Souks, or traditional street
markets, have been called "the heart of urban Arabia",
and Dubai has a good selection of them. Each Souk has merchants who specialise in the same products and the traditional style of doing business by enthusiastic and sometimes melodramatic haggling over endless cups of sweet tea or Turkish coffee is common. The Dubai Souks range from the traditional, dusty alleyways of the Spice Souk, which is a stone's throw from the Creek, to the most famous market of all - the Gold Souk. |
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| Just a stone’s throw away
from the creek in the traditional narrow streets of the spice
souk there is a wide range of souks like the modern fish souk
with different varieties caught in Gulf waters, and the fruit
and vegetable souk with its bustle and vibrant colours. There are many varieties of local dates too are available. Imported as well as local goods are sold by the kilo. |
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This is the most famous of
all the souks in Dubai. In narrow streets shops are lined with
windows glittering with bracelets, necklaces and earrings in 18,
21 and 22 carat gold. Gold Bars of 24 carat in any form and weight, and bullion coins in 22 as well as 24 carat are available. Prices are relatively reasonable and largely determined by weight, rather than design and craftsmanship. |
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Carpets
Your visit to Dubai is incomplete without a trip to a carpet store.
The finest carpets come from Iran – the traditional Persian carpets.
In Deira Tower’s shopping mall, a carpet souk established by traders
from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan have established a carpet souk where
prices range from a few hundred dirhams to many thousands.
The best in the country is the Blue Souq in Sharjah, offering the widest
range of carpets at the keenest prices.
Consumer goods at prices cheaper
than anywhere in Europe can be found all over the city. Al Fahidi
Street in Bur Dubai is reputed for its electronic goods shops
while nearby Cosmos Lane is lined with stores selling the textiles
of West and East. Out from the city centre, Karama is Dubai’s bargain shopping spot with an array of busy shops which sells toys, household goods, textiles, fashions, accessories and much more. |
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Malls
Attractive modern shopping plazas are conveniently located throughout
the city, housing a wide range of shops, boutiques, supermarkets, restaurants
and fast-food outlets.
Deira malls
Leading malls in Deira district include Deira City Centre, Al Mulla
Plaza, the Inter-Continental Plaza, Abu Hail Shopping Centre, The Galleria,
Al Ghurair Centre, Al Warba Centre, Al Manal Centre, Al Bustan Centre,
Al Futtaim Centre, The Dana Centre, The Center and Hamarain Centre.
| Dubai is a shoppers'
paradise. The malls are large and varied. The atmosphere is friendly,entertaining
and also the merchandise is good quality. On the Dubai side of the Creek the Wafi, BurJuman Centre, Lamcy Plaza, Al Dhiyafa Centre, Karama Centre, Al Rais Shopping Mall, Dune Centre, Al Hana Centre, Al Khaleej Centre and Holiday Centre are among the largest complexes. |
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Jumeirah malls
The Jumeirah district has Magrudy’s Shopping Mall, Markaz Al Jumeirah,
Mercato, Jumeirah Plaza, The Beach Centre, Town Centre Jumeirah and
Palm Strip.
Dubai Duty Free
Dubai Duty Free (DDF) is the tax-free shopping haven located
at Dubai International Airport. It has a huge range of cosmetics and
perfumes, gold and jewellery, electronics, tobacco products, and alcohol,
it is consistently ranked as one of the top airport retail operations
in the world.
It has won numerous international awards and ranks among the top duty-free
operations in the world. In the next millennium it is supposed to quadruple
in size to cover an area of 9,000 sq m. Dubai Duty Free is open 24 hours
a day and offers a wide variety of quality merchandise catering to the
multinational passengers using Dubai International Airport.
Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise raffle draw is one of the star attraction
which gives the passengers a chance to win a luxury car.
Shopping Hour
Normal Dubai hours are from 9.00am–1.00pm and 4.00–9.00pm or later.
Some boutiques in the residential areas do not open until 9.30 or 10.00am.
Shopping malls tend to open from 10.00am–10.00pm.
Most supermarkets stay open until late at night seven days a week, while
some remain open 24 hours. Shops close for prayers on Fridays from 11.30am–1.30pm.
Shopping malls and most shops are open on Friday evenings until late.
Bargaining
Bargaining is part of the fun of shopping in Dubai.
While boutiques, some electronics shops, department stores and supermarkets
may operate on a fixed-price basis, most other outlets consider friendly
negotiation as a way of life.
| The Dubai shopping scene
offers something for everyone. Apart from competitively-priced electronics products, watches, cameras and other international items, popular traditional gifts include: • Arabic coffee pots. • Silver and brass swords and khanjars (Arabic curved daggers). • Prayer beads. • Soapstone figures. • Coasters, letter racks, jewellery boxes, chests etc, decorated with lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite and other semi-precious stones. • Marble goblets. • Antique silver jewellery. • Brass items. • Silver and wooden miniature dhows. • Persian carpets and cotton dhurries (oblong floor coverings). • Inlaid rosewood and walnut furniture. |
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