation.
  • Giordinano: Simple and comfortable fashion from a chain founded in Hong Kong in 1971 and today present throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Pants, shirts, jeans and t-shirts at reasonable prices. It has several branches in the city.
  • Hang Ten: This brand was one of the pioneers of surf fashion in the 1960s. Today it continues to produce clothing and accessories for sports such as cycling, skating and surfing, which are also used for casual dressing. It has more stores in other shopping centers.
  • Hollywood Textiles & Tailors: This long-standing tailor shop sells you the fabric, takes your measurements, and makes you a suit in 48 hours. It also sells accessories such as ties or cufflinks.
  • Rinco Maatching Center & Tailoring: One of the best places to get a party or wedding dress made. Choose a pattern or photo and fabric - they have a wide range of finishes and colors, and only take a couple of days. They also make custom made traditional Indian clothing.

animal theme

The Aquareium Store: Gift shop at the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, although you do not have to buy a ticket to buy here. There are items to suit all budgets, from keychains to unique works of art.

Galleries

  • Majlis Gallery: Immigrant Alison Collins fell in love with Dubai and the traditional architecture of Al Bastakiya. When he arrived, the art scene was as dry as the desert and his gallery functioned as a meeting point and long-awaited showcase for the artistic community. Today Majlis is one of the main galleries in the Emirates. The building itself, an old mansion with a traditional courtyard, is worth a visit, but it is the gallery's extensive artistic offering, combined with Alison's expertise, that makes it a must-see for potential buyers.
  • The Empty Quarter Fine Art Photography: Currently the only gallery in Dubai dedicated exclusively to photography, with an impressive collection from around the world, although the most attractive are the local photos.
  • XVA Gallery: This gallery with hotel and cafe, opened in 2003, is one of the essential places in Al Bastakiya for its unusual exhibitions and the art it sells. The Design Shop has a wide assortment of decorative objects, clothing and jewelry. There is another hall in Gate Village, in the Financial District, near Sheikh Zayed Road.

Open Laughter Crossing Dubai Creek

On the other side is Bur Dubai, part of the old city center. A space full of color and character. There are also markets such as the textile market, where they sell silks, brocades, cotton and many more fabrics for all tastes and budgets. In the surrounding area you can find dozens of sewing workshops where they can transform these fabrics into magnificent dresses or suits in a matter of a couple of days and at very reasonable prices.

Dubai Shopping Festival

In this shopping festival, which lasts throughout the month of January, there are huge sales and millions of dollars are given away in contests, whose prizes also include cars and apartments. Additionally, there are special events, such as concerts. More than three million visitors come to Dubai to spend money during the festival and hotels of all categories are always full, so you have to book in advance.

Dubai Mall (3 floors)

Since its inauguration at the end of 2008, it became the largest and most frequented shopping center in the world. It has more than 1,000 stores as well as approximately 14,000 parking spaces. Like all the shopping centers in the Emirates, you will not only be surprised by the size but also by the luxury, the cleanliness and how shiny everything is. It's a pleasure to walk through them. You will need to visit it.

Inside this shopping center, we can find a multitude of stores with products of all kinds and very varied prices. You will need several days to cover everything. From Galeries Lafayette, to any international brand/store and designer you can think of, they have it all here, Mall has a large aquarium, an Olympic ice skating rink, the largest cinema in Dubai, an arcade and Kidzania to its own Gold Souk. Therefore, it offers a wide range of services to satisfy all types of clients. From those who usually buy high-end clothes at Chanel to a more modest customer who makes their purchases at Zara.

Visiting hours:

  • From Sunday to Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.

At Amigo Arabe you will find tours and excursions to Dubai to visit the shopping centers of this great city.