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Dubai thrives on trade, and so you'll not be short of somewhere to shop. If it's sheer volume that gets you to part with your dollars there are few spots on earth that can beat it. With tax-free prices and billions of dollars' worth of giveaways for customers, the emirate has gained a reputation as the place to spend up big.Hist
Dubai thrives on trade, and so you'll not be short of somewhere to shop. If it's sheer volume that gets you to part with your dollars there are few spots on earth that can beat it. With tax-free prices and billions of dollars' worth of giveaways for customers, the emira
Dubai thrives on trade, and so you'll not be short of somewhere to shop. If it's sheer volume that gets you to part with
Dubai thrives on trade, and so you'll not be short of somewhere to shop. If it's sheer volume that gets you to part with your dollars there are few spots on earth that can beat it. With tax-free prices and billions of dollars' worth of giveaways for customers, the emirate has gained a reputation as the place to spend up big.
Historically goods have come flooding in from around the Gulf, the Indian subcontinent, and the horn of Africa. Now they stream in from around the globe, as designers hunger to establish a presence in this red-hot town.
The alleyways of the old downtown souks still have the bustling atmosphere of a traditional Arab trading port, and you can get down to some serious haggling here over textiles, spices, and jewelry. But Dubai has also fallen in love with the air-conditioned mall, and these modern retail temples range over millions of square feet. Here there is an emphasis on luxury goods, with a capital "L." Residents are very brand-conscious and you'll find every label you'd also expect to see in Paris, New York, and Milan.
Although Dubai certainly appears to be shopping heaven, it's worthwhile keeping in mind the Latin phrase caveat emptor, or "buyer beware." Although prices are tax free, that doesn't necessarily mean international goods will be cheaper than in your hometown. Numerous shoppers come to Dubai from countries where luxury goods and designer labels are hard to get, so price is less important than availability. Shopping festivals can be filled with bargains, but often involve the retailers bringing out last years' stocks, so be informed if you are making an expensive purchase. Malls and major retailers are safe, but there are many sole traders in parts of Old Dubai around Karama, Satwa, and Bur Dubai, where fakes are rife. This extends over electronics, clothing, and accessories.
An entire district rather than just one gallery, Alserkal is an entire creative zone where one could happily spend an entire afternoon; 500...Read More
With its glamorous finishing, 19th-century chocolate factory paraphernalia, life-size chocolate sculptures and the design work of some of the...Read More
Three cousins from Lebanon have brought their love of art and design through New York and London, and delivered them into this eclectic and...Read More
A lavish and expansive spa, One and Only have captured all the exotic romance of Arabia. Between palms and domes, elegant, understated pale...Read More
The biggest mall in the world (3.77 million square feet and more than 1,200 stores) should need no introduction. There is everything you might...Read More
Grand, both in size and decor, Ahasees has voluminous spaces including a 20-meter indoor lap pool, which sits in a conservatory-style building...Read More
Amara Spa, surrounding a palm-shaded pool, offers eight luxury pavilion spa suites with living area and terrace, hammam, and aromatic steam...Read More
Visiting the Armani Spa is just as stylish as slipping on an Armani suit. The interiors are sleek and minimal, with all those trademark Armani...Read More
The DIFC holds many galleries, and is a hub for investors and enthusiasts. It has built a reputation as a leading creative area in the city...Read More
BurJuman might be one of Dubai's oldest malls, but recent upgrades have seen it come back to past glories. It had been known as an elite retail...Read More
To reach CHI The Spa you cross the marble bridge over soothing pools, a symbolic departure from everyday stress. There is an excellent range...Read More
This sleek development by the same developers who brought us the Dubai Canal manages to project that outside-in feel, perfect for Summer window...Read More
Cleopatra's Spa, one of the largest day spas in the UAE, is themed similarly to the rest of Wafi, in that it drips with gold and marble and...Read More
A collage of Paris and the Middle East, with a layout out of the pages of a glossy magazine, Comptoir is known for directing residents toward...Read More
The range of shopping opportunities here attracts a cross-section of customers from all nationalities and walks of life. Mainstream outlets...Read More
Undoubtedly one of Dubai's favorite tailoring shops, of which there are many, Dream Girls will make you anything from a simple shirt to a fabulous...Read More
It's hard to find a good massage in Dubai for less than 400 dirhams, as most legitimate unisex establishments are in five-star hotels. Dreamworks...Read More
Festival city is an area that spans over 50 million square feet, with this large mall at the center of residential zones, a golf course, waterfront...Read More
This might be developed by the same company responsible for the Dubai Mall, but it's much more understated in style. It's a fairly simple mall...Read More
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