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Home - City Guide - Dubai - Shopping | ||
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Shopping Shopping Shopping is undoubtedly one of Dubai's greatest drawcards. Shopping in Dubai is largely divided into two main types - the old souks in Deira and Dubai Souk in Bur Dubai, and the glossy new shopping malls around Beniyas Square, Al-Rigga and Al-Hiyafa Road. The souks offer an atmospheric shopping experience with sights, sounds and aromas that hint of yesteryear. The Spice Souk, Al-Sabkha Road, is more of a tourist attraction, while the buzzing Gold Souk, Sikkat al-Khali Street, offers some great deals on gold necklaces, rings, bangles, earrings and brooches, with gold prices among the lowest in the world. The Fish Souk in Deira is more of a tourist attraction, as visitors are unlikely to want to try and take fresh fish home with them. Early in the morning and late at night, local fishermen unload mountains of fresh fish, which they bargain and haggle over. On the Bur Dubai side of the creek are lanes full of textile shops, where a blaze of colourful raw silks and cottons hang in many shop windows. Small textile shops sell veils with decorated edges, pantaloons with embroidered anklets, and dress lengths with similarly embroidered necklines reminiscent of The Arabian Nights. Bargaining is the norm in all of the souks. The best-value items at the large shopping malls are mainly electrical goods and designer clothing, although interesting local products include carpets, Bedouin jewellery and Arabian souvenirs. The Dubai Shopping Festival from late March to late April is a massive event with all the big stores and almost every shop in Dubai slashing prices in a month-long retail orgy. Dubai's shops are open 0800-1300 and 1630-2000/2100. Larger malls open 1000-2200, while souks open 0700-1200 and 1700-1900. Shops, malls and souks are all closed on Friday mornings. There is no sales tax in Dubai and Dubai's airport is renowned as having one of the finest duty-free opportunities in the world and is open to both arriving and departing passengers. |