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 | Dubai Shopping | Tips 1 - 10 of 187 |  |
Popular Shopping | Miscellaneous Shopping Tips | All Tips (187)  | |  |  | Deira City Centre: Deira City Centre Mall | Tip Rating:  |  |  | |  |
The Deira City Centre Mall is located close to the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club in Deira. It was the closest mall to our hotel, and we visited there on our last afternoon in Dubai. Although a large complex, it has a more local feel to it, with more affordable shopping, and more shops with a local flavour. There were still plenty of the usual chain shops we are used to in the UK, along with Debenhams department store. There is a cinema and also a children's entertainment centre called Magic Planet, along with a good range of restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets. Taxi queues can be a big problem at shopping malls, and I had read that the queues were particularly bad at Deira City Centre....and that was our experience too. Although there was a constant flow of taxi's arriving, we still had to queue for over 1 hour! Mall opening hours: Sat to Tue: 10am - 10pm Wed to Fri: 10am - 12am Leave a Comment Theme: Women's ClothesAddress: Al-Garhoud Road, Deira, DubaiPhone: +971 4 295 4545Website: http://www.deiracitycentre.com Other Contact: dcc@deiracitycentre.com
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| | | | Gold & Diamond Park: Gold & Diamond Park | Tip Rating: | | | | |
The Gold & Diamond Park is not actually a park, but a shopping centre with more than 100 shops that just sell gold, diamonds and other jewellery. It is a girls paradise....and their husband's worst nightmare! It is located off Sheikh Zayed Road, close to the Mall of Emirates. I was in the market for a new diamond ring. Whilst researching diamond shopping in Dubai prior to our trip I read numerous reviews about one shop in the Gold & Diamond Park, called Cara. Everyone was raving about it- apparently the service was excellent, the prices very reasonable, the quality of the diamonds impressive etc. When we arrived at the Park, we had a wander around and then came across Cara. It was pretty much the only shop in the mall that had people shopping in it. That was a good sign. We went in and started looking at some rings. One of the friendly staff, Mayur, asked us to take a seat and show him some examples of what we were after. He seemed to know exactly what I wanted, and within 10 minutes we had found the perfect ring. A small amount of haggling later, we had agreed on a price, which worked out to be only about a third of the price of similar rings we had looked at in London. The ring needed to be re-sized as I have slim fingers, and I expected we would have to return in a couple of days to collect it. No need to - they resized it while we waited, and even polished up my existing ring as well. Can't wait for our next visit to Dubai and to Cara's ; )
Diamonds!
Don't forget to haggle Leave a Comment Theme: JewelryAddress: Sheikh Zayed Road, New DubaiWebsite: http://www.goldanddiamondpark.com http://www.carajewellers.com
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| | | | Souk Madinat Jumeirah: Souk Madinat Jumeirah | Tip Rating: | | | | |
The Souk Madinat Jumeirah is located next to the Madinat Jumeirah Resort, which is just across the beach from the Burj Al Arab. This complex is a recreation of a traditional souk, and is home to around 100 shops, restaurants and bars. Not really a place for clothes shopping, it is more the place to shop for handicrafts and souvenirs, without having to worry about spruikers. I wasn't that interested in the shops here, but really liked the location and outlook of the main restaurants and bars, which are located along a canal-like waterway, some offering views of the Burj as well. We were keen to stop for a drink at one of the bars but all of the best tables were already taken. Leave a Comment Theme: Local CraftAddress: Jumeirah Road, Umm Suqeim, DubaiPhone: +971 4 366 8888Website: http://www.madinatjumeirah.com/shopping/
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| | | | MALL OF THE EMIRATES: Are you ready for this? This is huge! | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
Affectionatley dubbed "Moe's" by UAE residents, Mall of the Emirates (M.O.E.) was opened on September 28. 2005 & is the largest shopping centre outside of North America (the name seems to make a statement, imitating the theme of "Mall of America" - it truly is gigantic) The mall covers 223,000 square metres & is home to over 400 retailers... so get your credit-card ready & dive into Dubai’s newest version of a shoppaholic's nirvana ;-) You can spend an entire day in the mall & probably still won't manage to visit all the shops. If you are looking for something specific, pick-up a map at one of the many information desks to save yourself time & to not wander around aimlessly. The mall is of course also famous for Ski Dubai, the first indoor ski slope in the Middle East. (check my Sports Tips for more info) You can also pop into the mall to catch a movie at the 14-screen Cinestar Cinema. There's also a massive hypermarket for grocery shopping, electronics & everything else called Carrefour. And when you need to re-norish yourself after all that shopping, you can choose between 65 restaurants and coffee shops with everything from fast food to themed restaurants & exclusive dining alternatives. (Try the Indian Pavillon restaurant... it's superb! Or the fabulous Almaz by Momo, Moroccan Rest. in Harvey Nichols) TIP: Wear comfortable walking shoes when you visit this mall! You'll be doing a lot of walking & the floor is made of very slippery marble tiles. So leave those fancy heels at home & wear non-slip sports shoes or comfortable flat sandals!
Generally, the shops are the same that are strewn around the other malls of Dubai, but there are about 60 retailers making their Middle East debut with their first ever shops: the 1st Harvey Nichols can be found here, as well as CoolCat, a cool clothing shop from Amsterdam which I really like! Aizone, Bois & Chiffon, Reiss, M Missoni & Marc Jacobs are also new luxury shops to the UAE. Good old Debenhams have opened their largest stores in the region in this mall and you'll be able to find plenty of other affordable favourites like ZARA, Mango, H&M (Hennes & Mauritz), NEXT, BHS, XoXo, etc. Stores have been grouped in themed precincts on the 2 shopping levels, which is a pretty smart idea. So all sports stores are located next to each other, the same goes for shoe stores & cosmetics stores. Opening Hours: Saturday - Tuesday: 10:00am – 10:00pm. Wednesday - Friday: 10:00am - Midnight.
There are shops for every taste & every budget, so even if you are not a millionaire, you will be able to find something here. UPDATE: Since January 2008 a smoking ban has come into effect in Dubai's shopping malls. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherAddress: 4th Interchange, Sheikh Zayed RoadPhone: +971-4-409 9000Directions: Location Map: http://www.malloftheemirates.com/Images/map_large.jpgWebsite: http://www.malloftheemirates.com/ Other Contact: info@malloftheemirates.com
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| | | | MERCATO MALL: "Mamma-Mia!" - the biggest mall in Jumeirah | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Mercato (Italian for market) is the first themed mall in the Middle East and UAE. This is the largest shopping mall along the Jumeirah Beach Road! With its large glass roof, picturesque bridges & small court yards its hustling & bustling, but find yourself a comfy corner in one of the cafes for a nicely relaxing time. Mercato is an inspired creation from well-known Italian architect Daniele Morelli. The interior of the mall replicates the concept of several squares (cute & cozy!), with rural scenes painted on the walls, tall stylish pillars and sparkly-shiny marble floors (definitly typical for Dubai, not necessarily Italy! ;-) It's cheesy, but it's cute. TIP: Traffic around the Mercato Mall can be hellish! Especially on Fridays & in the evenings. There's a large car park + underground parking, but this is (as with many malls in Dubai) hardly enough. Either get there early, or ask your hotel reception for free transportation (bus schedule) to and from Mercato, or take a taxi to avoid circling for a parking space when you could spend the time shopping!
As with all large malls in Dubai, the choices are endless. You'll find pretty much everything you may (or may not) be looking for! Some of the most noteworthy stores & facilities of the mall include: > Cinema (Century Cinemas) > Virgin Megastore. > Triumph Lingery. > Starbuck's (isn't it annoying how they get everywhere?!) > Spinney's supermarket. > Bella Donna Italian Restaurant (click to see photo! Sit outside on the balcony & you can just about see the ocean) > Fiesta Restaurant. > Paul's French Bakery (very nice, freshly-baked breads!) > Costa Coffee. > Food Court. NOTE: The cafes and restaurant within the mall are Unlicensed - no alcoholic beverages. In the UAE, only restaurants in hotels may obtain the licence to serve alcohol. Cafes/Restaurants in shopping malls are therefore not licenced, but usually offer a huge variety of soft-drinks, "mocktails" & fresh fruit juices. Opening Hours: Saturdays - Thursdays: 10:00am - 10:00pm. Fridays: 02:00pm - midnight.
No haggling here! You're not in the souks - so you pay what's on the price tag and the shops are mostly high-profile! UPDATE: Since January 2008 a smoking ban has come into effect in Dubai's shopping malls. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherAddress: Jumeirah Beach Road, DubaiPhone: +971-4-3444 161 / 344 0111Directions: LOCATION MAP: http://www.mercatoshoppingmall.com/common/file/locationmap/locationmap.pdfWebsite: http://www.mercatoshoppingmall.com/
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| | | | SATWA High Street: Shopping "off the beaten path" | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Away from the shiny giants called shopping malls, mostly untouched by Dubai's megalomaniac drive towards modernisation, full of grubby charm & old memories of the heavy Indian influence on the region, lies one of the city's best-kept secrets: Satwa. Pop into any shop to see the numerous massive rolls of textiles, crammed against every wall & into every tiny space in the shop. The salesmen are very knowledgeable and will climb up ladders or crawl under piles of merchandise to find exactly what you're looking for. The best known and most frequented shops are REGAL and DEEPAK'S. Both stores will recommend nearby tailors to turn your fabrics into perfectly fitting garments. There's a store on the same road (opposite Satwa clinic & next to Deepak's) called FIDA: here you will find loads of "the small stuff that holds the world together": zippers, buttons, hair clips, lace, thread, tassels, beads, velcro strips, knitting wool & needles, etc. Very useful for finding little add-ons for your textiles before taking them to the tailor.
This is the perfect place to uncover hidden textile treasures. The entire narrow street is lined with small, run-down stalls as well as fancy, large textile merchants. You will find everything: from white fluff for your Santa outfit, cotton for bed sheets, intricate designs for curtains, high-quality cloth for men's suits, to stunning hand-woven, beaded & painted silks for gorgeous evening gowns. You can also find Pashmina Shawls here --> (see my Tourist Trap Tip on Pashminas!) Opening Hours of most shops: 09:00am - 01:30pm & 04:30pm - 10:00pm. (closed on Friday mornings) NOTE: Please note that these parking areas cost 1 Dirham for 1 hour and 5 Dirhams for 2 hours. Parking is free on Fridays & public holidays, as well as from 1pm–4pm in the afternoon & from 9pm at night until 8am in the morning.
Prices are extremely low, charged by the yard & haggling is expected; so bargain to your heart's content! Leave a Comment Theme: OtherAddress: Satwa High StreetDirections: Satwa, off Diyafah Street, opposite Rydges Plaza Hotel REGAL Tel: +971-4-344 2696 Deepak's Tel: +9714-344 3182 / 344 8836 FIDA Trading Tel: +971-4-344 4008
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| | | | BUR JUMAN CENTRE: Now even bigger & better than ever! | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Bur Juman Centre is located smack-bang in the middle of Bur Dubai, and in summer 2005 was extended to now twice its size! It's very easy to find, and every taxi driver knows it. The old part of the mall has a pink exterior, whilst the new extension is a sleek, modern, glass design. If you don't want to battle the traffic to get across the creek to the Deira City Centre, then I definitely recommend the Bur Juman. I used to live close-by and love to shop there. There are also many great food outlets: there is a Food Court in the old section with Subway, Burger King, etc. (top level, centre court) as well as a very nice restaurant area on the top floor of the new extension as well. Many great restaurants & cafes, inluding Gloria Jean's Coffee (South Court), Cafe Havanna (new extension), Dome Cafe (Parking level), Yo!Sushi (Ground level) and Paul's French Bakery (new extension) have branches in Bur Juman Centre.
There are shops to fit every budget, every taste and every age! Definitely worth a visit. Some of the shops you may look for in the mall are: > Virgin Megastore > ZARA (Fashion for Women & Men) > MANGO (Fashion for Women) > NEW LOOK (newly openend in April 2008) > Paris Gallery (Cosmetics, Perfumes, Watches, etc.) Opening Hours: Saturday to Thursday 10:00 am - 10:00pm. Friday 02:00pm - 10:00pm. The Bur Juman has grown a lot in the past years. It now also boasts a residential tower with luxury duplex apartments, and an office tower as well. Also, directly connected to the mall you will also find the BURJUMAN ROTANA SUITES Hotel: http://www.rotana.com/property-11.htm This is a 4-star hotel in a very central location indeed.
I have found this general rule: The "old" (pink) part of the mall mainly has affordable "medium-range" shops, while the new (glass) part mainly has exclusive designer stores such as Gucci, Armani, Donna Karen... you get the picture. UPDATE: Since January 2008 a smoking ban has come into effect in Dubai's shopping malls. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherAddress: Bur Dubai, opposite Regent Palace HotelPhone: 00971-4 -352 0222Directions: Exactly on the corner / Intersection of Trade Centre Road and Khalid bin Walid Road (Bank Street)Website: http://www.burjuman.com/
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| | | | DEIRA CITY CENTRE Mall: "You belong in the City" - it's ALL here! | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Whether you're a resident of Dubai or visiting the city for a holiday, Deira City Centre has plenty to offer. Shopping malls are the only escape from the summer heat for us Dubai residents, so we have learnt quickly to tell the good ones from the "unworthy" ones! Even if I'm not planning on shopping, it's always a great place to meet friends for lunch, go to the cinema or just sit in a cafe and practice people-watching; one of our favourite pastimes in Dubai! The mall is one of the leading shopping destinations in the entire Gulf. The complex has over 300 shops and 1.2 million sq.ft. of retail space. The (free) car park has space for 6,000 cars.
Magic Planet - indoor entertainment centre; with video games & rides to keep nagging kids entertained! Adjacent there's a Food Court with the usual: McDonald's, KFC & Burger King, Chinese, etc. As far as food courts go it's generally what you'd expect: noisy rides, screaming children & stressed waiters. You'll also find the UAE's leading Book & Stationary Store: Magrudy's here. For all your electronics-needs with computers, audio, stereo, cameras, etc. visit Plug Ins Electronix. CityWalk comprises of 13 restaurants & cafes. There's also the 11-screen CineStar Cinema and Virgin Megastore for all music lovers! This part of the mall has recently (2007/2008) been rennovated & now has even more shops. The mall also features a number of themed courtyards: the Jewellery Court, Textile Court & Arabian Treasures. TIP: However, these courts definitely charge tourist-prices, and the exact same jewellery, souvenirs & textiles can be bought over 50% cheaper in the Gold Souk, Karama Shopping Strip & Textile Souk. A post office, money exchange & pharmacy are located on the lower level of the Centre Court. The mall also features a HUGE supermarket called Carrefour, where visitors can shop for groceries, clothes, cosmetics & perfumes, cigarettes & more. NOTE: Alcohol is not available in this or any other supermarket. Alcohol can only be purchased with a licence (available to UAE residents) in specific liquor stores. Non-residents can purchase alcohol in the airport's Duty Free section only. Update Feb. 2008: The mall's new extension is open with "New Look", "Crispy Creme", "Cool Cat" and many fabulous restaurants (try Bella Donna Italian Rest.)!
There's something for every taste & every budget... There are over 300 shops, so if you cannot find what you want, you cannot be helped! Opening Hours: Saturday - Tuesday 10:00am - 10:00pm. Wednesday - Friday 10:00am - midnight. UPDATE: Since January 2008 a smoking ban has come into effect in Dubai's shopping malls. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherAddress: Deira, Dubai - UAEPhone: +971-4-295 1010 / 295 4545Directions: Very close to Dubai Airport & located opposite the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, next to the "Floating Bridge."Website: http://www.majidalfuttaim.com/
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