If you love to shop, and are heading to Dubai, the possibilities, as they say, are endless! You are bound to lose yourself in one of the massive malls or souks of the city. Here's a short guide to help you shop.
Mall hopping
There is no dearth of malls in Dubai. Some of them are the Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and Dubai Gold and Diamond Park, among others. The malls are some of the best in the world, and not only do you get a range of products and internationally acclaimed brands but also have access to top-class theatres, restaurants and entertainment options.
Shopping fest
The Dubai Shopping Festival is a huge draw for anyone who's travelling there around January every year. Shopping and entertainment go hand in hand at this time of the year, and hordes from across the world throng the festival.
Hit the souks!
The souks of Dubai are another place to lose yourself in. You can shop for gold, perfumes, textiles, dry fruits and scents at these souks. A souk is a conventional marketplace, and is a huge part of the cultural heritage of Dubai.
- If you love gold, head to the exclusive souk for gold. It is located in the locality that goes by the name of Deira. You can choose from a range of gold jewellery here, and also get great bargains.
- You can visit the spice souk for herbs, spices and incense. This souk is adjacent to the gold one.
- The perfume souk is a great place to get incense and the wonderful scents that Arabia has on offer. You can choose from jasmine, amber or rose and a range of exotic scents at this souk near the gold and spice one.
- Meena Bazaar is a fun place to visit if you are seeking apparel and jewellery. It is a favourite haunt of several tourists. Visit the bazaar at night to soak in the glitzy atmosphere. The bazaar is close to the Dubai Museum.
Mix of modern and ancient
A modern version of the old souk is the Souk Al Bahar. It is called a souk, but it is a modern shopping mall in the downtown area. There are arches and corridors, reminiscent of ancient architecture, but it is the place to shop for all the contemporary products and brands.
Another interesting place is the Souk Madinat Jumeirah. The shopping centre has all the buzz of a traditional market, but is actually a modern structure. Visit this place for the sheer atmosphere it creates or re-creates, for that matter. There are many food and beverage outlets as well, if you tire of shopping. Also, there is an amphitheatre and other entertainment options. The shopping centre is located in the vicinity of the beach at Jumeirah.
Don't miss out on the shopping at night when you are in Dubai, because the whole city has a buzz about it.
Martin Wynn
