Dubai Shopping

South of Downtown on the Red Metro line, this is one of Dubai's mega-malls. It's not as big as Dubai Mall, but it has one unique feature to draw the crowds - Ski Dubai. Even if you don't want to experience winter in the 50 degrees heat of the Arabian desert, just watching the skiers through the windows of the Cheesecake Factory is an experience in itself.

The airport is a dream to shop in. Beautiful layout, with tall palm trees along each side, inside the terminal building.

There is an extensive range of shops catering for your every need, including last minute souvenirs.

I was after a decent Burj Khalifa model. An 8 inch model was 99 AED in the Dubai museum gift shop, and 150 AED in the tower itself! So how much did I pay for it at the duty free? 35 AED !!

Clearly demonstrates bargains are to be found. I did find it odd that a largish zirconia is studded at the model's top, but I saw it makes perfect sense because my night-time take-off went past Khalifa & the top light was dancing all over the place. Looked absolutely amazing :-)

However, items like sand art, hookahs, etc are a lot more expensive.

There is a good selection of household electronics like shavers at very competitive rates. I had been looking for a mains/rechargeable for quite a while, and saw a nice Panasonic that I bought too. Saving on UK price was about 33%! Generally computer gadgetry & accessories are not any cheaper in Dubai though.

A final purchase was a decent air cabin trolley-bag. One of mine has often got me into trouble with the budget carriers re it's 'bulky dimensions' (solely due to it's chunky wheels) so I remedied this here. Got one at a very good price.

What to buy: Any last minute purchases.

Alcohol is definitely cheaper than back home surprisingly!!

What to pay: Pretty good deals on offer; best thing is the extensive range of goods.

So big that each sector may be treated differently, we passed along China, India, Egypt, Russia, I don't know what else, always inside the same shopping mall.

Wafi Center is really big, has all the common shops of western malls and reinforces the sensation that shopping is always the same, either in your street or in Dubai.

The only real difference is decoration, and the money spent to make you believe that the place where you are IS the right place to leave your money.

In most malls, super markets etc you will find dry fruits. The quality is good and there is a wide variety to choose from. Dates, almonds, pistachios, pine nuts, walnuts etc are all found in abundance.

Simulating an old bazaar, many narrow corridors lead to a complex of shops, dominated by local (or almost...) crafts.

With the advantage of the air-conditioning, their drawback against the real souks are the prices, as expected.

One of the top "monuments" of Dubai is the Burjuman Center.

Yes, it is big! Yes, it is modern!

I came out with the feeling that I had already seen it before, but can't remember exactly where. Luis Vuiton, Zara, H&M and other, are names that sound to me as something that I knew from... from... Forgive me, but I swear I have seen them somewhere else!

This was my only victory: twice we passed in front of Mercatto, and twice I escaped!

Please don’t tell anything to Fernanda, otherwise I may be asked to start immediately planning a second visit.

I was kidding, of course!

Honestly, I have problems in my conscience:

Does it have a Zara and an H&M or not?
And Mango? Is it big or small? And…

Oh my God! How am I going to sleep?

One of the recommended goods to buy in Dubai is… gold.

If you know what you want, and are sure about how to choose, the gold souk will be your universe.

I can’t recommend one shop: they stand door after door, and you will end loosing yourself in the golden maze, searching for your precious ornament.

The prices seem to be good, but… it’s gold, you know?

If you have travelled to India or any Islamic country, entering this centre you have the sensation of "déjà vu". Several products and techniques, with a common link: Expensive. Wonderful pieces, enormous pieces, exquisite pieces, it sure deserves a visit (no picture inside... obviously).

Buying? Well... it's your money!

What to buy: Inlaid stones
Metal works
Rugs
Cloths

What to pay: Dilemma:
Please your senses and hurt your wallet, or defend your money and buy... something, in the low rank.

The Dubai Mall is the best mall I have ever been to....you dont just go here to shop, the mall is so much more then just a shop it has so much food and entertainment to keep you busy for a lifetime let alone a holiday! They are also expanding the hotel as of 2013 as far as I know so the mall only gets bigger! This must be one of the biggest mall in the world and one of the best that's for sure. Worth a look even if you don't like shopping in general....Tip check out the Dubai fountain

What to buy: Luxury Items! There are so many great bags, clothes, shoes, jewelry etc....leave your wife at home if your on a budget :)

What to pay: Free to get in....but expensive if you buy alot of things haha

Although Dubai is a small city, most of the people here are non native born and it makes the city a cosmopolitan city as it is the city where expatriates built and hence there is a proliferation of convenience stores, mini supermarkets and supermarkets that compete with each other for a big slice of the expatriate markets and fighting Spinney's and Carrefour is the Geant Hypermarket Chain.

Although Geant only has one hypermarket (which is located here at the Tunisia / Andalusia end of Ibn Battuta Mall, next to the Food Court (the Jebel Ali end of the mall)), it has many mini markets (like the carrefour express or the spinney's markets) around Dubai and unlike spinney's or Carrefour, they don't have pork products. This huge hypermarket has lots of electronic products too! besides the traditional food section and the kitchen ware and men and women's accesories section.

opens: 9:00 am to 12 midnight (Sat-Friday)

according to their website:

Fu-com joined hands with Groupe Casino - one of the world´s largest French hypermarket chains, to bring the "Géant hypermarket" to Middle East for the first time.

In May 2001 Geant opened its first store in Bahrain & opened Géant Hypermarket Dubai in 2005. With the Group´s strength in local retailing and knowledge of the region and Groupe Casino´s expertise in Hypermarket operations, Geant is an embodiment of the best local adaptation of International standards in retailing. The consumers are presented with a retailing experience that is suited not just to their needs but also to their tastes and aspirations.

The Hypermarket´s unique "It’s Géant and it’s for you" marketing strategy and aggressive theme-based promotional campaigns has helped it to pitch itself across all Customer segments of Dubai´s multi-cultural consumers.

Designed on the pattern of best outlets of Europe and covering approximately 13000 square meters, with average 40 customer checkout counters and about 300+ staff members, the Hypermarket carries an average of 65000 Product lines which include food, grocery, apparel, house ware, consumer electronics, beauty care, etc.

What to buy: a lot! since this is a hypermarket far from our hotel, we only bought little stuffs but the prices of electronics here in the hypermarket is jawdropping! they have 60 inch LED TV's for only AED 5,000! and 43 inch LED TV's at only 500 AED!

I bought what else but a Samsung Galaxy S4 for AED 2,500.

What to pay: depends on what you buy

Dubai Has the many of the largest Structures of the World, like the Tallest Tower in the World, the Burj Khalifa, the Tallest Free Standing Hotel in the Burj Al Arab and the Largest Mall in terms of land area (but sixth in gross leasable area). Aside from that, The Dubai Mall is the most visited mall in the world and in 2012 had 65 million visitors.The Dubai Mall, which is connected to the Burj Khalifa Tower and Souk Al Bahar. You can appreciate the structural wonder of the Dubai Mall and the spectacular waterfront promenade to Souk Al Bahar from the observation Deck of the Burj Khalifa Tower. This ginormous Mall houses more than 1200 retail outlets, ranging from restaurants, fashion accesories, cinemas, the Dubai Aquarium, Dubai Skating Rink, Coffee Houses, Bars and it also has a 250-room luxury hotel, 22 cinema screens plus 120 restaurants and cafes. The Mall has over 14,000 parking spaces across 3 car parks, with valet services and a car locator ticketing system and a lot more.

according to their website:

Welcome to The Dubai Mall

The world’s most visited and largest shopping and entertainment destination. The Dubai Mall, with over 1,200 retail outlets, two anchor department stores, and 200 food and beverage outlets is one of DEPE's strategic partners.

So, if you are wondering about what to do in Dubai, then look no further; The Dubai Mall is your ultimate destination for great shopping, dining and entertainment in the city.

Opens:

Stores and Attractions:

Daily - 10:00am - 2:00am

Restaurants & Food Courts:

Daily - From Iftar - 2:00am

Waterfront Promenade Restaurants:

Daily - From Iftar - 3:00am

Metro Link Bridge outlets:

Daily - 8:00 am to 1:00am

What to buy: All the items that you can buy or eat or drink in a super mega mall.

retail outlets include: Bloomingdales, Louis Vuitton, Cole Haan, Debenhams, Ralph Lauren, Rolex, Marks and Spencer, Max Mara, Mossimo Dutti, DKNY, Dolce and Gabbana, Dockers, Hugo Boss, Faconnable, Paul Smith, Lacoste, Fred Perry, Pierre Cardin, Ermenegildo Zegna, Guess, Mango, Zara and a lot lot more.

What to pay: maxxed out your platinum and titanium credit card.

Dubai wants to achieve a lot of first and largest achitectural wonders in the world and One of them is the Mall of the Emirates, which is touted to be the World's First Shopping Resort. This mall is one of the huge mega malls that occupy a small area like Dubai. This multi-level shopping centre currently features more than 560 international brands with a total gross leasable area (GLA) of 234,479 sqm including department stores, fashion, lifestyle, sports, electronics and home furnishing outlets, two luxe wings (the via rodeo and fashion dome) and the largest Carrefour in the Dubai and hosts two hotels, the Kempinski and Sheraton Hotels.

The Showpiece of the Mall of the Emirates is the Ski Dubai, the only ski themed attraction in the Middle East.

Mall Timings
Sunday to Wednesday
10:00 am to 10:00 pm

Thursday to Saturday
10:00 am to 12:00 midnight

According to their website:

Shopping is just the beginning!

Mall of the Emirates, the ultimate leisure, entertainment and shopping resort opened in September 2005. Strategically located in the heart of what is now deemed ‘New Dubai’, this 223,000 square metre centre offers a full range of shopping, leisure, and entertainment.

Mall of the Emirates features 520 international brands, including department, fashion, lifestyle, sports, electronics and home furnishing stores, the largest Carrefour in the city and over 60 outlets that are unique to the centre. The compelling family leisure offerings include a Magic Planet family entertainment area, a 14-screen multiplex cinema, the world-renowned Ski Dubai, a five star Kempinski Hotel, The Pullman Dubai Hotel, the Mall's 500-seat DUCTAC community theatre and accompanying arts centre, and over 85 coffee shops and restaurants.

Mall of the Emirates is a landmark development within the MAF Properties portfolio welcomed over 30.8 million visitors in the calendar year of 2009, thanks to its burgeoning reputation amongst residents and tourists alike

What to buy: All the Items that you can buy in a megamall like this and retail outlets include:

American Eagle, Apple Shop, Emporio Armani Cafe, BCBG Max Azria, Birkenstock, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, Borders Bookstore, Starbucks, Burberry, Bugatti, Bulgari, Louis Vuitton, Carolina Herrera, Calvin Klein, Christian Loboutin, Charles and Keith, Kenzo, Nautica and a lot more.

What to pay: maxxed out your platinum credit card

Dubai has a number of firsts like the First Mall and Resor combined in the Mall of the Emiratest, The Largest Mall in the World in the Dubai Mall and the Largest Themed Mall in the World, The Ibn Batutta Mall.

The Ibn Batutta Mall is named after the great Islamic Explorer Ibn Batutta, who is the Marco Polo of the Islamic World. The Mall is laid into 6 themed areas (named after some of the countries and regions he travelled). The Mall is more popular to the local arabs and the foreign expatriates and the clientele is more of the locals, rather than the tourists, as this mall is far from the Dubai International Airport (40 kilometers) and Bur Dubai area (30 kilometers) and it takes a 50 minute ride from the Bur Juman Metro Station to the Ibn Batutta Metro Station via the Dubai Metro Monorail.

Inside The Mall are more than 270 shops, 50 restaurants, a 21-screen cinema and over 4,500 parking spaces on a total of 521,000 square meters and is divided into the 6 Regions Ibn Batutta visited, like Andalusia, Tunisia, Egypt, Persia, India and China, is reflected in the architecture and theme of the mall’s six courts.

Opening Hours

Mall:
Sun – Wed : 10am – 10pm
Thu – Sat : 10am – 12 midnight

Restaurants & Food Court:
Sat – Fri : 10am – 12 midnight

Geant Hypermarket:
Sat – Fri : 9am – 12 midnight

What to buy: more than 270 shops line the mall like Debenhams, Geant Supermarket, Pierre Cardin, Timberland, Nautica, Geox, Charles and Keith, etc.

according to their website:

The Arab traveller and adventurer Ibn Battuta was a man of great vision and strong Islamic values. He set off to journey the world at the age of 20 and soon became acknowledged as a scholar and a man of great wisdom. Today Ibn Battuta Mall is the first shopping complex inspired by an individual’s life nearly six centuries after he embarked on his renowned journey.

Each region Ibn Battuta explored – Andalusia, Tunisia, Egypt, Persia, India and China – is reflected in the architecture and theme of the mall’s six courts. These courts strongly project the historical and cultural richness of this Arabian icon’s life, serving as inspiration to all those who visit.

The mall possesses a unique multi-cultural atmosphere and a real sense of ease, thanks to the concept of retail zoning, whereby the zones are divided into four sections: Family & Convenience; Major Department Stores; Up-Market Brands & Lifestyles; and Entertainment & Leisure. With the knowledge that customers enjoy shopping in thematic environments whilst doing errands, sampling culinary delights and relaxing in general, we hope our customers will enjoy an inspiring and extraordinary experience at Ibn Battuta Mall.

What to pay: depends on what you buy

This will be my shopping tips

One of the Oldest Mall in Dubai is the Bur Juman Center and is currently undergoing a major renovation up to next year. This huge mall is located at the crossroads of the Bur Dubai and Al Karama Districts and has a Dubai Metro Station just beside the Mall. The Burjuman Centre is one of the oldest malls in Dubai. But it is anything but old fashioned and is one of the hottest spots to shop in the whole of Dubai, with the latest fashion and up-to-date commercial opportunities. The mall prides itself on being a 'better class of shopping' and with over 300 top of the range stores to choose from. In fact, many of the rich local emiratis and foreign expatriates shop more here as this mall is more quiet that the larger malls like the Dubai Mall or the Mall of the Emirates or the Dubai Marina Mall.

Featuring a huge range of top international brands such as Ralph Lauren, Prada, DKNY and Dior, there is a definite emphasis on fashion. As well as high-end products there are also more affordable day-to-day brands. It also houses 2 food courtsd at different levels. They also offer tour services and Big Bus Tour Ticket and Wonder Bus Amphibian Tours.

Opening:
Monday - Wednesday 10am - 11pm
Thursday - Friday 10am - 12am
Saturday - Sunday 10am - 11pm

Food & Beverages:
Saturday to Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Thursday and Friday 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight

What to buy: among the brands here include: Prada, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Hermes', Lacoste, Mossimo Dutti, Fred Perry, Gianfranco Ferre, Versace, Zara, Sak's Fifth Avenue, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chopard, IWC, Tiffany, Dior, Promod, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel and a lot more.

What to pay: maxx out your platinum credit cards