When the shopping binge bites, visit Dubai for an unforgettable and mind blowing shopping extravaganza. No other city can quench the insatiable thirst for shopping like the desert city of Dubai, which is fast acquiring the epithet - the city of superlatives, be it infrastructure or amenities. Spices, cutlery, textiles, electronic equipment, and gold – the list is endless when you travel to Dubai for shopping.
Retail Prices: Plan a fun and frolic holiday and visit Dubai to shop until you drop. There are over 50 shopping malls dotting the city, several traditional souks (markets) and open market streets to cater to people of all taste and budgets. Most of the ultra modern shopping malls offer tourists and shoppers all kinds of recreational and relaxing facilities. The free trade policy of the emirate keeps the retail price of consumer merchandise low. The sophisticated and modern amenities available along with cheap prices make travel to Dubai for shopping a pleasurable experience.
Holidays: When you visit Dubai, like most of the middle-east countries, you must remember that Friday and Saturday are weekend holidays. All the public sector, government departments, schools, colleges etc are closed. Sundays are normal working days for most offices. However, most of the shops are open on holidays too to cater to the floating population who visit Dubai.
Working hours: Regular working hours in most of the market areas are 9 am-1 pm and 4 pm-9 pm. Shopping malls usually open around 10 am and close around 10 pm. Most of the grocery supermarkets are open until midnight and after, while some remain open 24 hours. Shops close for prayers on Friday mornings from 11.30 am - 1.30 pm. All shops and malls are open until very late in the night on Fridays.
Shopping Malls: Most of the huge shopping malls of Dubai are opulent architectural marvels that host a number of designer boutiques and top brand showrooms. Popular consumer goods start from designer haute couture to latest and fashionable electronic gadgets available at very reasonable prices due to low import duty. A visit to Dubai should include an entire day strolling in one of these incredible malls abounding in restaurants and cafes offering different types of cuisine, multiplexes, luxury spas, skiing areas and other facilities. These fanciful malls make travel to Dubai an all-in-one holiday.
Markets: Several traditional souks (markets) still thrive in Dubai and a visit to Dubai is incomplete without experiencing the hustle and bustle of these hot and sweaty markets. Most of the shops in these old market areas are open to bargaining, unlike shops in malls. The Gold Souk is one such market, exclusively dealing in gold jewelry, located at the mouth of the Dubai Creek. While traveling to Dubai for gold shopping, a tourist should be aware of the current gold rates. A visit to Dubai must also include Spice Souk, a famed old time market, also situated near the mouth of the creek, dealing with spices of all kinds. It is advisable to visit these souks during the evening hours.
Shopping streets: Travel in Dubai must also include the several shopping streets crammed with small stores selling all kinds of consumer goods ranging from electronic equipment to fabrics. The karama district is one such place to spend a day leisurely picking up gift articles or such. Hamriya has large fish, fruit and vegetable markets.
Dubai Souks: The Arabic word souk’ stands for the market place where goods are brought or exchanged. In ancient times, the shipping vessels of Arabia used to bring in cargoes from China, the Far East, India and Ceylon on the docks, which would be traded in the souks near the docks. Now, the Dubai Gold Souk have become multi-storeyed air conditioned shopping malls and the items that come for sale include Ittar (Arabic Perfume), silks, spices and latest gizmos, designer apparels and gold.
Dubai Souks have to be visited during Dubai travel. These are in contrast to the shopping malls and the souks are the ‘Heart of Urban Arabia’. Dubai shopping can never be complete without visiting the famous souks. These shopping areas are crowded by people who try to make some bargains with shopkeepers which is the traditional style of doing business. The souks of Dubai are mainly seen in the Deira area and sell traditional spices, gold jewellery, fishes and perfumes. More..
What to buy: With an unimaginable amount of goods passing through this traditionally commercial city, even a discerning shopper can return home satisfied after a visit to Dubai. Competitively priced electronic equipment, cameras, watches, designer clothes, shoes, handbags, cutlery, home furnishings, gold, and carpets and so on, the list is limitless. Dubai boasts of high quality products at low unbeatable prices.
Gifts: Shopping for gifts to take home after your travel to Dubai can be an exciting affair. There are innumerable products to choose from – traditional Arabic coffee pots; coasters, jewelry boxes small chests etc decorated with semi-precious stones; antique silver jewelry; silver, brass, wood or soapstone figurines; prayer beads; marble goblets; Khanjars (curved Arabic daggers); spices; gold trinkets; clothes; perfumes and so on.