To Buy in Dubai
Planning an indulgent year-end break? Don’t miss the annual Dubai Shopping Festival.
With its traditional Arabian souks and more than 95 shopping malls, Dubai is the A to Z of retail. Virtually every global brand is represented here – anchor stores such as Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdale’s, and Galleries Lafayette stand alongside a collection of homegrown boutiques and labels. It’s no surprise that shopping is one of the primary reasons that visitors flock to the emirate, especially during the annual Dubai Shopping Festival, which is the largest event of its kind in the region. Mall; visit the largest Chinese trading hub outside of China at Dragon Mart; and fly on a zip wire above an indoor ski slope inside Mall of the Emirates. You can also stroll down the waterfront promenade at Dubai Festival City, or indulge in a shopping spree with bargains galore at Dubai Outlet Mall. flanked Dubai Creek for centuries. Hunt out that precise shade of blue in the Textile Souk; breathe in the aromas of saffron and incense as you wander through the lanes of the Spice Souk; and be dazzled by displays of glittering gold and diamonds in the famous Gold Souk. On the city’s outskirts, the seasonal Global Village (open each winter and spring) showcases the local products of more than 65 countries in 37 lavish pavilions. Buy honey from Yemen, carpets from Iran, and wooden pots from Africa. No two pavilions are the same, making it the ideal place to round off a fun-filled shopping trip to Dubai. For the quintessential Arabian shopping experience, head to the souks. Both Souk Al Bahar and the Souk Madinat are modern recreations of these bazaars oozing charm and atmosphere steps away from five-star hotels and restaurants; or journey back in time and visit the historical covered markets that have The extravaganza’s 23rd edition will run from December 26, 2017 to January 28, 2018, and it promises to be bigger, bolder, and better than ever before, with no less than 4,000 participating retailers, 5,000 retail promotions, and AED 100 million in prizes to be won.
The 23rd edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival promises to be bigger, bolder, and better than ever before. For more information, go to visitdubai.com
And because it’s Dubai, the malls are sightseeing spots in themselves. Spend a day at the world’s largest one, The Dubai Mall, which is spread over 1.1 million square meters. Follow in the footsteps of one of history’s great adventurers as you walk through the sections of Ibn Battuta Mall, each one styled after a land he visited; explore the pyramids when you enter the Egyptian-themed Wafi