Dubai is a perfect mixture of traditional and modern cultures coming together. Home to some of the biggest and largest things and yet one of the most traditional and rooted communities to Islam and the Arabic culture is what encompasses Dubai.
Dubai is known as one of the best shopping destinations in the world. You literally get anything and everything here right from Persian carpets to the last electronic gadget. Millions of people travel to Dubai every year to shop ‘til they drop.
Dubai is home to the world-famous Dubai shopping festival which happens during their winter months of November to February of the following year. The shopping festival brings together the best brands and boutiques from around the world to one place. It is also the best time to get some killer deals on your purchase.
Dubai is a shoppers maze, It has so much to offer for everyone at each turning. Right from the budget shoppers to the uber-luxurious ones can enjoy shopping at Dubai. It can get really overwhelming for one to figure out where to go shop according to their needs and wants.
This is a list of the top ten best places to shop in Dubai according to Pickyourtrail. Let’s jump right into the list, shall we?
The Dubai Mall is one of the most famous shopping centres in Dubai. The inside of the Dubai mall covers an area of a whopping 6 million S.ft whilst the outside covers about 3.7 million S.ft of area. The Dubai mall consists of over 1200 shops, 100 restaurants and cafes, 22 cinema theatres, a luxury hotel and world-class entertainment areas.
The Dubai mall is split into the fashion avenue, the souk and the village. The fashion avenue consists of all the high fashion brands and boutiques. The souk consists of jewellery and traditional purchases. The village is an outdoor setup with a casual and chill vibe.
The Dubai mall does not just act as a one-stop solution for shopping but for entertainment as well. It is home to the underwater zoo and aquarium, Kidzania, SEGA indoor theme park and an Olympic sized ice rink if you feel like indulging yourself in some ice skating.
The Mall of Emirates is touted to be as the first shopping resort of the world. The Mall of Emirates gives a shopping experience mixed with leisure, luxury and fun like no other shopping mall in Dubai does.
Indoor Skiing is one of the best adventure sports activities in Dubai and Ski Dubai in the Mall of Emirates is the best place to experience the same. This 3000 Sq.m indoor snow-capped arcade is enjoyed by adults and children alike.
The Wafi Mall is one of the most exquisite looking shopping centre of Dubai. The Central facade of the Wafi Mall is a pyramid-shaped artwork with beautiful colours and intricate details. The Wafi mall combines art and shopping together. It has about 350 stores of various kinds with the most famous one being the Cleopatra’s spa.
The basement of the Wafi mall also has its own souk like setup with over 150 shops selling various traditional souvenirs.
The Deira Gold Souk is one of the most famous shopping places in Dubai and it is as authentic as the most traditional Arabian Souk. The experience in a souk market area is unmatched to that of what is offered in Dubai.
The Deira Gold Souk is one of the best places in the world to purchase gold jewellery. It houses over 300 dealers selling top quality gold in tonnes. The Deira Gold Souk is very famous for its deals and anyone with a good haggling or bargaining skill will shine here. If you are purchasing in bulk, some shops even go as far as giving up to 30% of discount.
Bur Dubai Souk is one of the most famous shopping places in Dubai for textiles and souvenirs. As you walk across each shop in the Bur Dubai Souk you can find a diverse range of textiles right from silk, satin, cashmere, cotton, sarees, carpets & rugs, pashminas etc. The Bur Dubai Souk is always very famous for its made to fit clothing.
Apart from rich and quality textile products, it is also very famous for its souvenirs and collectables.
The Global Village, a 5-month shopping and entertainment extravaganza is one of the best places to visit if you love to shop. The Global Village houses many local and international brands in their respective pavilions dedicated to their regions. This is a great chance to purchase home decor, antiques, collectables etc.
The Global village is a melting pot of cultures, cuisines and traditions from different countries. It is a giant carnival with pavilions based on different countries, street food stalls, restaurants and cafes from across the world, live performances, stunt and art shows, fantasy world for the kids and the list goes on and on.
The Dubai Outlet mall is one of the best places to do some cheap yet high fashion shopping in Dubai. An outlet mall concept is that the stores will feature the stocks and collections from the previous seasons. Some of the top brands like Adidas, Givenchy, Zara, Tods etc run a clearance sale during the different times of a season. If you are a huge fan of brands and yet want to save some money in the pocket, the Dubai outlet mall is the place to go to.
The Souk Madinat Jumeirah is the place that you should head to if you want to experience a more peaceful and less crowded place. It is a traditional Dubai souk in a luxurious setup. The Souk Madinat is famous for traditional Arabian souvenirs, jewellery and eateries.
As the sun sets down, the place starts to transform into a casual nightlife setup with the restaurants, cafes and bars coming to life.
The Burjuman Centre is one of the oldest shopping centres in Dubai. It is home to some of the top brands in the world such as Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hermes, Dolce and Gabbana, Versace etc.
The traditional courtyards and pavilions give it a very outdoorsy feel. The pavilions are also where all the restaurants of the mall are situated at.
The Karama Shopping complex is one of the most famous and sought after shopping centres in Dubai. You get to find a lot of souvenirs and trinkets for a much lesser price than the other markets. This is also a great place to bargain and get stuff at a much lower price.
The Karama shopping complex is also the place to go if you are an art lover. More than 20 murals were added to the building complexes. This includes local and international artist works.
Shopping is one of the best ways to explore the various sides of Dubai while indulging in your favourite pass time. One should definitely allocate at least one full day to explore the various souks and malls that Dubai has to offer. Reach out to the Dubai experts at Pickyourtrail to craft a customized trip to Dubai according to your preferences.
Also Read: Meena Bazar in Dubai