Just three decades ago, in traditional bazaars in the UAE, you could only buy antique carpets and “Hottabych slippers,” but today tourists go there for branded perfume and fashion items from famous brands. Here you will read about the most popular and useful purchases for yourself and your family.
Seasonal sales in the UAE
Fans of grand shopping flock to Dubai every year for the shopping festival, which begins in late January and lasts a whole month. Incredible discounts of 60-70% on all products, theatrical performances, concerts of pop stars and folk-inspired parties, circus and children's shows - what else is needed for a great holiday?
Vacationers are no less attracted to «Summer surprises." Starting at the end of June, more than fifty Dubai shopping centers offer customers 50% discounts throughout the month. The holiday is accompanied by evening entertainment, lottery drawings for villas, cars, and cash prizes.
You can’t miss inexpensive spring shopping in Abu Dhabi, where there is a real discount boom in boutiques, hotels, and restaurants.
In July-August, Sharjah welcomes guests for Ramadan shopping. Here you will enjoy 70% discounts, as well as raffles for expensive cars and jewelry.
What do they buy in the UAE?
Do you like fabrics with oriental prints or fashionable clothes from world designer houses? Then it’s time for you to “shop” in the United Arab Emirates! And prices in this “tourist paradise” are usually lower than in Russia, and some things are cheaper than in the country of origin.
This is explained simply - the Emirates has low taxes and customs duties. And VAT of 5% appeared only in 2018.
But in branded boutiques the markup is usually too high, so before you buy something, we advise you to compare prices in different shopping centers.
Clothes and shoes
The United Arab Emirates is an abundance of branded items. It is most profitable to buy on city shopping streets and in entire shopping districts, where there are many shopping centers and shops.
It is considered a real treasure trove of successful purchases Dubai with its sales and lack of duties (prices are up to 40% lower than European prices).
Shoe brands in Dubai Mall.
Market traders vie with each other to offer tourists beautiful and convenient goods in folklore style. Particularly prized are fabrics made from camel wool, silk scarves, and various shawls embroidered along the edges with ethnic patterns.
Furs
You can find a not very expensive, but good quality fur coat in specialized fur centers. The choice, as they say, “makes your eyes run wild”: Chinese, Greek, Italian. Their cost varies depending on the cut, length of the product and store category.
In order to profitably “shop”, come to the summer festival sales and stock up on cash. Bargaining is required! The “it’s expensive, so I’m leaving” technique works well - traders will definitely immediately reduce the price.
Important! Don’t fall for the “I know a good place” trick, otherwise you’ll have to fork out extra money.
Gold
You won’t see so many inexpensive bars and jewelry anywhere else! display cases sparkle with yellow, white, pink jewelry with sapphires, rubies, emeralds and other stones. Moreover, on sale are both massive oriental jewelry and modern designer items made of 18 and 22 carat gold.
But they also meet pure gold, 24 carats, which are distinguished by their brightest yellow color.
"Gold" market in the UAE.
The price of one gram of gold is determined daily at exchange trading in Dubai.
On a note! You can also buy new jewelry in the UAE in exchange for an old one. But Russian-made gold is not valued here; it can only be assigned 14 carats.
Perfume and cosmetics
These products are presented in a wide range, from last year's collections to newfangled things. Most cheap - Dubai shopping in shopping centers and tourist areas, where the price of outdated goods is reduced by almost 40%, and the newest offers are five or even ten percent cheaper than usual.
Perfume in Arabic style deserves special attention. Spicy and tart perfumes usually produced on the basis of oils, so their durability is significantly increased. In addition, their rich gilded bottles are very attractive. Most Amouage scent is popular, as well as real exclusive perfumes according to an individual recipe.
Among the best cosmetic offers: Mishwak toothpaste, henna cosmetics, mineral powder, kajal eyeliner.
Electronics
European equipment, thanks to duty-free import, is sold in Dubai up to 40% cheaper than at home.
One of the best hardware and electronics stores.
New electronics appear here instantly after the official presentation. In addition, the risk of running into a fake is small, because illegally imported samples are the same originals, the firmware of which was already completed in the UAE.
Carpets
Colorful carpets made of wool, silk, cotton are an expensive pleasure. You can buy them in special shops in shopping districts and market squares from hereditary craftsmen and traders.
But the most valuable specimens are hidden among junk dealers.
Important! Handmade carpets differ from machine-made ones by the obligatory fringe and less-than-ideal edge wrapping.
Oriental sweets, coffee and tobacco
Well, what would we do without oriental sweets! Many centers and markets are literally crammed with confectionery shops, where they sell an assortment of baklava, delicious halva, sweet sherbet, nougat, and chocolate.
Arabs traditionally consider the best dessert dates from Arabian Delights. This exotic fruit is found everywhere: in jam, candies, it is glazed in chocolate, stuffed with almonds, placed in honey and syrup.
Aromatic spices and a variety of sauces are purchased here. Nowhere else can you find such incense of Somali origin, bitter cardamom, hot pepper, spicy cumin, turmeric, sauces for oysters and fish.
Arabs have maintained a high coffee drinking culture since ancient times.. A traditional oriental drink is consumed with cardamom. Shopkeepers offer all kinds of copper utensils for brewing a divine drink.
The best shopping centers and markets in the UAE
The best shopping in the Emirates is in Dubai and Sharjah, with somewhat less wealth in the provinces of Abu Dhabi and Ras al-Khaimah.
Important! The Arab market is not a Slavic bazaar! Each specializes in specific products.
Dubai
Among the shopping and entertainment centers the following stand out:
- The mall is 350 thousand square meters, where the world-famous Candylicious oriental sweets store and children's attractions SEGA Republic and KidZania are located. This is where there is scope for those who like to go shopping! You can buy whatever your heart desires.
Shopping center “Mall”, Dubai.
- Mall of the Emirates with affordable prices for famous brands. Tourists are attracted by ski holidays at the indoor sports complex Ski Dubai.
- Bur Yuman is a true modern design gallery.
- Wafi City is a unique combination of ancient Egyptian style and trade from elite global brands.
- Deira City Center, which can be called a “tourist Mecca”.
Shopping center “Dubai Mall”
It's hard to miss the colorful Arab markets
Adherents of a variety of spices and herbs will find great shopping at the spice market.
Fashionistas of all ages and social groups will certainly find inexpensive jewelry at the gold market.
If you prefer clothes made from natural fabrics, go straight to the textile aisles.
Abu Dhabi
Leading trading platforms:
- Marina Mall - these are four hundred middle and high-end boutiques, an exhibition of Mercedes-Benz cars, an IKEA supermarket, and a variety of entertainment for children and adults.
- Mercedes-Benz car dealership + lots of entertainment.
- Abu Dhabi Mall – an entertainment complex with a food court and two hundred brand boutiques of leading companies - Adidas, Ecco, Lacoste, Mango, Zara, etc.
Shopping center “Ferrari Wold” with entertainment in Abu Dhabi.
An unforgettable carpet shopping awaits guests at a special market in the port area.
True identity and the versatility of the ancient city can be seen at the Old Bazaar. Its modern name is “Central”.
Al-Qaws and Al-Bawadi Market Squares popular with both locals and visitors. There is a large selection of sweet dishes and sets of spices, carpets and souvenirs. But don’t take “jewelry” - there is a danger that they will sell you something cheap for a lot of money.
Sharjah
Busy trading places:
- Sahara Center – 200 boutiques with a food court and fun recreation. The most popular brands among visitors are Debenhams, Marks & Spencer and Toys ‘R’ Us for children.
- Sharya City Center – more than a hundred stores of global companies selling products and a lot of entertainment.
For jewelry, there is a direct path to the gold rows, which are similar in assortment to those in Dubai.
Would you like it for lunch? freshly caught langoustine, squid or shark meat – they are waiting for you with open arms at the fish market.
The United Arab Emirates offers visitors profitable shopping in special free trade zones. Experts advise tourists to go shopping in Dubai, because there are no markups even on goods from world brands.
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