Shopping in Dubai
Bargain Shopping
With a large number of duty free shops and some of the world’s best known boutiques, Dubai has become the shopping capital of the Middle East. You can join the large numbers of tourists who travel to shop by booking business class flights to Dubai with TelMe.
More >>Bargain Shopping
The souks are the best places for bargain shopping since you can haggle a bargain on every corner. Souk is the Arabic word for market or a place where goods are exchanged. Traditionally Arabic ships would unload their cargo bought from all over Asia and sell and exchange goods in the souks. Nowadays a wide variety of goods from traditional spices, gold, silk and all the latest electronic equipment is sold in the souks.
Don’t expect to have the luxury of the air conditioning of the vast shopping malls while walking from souk to souk but it’s the best way to experience the traditional culture of Dubai.
Gold, electronic goods, textiles and carpets are extremely good value in the souks. Do your research before you go as some branded items are more expensive than in the UK. For instance books tend to be expensive.
Opening hours of most souks: 9am-1pm and 4-10pm, Fridays 4-10pm but please note that most shops are closed on Friday mornings.
Dubai Gold Souk
The main gold souk is in Deira near the St George Hotel in the Al Ras district, and hosts around 320 shops selling a large variety of gold at really reasonable prices. Prices are generally determined by weight rather than design and craftsmanship, so you can pick up some really unusually designed jewellery at good prices. Besides original designs, you will find many different shades of gold such as pink, white, yellow or green hues in one piece.
The gold itself is the same price as in the UK but since you save on the craftsmanship you can get your hand on a beautifully designed piece of jewellery for the same price as a standard design if bought in the UK.
The best time to visit the Dubai gold souk is in the evening.
Spice Souk
The Spice Souk is set directly next to the Gold Souk in Creekside in Deira and is the perfect place to find spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, saffron, nuts and henna from open sacks.
Textiles
The textile souks offer an enticing array of fabrics ranging from cottons, satin, voile, satin and luxurious velvets. Staff are very knowledgeable and will go out of their way to help you find the fabric that you want. The best places to buy are located in Al Fahidi Street in Bur Dubai, Regal and Royalex on Cosmos Lane, Bur Dubai. The best known and visited shops are Deepak’s and Yamine in Satwa. Stores will recommend local tailors who can make you just about anything you desire.
Designer Evening Wear
Al Diyafah Street is the place to visit for all your designer evening wear. The place comes alive in the evening with entertainment being offered in its wide range of restaurants serving international cuisine. Designer boutiques from all over the world are plentiful in Dubai but not necessarily cheaper, therefore it’s worth pricing up what you want to buy before your go.
Electrical goods
Electrical goods and computers are considerably cheaper in Dubai. Doing your homework before you go is always advisable. Remember your duty free allowance too as you don’t want to spoil the bargain by having to pay the duty when you get back to the UK. Shopping malls and superstores have everything you can imagine from phones to computers. Smaller shops also have a vast supply of goods.
Here are some suggestions for the most suitable places depending on what you’re looking for:
The best place for electrical goods is Carrefour hypermarkets.
Go to Khalid Walid Road if you are looking for a computer. Khalid Bin Walid Road towards the Falcon roundabout is the cheapest by far.
In Fahidi Street you’ll find all the latest in electronics, video, audio, TV systems, home appliances and photographic equipment, which are all sold at very competitive prices. It’s located in the heart of the Bur Dubai Souk.
Al Sabkha has all the latest technology at competitive prices such as iPODs, PDAs, digital cameras, palmtops and wait for it…. karaoke machines and DJ mixers. Make sure you buy the real McCoy as there are a lot of fakes about.
Cheap Clothing and Souvenirs
Al Karama is split over two streets lined with small shops selling fake designer goods such as handbags and watches and cheap clothing. Situated close to Dubai Creek and part of the bustling older part of the city, Al Karama is primarily a residential area. It’s the perfect place to visit if you are looking for a cheap souvenir and bargain.
Tax Free
Dubai is a shopper’s paradise: everything there is tax free. Prices are also kept low by the significant amount of imports the state brings and does so with low import duty.
Dubai has over 50 shopping centres and many souks offering an abundance of goods all at duty free prices. There is a lot to save if you have the money to buy!
Gold
Gold is serious business in Dubai with many visitors flocking to buy gold jewellery in yellow, pink, white and even green.
Even without the intention to buy the Gold Souk is well worth a visit. You will never see so much gold in one place with no or little security! Gold is generally 24-carat but you can also get 18, 21 and 22 carat gold.
Prices in the souks and the shopping malls are generally the same, however the souks do have more variety. Deira City Centre has some of the best malls for gold shopping in Dubai.
Opening times for Deira City Centre are Saturday-Thursday 10 am-midnight, Friday 2 pm-midnight.
Gold & Diamond Park Website – Emaar: www.goldanddiamondpark.com Dubai Duty Free: www.dubaidutyfree.com
Shopping Malls
The Al Khaleej Centre is one of best shopping malls in Dubai. It has hundreds of shops including general shops and store chains, a fabulous food court for Dubai and international cuisines, some of Dubai’s best restaurants, international brands galore and specialty independent shops. There is also a Techno City stocking a wide range or electrical goods and gizmos. ATMs are widespread and open until 10pm. Al Khaleej Centre is open every day of the week between 10am to 10pm. However on Fridays the mall opens only at 2 pm.
Deira City Centre mall (www.deiracitycentre.com) is located in the heart of the city at the junction of the Al Garhoud Bridge Road near the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, by the Dnata intersection. It’s a landmark in itself: one of Majid Al Futtaim's City Centre mall chains it was the first to open and until now has proven to be the most popular. It hosts a shopping, entertainment and leisure complex over two levels. Its 1.2 million sq. ft. of retail selling space includes over 300 shops and 6,000 free car-parking spaces. Like all of the City Centre chains, Deira City Centre houses the popular supermarket Carrefour as well as an 11-screen Cinestar cinema, Lexus and Toyota showrooms, 11-storey office tower, Magic Planet and many British retails stores including Next, Debenhams and Benetton.
Dubai Shopping Festivals
If you are an avid shopper, then nothing compares to the Dubai Shopping Festival. This month-long festival transforms much of Dubai into a giant shopping mall.
As well as many discounted goods, you will be able to enjoy:
- Free gifts.
- Music shows.
- Art exhibitions.
- Folk dances.
Around 3 million people travel to Dubai during the Shopping Festival to take advantage of tax-free shopping. You can make sure you are one of them by booking flights and hotels in Dubai with TelMe.
The Dubai Shopping Festival takes place between January and February each year, and is one of the biggest events in Dubai’s hospitality calendar.
To find out more or to book Dubai flight deals, contact TelMe.
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