DIRECTORY
The hunt for good buys
About these listings
Outlets are listed alphabetically by category. Timings and prices may change after we go to press, so we advise you to call and book ahead.
How to get listed
Listings must be sent at least six weeks in advance. Include the name, a short description, timings, location and taxi landmark, website and contact number. Listings are free, but space is limited so inclusion is not guaranteed. Email information to contact@ timeoutkidsuae.com.
DUBAI DEPARTMENT STORES
Adventure HQ Your one-stopshop for all things outdoors. Think camping equipment, diving gear, wakeboards and even falconry kits. Inside you’ll also find a climbing wall, Cable Climb and a chill chamber.
→ Times Square Center
(04 346 6824).
Boutique 1 A sleek store that stocks high-end fashion, homewares, beauty and books too.
→ Open daily 10am-11pm. JBR The Walk, Dubai Marina (04 425 7888). Other locations: Mall of the Emirates (04 395 1200).
Debenhams As well as housing a perfumery and its own-brand clothing, Debenhams has designer collections by John Rocha and Matthew Williamson.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am10pm; Thu-Sat 10ammidnight. Mall of the Emirates, Barsha. www.debenhamsplc. com (04 340 7575). Other locations: Deira City Centre; Ibn Battuta Mall; The
Dubai Mall.
Galeries Lafayette With 20,000 sq m of gleaming white floors crammed with a lust-worthy list of designers, this Parisian department store is worth a wander.
→ Open Sat-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai (04 339 9933).
Harvey Nichols Heaven for discerning shoppers, with displays of drool-worthy labels such as Alexander McQueen and Diane von Furstenberg.
→ Open Sun-Wed
10am-10pm; Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Mall of the Emirates, Barsha, www.harveynichols.com
(04 409 8888).
Iconic You’ll find everything from trainers to quirky T-shirts and GHDs in this expansive youth department store.
Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. The Dubai Mall, www.iconic.ae (04 325 3729). Other locations: Dubai Marina Mall
(04 399 7189).
Jashanmal If you love the
UK’s John Lewis, Jashanmal is a good substitute.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am-10.30pm; Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Al Ghurair Centre, Deira (04 227 7780). Other location: Mall of the Emirates (04 347 1715).
Paris Gallery The impressive product range comprises cosmetics and fragrances, sunglasses, watches, accessories, leather goods and more.
→ Open Sun-Wed
10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Deira City Centre, Deira (04 295 5550). Other locations: Dubai Festival City Mall (04 375 0550); The Dubai Mall (04 330 8289);
Ibn Battuta Mall
(04 368 5500); Al Ghurair
City (04 221 1166); Bustan Centre (04 261 1288).
Saks Fifth Avenue The second-largest branch outside the US. On the first level you’ll find cosmetics and fragrance, but level two is where shopping gets serious: Missoni, Miu Miu, Issey Miyake, Prada, John Galliano and Dolce & Gabbana.
→ Open Sat-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Fri 10am-midnight. BurJuman, Bur Dubai
(04 351 5551). Other location: Discount Outlet Store, Plaza Level, The Walk at JBR (04 435 5681).
MALLS
Arabian Center A large shopping mall on the outskirts of Mirdif. Great for people living in the area who need to shop for their everyday apparel, catch some entertainment or get a bite to eat.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am-10.30pm; Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Al Khawaneej Road, Mirdif, www.arabiancenter.ae
(04 284 5555).
BurJuman This high-end mall houses good-deals stores including Miniso and Forever 21, alongside H&M and other high-street names, plus a Carrefour.
→ Open Sat-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Fri 10am-midnight. Trade Centre Road, Bur Dubai, www.burjuman.com
(04 352 0222).
Deira City Centre A vast mall that always attracts a large crowd. Offers all the usual high-street names, a Virgin Megastore, the first Iconic department store in Dubai, plus a cinema.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Port Saeed Road, Deira, www.deiracity centre.com (04 295 1010).
Dragon Mart The largest Chinese trading hub outside China. Perfect if you’re after a cheap pair of comfy shoes or real pearls at bargain prices. → Open Sat-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu 10am-11pm; Fri 2pm11pm. Hatta-Oman Road, International City, www.dragonmart.ae
(04 428 5665).
Dubai Festival City Mall Waterfront restaurants, cafés, department stores, high-street chains, a cinema and an Ikea furniture superstore.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am10pm; Thu-Sat 10ammidnight. Al Rebat Street, Festival City, www.festivalcentre.com
(04 232 5444).
Dubai Marina Mall This mall is a coup if you live in the area. It has about 160 stores, including Superdry and H&M, plus a fancy cinema.
→ Open Sat-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Fri 10am-midnight. Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Marina. www.dubaimarinamall.com (04 436 1020).
Dubai Outlet Mall A large mall situated about 30 minutes outside the city. It houses more than 1,200 of the world’s top fashion brands, all with up to 90 percent off.
→ Open Sat-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Fri 10am-midnight. DubaiAl Ain Road, Dubailand, www.dubaioutletmall.com
(04 423 4666).
Ibn Battuta Mall A one-level mall themed around explorer Ibn Battuta’s travels. Features a Novo cinema, Gap, Nike and a Géant supermarket.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Near Discovery Gardens, www.ibnbattutamall.com
(04 362 1900).
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Boulevard Expensive boutiques that are good for window shopping.
→ Open Sat-Thu 10am-10pm; Fri 4pm-10pm. Sheikh Zayed Road (04 319 8999).
Jumeirah Town Centre Home to convenient speciality stores, selling everything from homewares and accessories to party supplies and fashion items.
→ Open Sat-Thu 10am-10pm; Fri 2pm-10pm. Jumeirah Road, Jumeirah
(04 344 0111).
Karama Centre Mostly frequented by locals living in the area, there are some unique (and affordable) finds, from elaborate jewellery to modern gadgets, cheap T-shirts or Dhs10 neon nail polish.
→ Open Sat-Thu 10am-1.30pm, 4pm-11pm;
Fri 10am-noon, 4pm-11pm. Karama (04 337 4499).
Lamcy Plaza A small mall jam-packed with great deals and prices, plus there’s a food court and a cinema.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am-10.30pm; Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Oud Metha Road, Oud Metha, www.lamcyplaza.com
(04 335 9999).
Mall of the Emirates Though many of the shops are on the conservative side, there are more than a few gems, plus an indoor ski slope and the new fashion dome.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Sat 10ammidnight. Sheikh Zayed Road, Barsha, www.malloftheemirates.com (04 409 9000).
Mercato Mall An Italianthemed mall that boasts names such as Mango and unisex boutique Bullets and Butterflies, plus a cinema.
→ Open Sat-Thu 10am-10pm; Fri 1.30pm-11pm. Jumeirah Beach Road, www.mercatoshopping mall.com (04 344 4161).
Mirdif City Centre This huge mall has an indoor skydiving facility and brands including Pottery Barn, American Eagle, Scotch and Soda and local designer hub United Designers too.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Mirdif, www.mirdifcitycentre. com (800 6422).
Oasis Centre This familyfriendly mall opened in 2009 with 77 stores, including Babyshop, Shoemart, Splash and Q Home Decor.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Sat 10ammidnight. Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Quoz, www.oasiscentremall. com (04 515 4000).
Palm Strip Mall Home to a range of beauty salons, galleries and boutiques.
→ Open Sat-Thu 10am-10pm; Fri 3pm-10pm. Jumeirah Road, Jumeirah
(04 346 1462).
Sunset Mall The luxe venue in Jumeirah houses top-tier brands such as Valleydez, West LA Boutique, Rivaage Boutique, Socialista Boutique plus high-end accessories and art galleries.
→ Open daily 10am-10pm. Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 3 (04 330 7333).
The Dubai Mall The world’s biggest mall by area, this boasts more than 1,000 stores, a cineplex, aquarium, ice rink and the Sega Republic theme park.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Al Doha Street, Downtown Dubai, www.thedubaimall.com
(04 362 7500).
Times Square Center A rather small mall with a few quirky stores, such as outdoor store Adventure HQ.
→ Open Sat-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Fri 10am-midnight.
Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Quoz, www.times squarecenter.ae (04 341 8020).
Wafi This pyramid shaped building attracts fashionconscious shoppers. There’s also a good range of cafés and restaurants.
→ Open Sat-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Fri 10am-midnight. Oud Metha Road, www.wafi.com (04 324 4555).
SOUKS & MARKETS
ARTE arts and crafts markets Featuring the largest selection of local arts and crafts in the UAE. This market is a great place to find hand-made wares and one-off gifts.
→ First Friday of the month at Al Rebat Street, Festival City, noon-9pm. Second Friday of the month at Times Square Center, noon-7pm. Dubai Festival City Mall, www.arte.ae (050 456 7481).
Bur Dubai Souk A bustling bazaar full of bargains. You can spend hours here, so it’s great if you fancy an afternoon stroll.
→ Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai. (no number).
Dubai Flea Market This second-hand market takes place three times monthly in Safa Park, Uptown Mirdif Mall and Ibn Battuta Mall.
→ Various locations, www.dubai-fleamarket.com (055 452 6030).
Gold & Diamond Park If you can’t be bothered to haggle in the souks, head here instead, where you’ll find about 30 retailers and more than 120 manufacturers. Cara is the most popular – it’s reliable and great at fixing problems on the spot.
→ Open Sat-Thu 10am-10pm; Fri 4pm-10pm. Interchange Four, Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Quoz, www.goldanddiamond park.com (04 362 7777).
Gold Souk Deira Dubai’s famous gold souk is widely considered to be the largest in Arabia. Great for browsing. → Open Sat-Thu 10am-10pm; Fri 4pm-10pm. Sikkat al-Khail Street, Deira. (no number).
Souk Al Bahar An ‘Arabesque’-themed mall along the lines of Souk Madinat, with several restaurants to choose from.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Downtown Dubai, www.theoldtownisland. com (04 362 7011).
Souk Madinat Jumeirah Built to resemble an Arabic market, with tourist tat-traps plus fashion and art stores.
→ Open daily 10am-10pm. Souk Madinat Jumeirah. Umm Suqeim (04 366 8888).
Spice Souk Bag some bargains among the aromas of spices and herbs. Use your bartering skills to get the best price.
→ Open Sat-Thu 10am-1pm; Fri 4pm-10pm. Al-Sabkha Road, Deira. (no number).
Textile Souk Stocks a huge range of fabrics from the
Subcontinent. Avoid taking a car, as parking is a nightmare. → Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai (No number).
ABU DHABI DEPARTMENT STORES
Bhs Bhs is thriving in Abu Dhabi, with quality clothing, accessories and homeware at affordable prices. Largely a children’s clothing retailer, it’s also a good store for adults hoping to stock up on undergarments and conservative staples for their daily working wardrobe.
→ Open Sat-Thu 10am-10pm; Fri 2pm-11pm. Abu Dhabi Mall, Tourist Club Area, www.abudhabi-mall.com
(02 645 8400). Other branches include Hamdan Street (02 621 1242) and Khalidiyah Mall, www.liwastores.com
(02 635 4566).
Debenhams As well as housing a perfumery and its own brand of clothing, Debenhams is home to designer collections from John Rocha, Jasper Conran, Matthew Williamson and Pearce Fionda. You’ll find Triumph, Chantelle and Passionata undergarments, and shoes by Faith and Milano. Also on sale is the entire Debenhams home line. → Open Sun-Wed 10am10pm; Thu-Sat 10am-11pm. Khalidiyah Mall, www.debenhams.com
(02 635 4000).
MALLS
Abu Dhabi Mall Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Beach Rotana Hotel, Abu Dhabi Mall props up the end of Ninth Street like a bookend. Inside, you’ll find a wealth of interior design outlets, plenty of high-street fashion shops and a number of other lifestyle options. This is also the place to come for books (it houses Borders, which certainly competes with Magrudy’s).
→ Open Sat-Wed
10am-10pm; Thu 10am11pm; Fri 3.30pm-11pm. Al Zahiyah, www.abudhabimall.com (02 645 4858).
Al Muhairy Centre The unassuming mall houses plenty of top-end clothing outlets, with an emphasis on Arabian clothing. In among Abdullah Hussein Khunji’s local dress shop.
→ Open Sat-Thu 9.20am-1.30pm, 4.30pm-11.30pm, Fri 4.30pm-11.30pm. Zayed the 1st Street, Al Khalidiyah, www.almuhairycentre.com (02 632 2228).
Al Raha Mall Al Raha Mall sits on the edge of a motorway in a stranded, out-of-town location next to Al Raha Beach Hotel. Plus points include a large Party Centre (popular with nearby Khalifa City residents), Zari Zardozi Indian Silk and Restaurant, a small cinema and Lulu’s hypermarket.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am10pm; Thu-Sat 10am-11pm. Abu Dhabi-Dubai Road, Al Raha Beach (02 556 2229).
Al Safeer Centre Situated on the edge of a labour camp, this cubic box of a mall is very popular with the labourers. The ground floor houses a grimy but adequate supermarket, while the second floor specialises in cheap clothes and cut-price electronics. The third floor houses the Grand Safeer Cineplex (which shows a monthly glut of Bollywood features), and the Jungle Bungle children’s centre.
→ Open daily 8.30ammidnight. Mussafah, near Cambridge High School, Mussafah (02 552 3111).
Al Wahda Mall A vibrant and buzzing mall with a combination of high street brands, affordable clothing stores, coffee shops and eateries. You’ll find a diversity of both locals and expats here. This large shopping space is also home to a huge Lulu’s Hypermarket.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am10pm; Thu-Sat 10am-11pm. Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Street, Al Wahda, www. alwahda-mall.com (02 443 7000).
Boutik Mall This funky shopping space at the bottom of Sun and Sky Towers on Reem Island boasts a La Brioche, Yogen Früz frozen yogurt, Nail Art salon, Macondo coffee shop, Aziz Hair Salon for men and much more to satisfy your shopping wants and needs.
→ Reem Island (02 444 0006).
Dalma Mall Abu Dhabi’s largest mall, Dalma is well placed for residents of Mohammed Bin Zayed city. It boasts a few well-known names such as Monsoon, Samsonite and Etam, as well as Carrefour and Cine Royal. There is also a Toys R Us and a Fun City to keep the kids entertained.
→ Tarif-Al Ain Highway, opposite Mohammed Bin Zayed City. www.dalmamall.ae (02 550 6111).
Deerfield Townsquare
Mall The latest out of town addition, Deerfields hosts all the usual popular names including H&M, Max, and a large Carrefour. The huge mall also has a local farmers’ market at weekends.
→ Abu Dhabi-Dubai Road (02 501 0888).
Fotouh Al Khair Centre More commonly known as the Marks & Spencer building, this flashy looking mall has a few recognisable names such as Hush Puppies, Monsoon, Pixi and The Body Shop, as well as independents such as Jolie Boutique, selling designer clothing. There’s a decent organic market above Pizzeria Olivella too, with a popular bakery attached.
→ Open daily 10am-10pm;
Fri 10am-11pm. Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street, Al Markaziyah (02 639 3084).
Hamdan Centre The oldest mall in the capital has become, predictably, one of the shabbiest. However, if you’re after the kind of leather jacket last seen on David Hasselhoff circa 1988, look no further. There’s a certain charm to be found here, and it’s a worthwhile stop if you’re looking for touristy knick-knacks.
→ Open daily 8am-1pm, 4pm-11pm. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Street, Al Markaziyah (02 632 8555).
Khalidiyah Mall With a gigantic two-tier Lulu Hypermarket, as well as Sparky’s kids’ zone, Khalidiyah Mall is a one-stop afternoon out for many Abu Dhabi families. Wandering through its cavernous halls, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in a British shopping centre. All the usual names are here, including Debenhams, Bhs, Monsoon and The Body Shop. On the top floor is large oval food court.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am10pm; Thu-Sat 10am
11pm. Khalidiyah Street, Al Khalidiyah, www.khalidiya. com (02 635 4000).
Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre & Gold Centre The ageing centre is an odd mix of old and new, and is largely uninteresting, unless you’re in the market for a wristwatch or bangle that is visible from space. However, on the second floor of the gold souk there are plenty of opportunities to pick up some furniture, and there is also a branch of Daiso, the Japanese equivalent of the UK’s ‘99p’ stores.
→ Open daily 9am-11pm. Al Muroor Road, Madinat Zayed (02 633 3311).
Marina Mall This is one of the most popular malls in the city. Marina Mall sits on the end of a causeway, beside the gates of Emirates Palace, sharing space with the Heritage Village. While it features Carrefour, Paris Gallery and a cinema, the layout is a bit confusing.
It is home to the city’s designer stores, including Chanel, Dior and
Valentino.
→ Open Sat-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu 10am-11pm. Corniche Road, Ras Ak Akhdar, www. marinamall.ae (02 681 2310).
Mushrif Mall This eco-friendly monster-sized mall has outlets such as Giordano, Splash, Charles and Keith, Matalan and a branch of New Look to name a few. Mushrif Mall also hosts The Market, a fresh produce hall that has a large fruit and vegetable section as well as a seafood and meat section.
→ Open Sun-Wed 10am10pm; Thu-Sat 10am-11pm. Airport Road, www.mushrifmall.com
(02 690 4422).
Nation Galleria Linking to the Nation Towers residences, offices and St Regis hotel, Nation Galleria plays host to a number of unique and high-end outlets. There’s a Sound & Vision, from Dubai
Audio, a Teuscher chocolaterie and a huge host of dining outlets including Leopold’s of London, Godiva cafe, Cafe Bateel and Organic Foods and Cafe as well as the largest Wafi Gourmet in the Middle East
→ Corniche Road
(02 333 8288).
The Galleria This new shopping precinct features a mix of luxury to mid-market international and specialty retailers including Jimmy Choo, Sephora, Mulberry, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch and more plus Magnolia Bakery, with other food outlets opening later this year.
→ Al Falah Street
(800 769 924).
World Trade Center Mall Offering a welcome alternative with many inaugural Abu Dhabi outlets including the first House of Fraser in the Middle East. Also host to Bebe, H&M, Steve Madden, Victoria’s Secret and a number of impressive dining outlets.
→ Open Sat-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Fri 10am-11pm. Khalifa Street, www.wtcad.ae
(02 508 2400).
Yas Mall Yas Mall has cemented itself as an iconic Yas Island attraction. It boasts the UAE’s first
LEGO store, 4Dx Vox cinemas, Geant hypermarket and the largest Debenhams store outside of the UK.
The 370-strong list of shops includes high street faves such as Zara, Nike and Hamleys.
→ Yas West, Yas Island www.yasmall.ae
(800 9276255).
For more Shopping listings, head online now timeoutdubai.com/kids and timeoutabudhabi.com/kids
I was scheduled to have a
Zoom recording with Nigel – the producer from H2 Productions – and The Little Mermaid, (picture on the right). So I thought we were recording a joint promotion. However, this wasn’t the case and I actually had no need to be dressed up at all! To think, I spent all morning setting up my green screen and getting my costume sorted. Safe to say everyone a good laugh. Share your funny zoom stories with us, we’d love to hear them. You can catch The
Little Mermaid live on stage at Theatre by QE2 from April 1 to April 10.
Visit www.theatrebyqe2.com.