Shop until you drop – visiting Dubai

Shopaholics love Dubai, which boasts acres of amazing malls and stores selling some of

the world’s most popular brands. From familiar high street names to exclusive designer labels, Dubai has it all – as well as endless sunshine, sandy beaches and some of the most luxurious hotels on the globe.

Many tourists – and shoppers – visit Dubai on a stopover between far-flung destinations, as it’s a main transport hub and well-positioned for flights to Europe and the Far East or Australasia. However, at around seven hours flying time from the UK, it’s also a worthwhile holiday destination in its own right. Whether it's for a spot of winter sun-seeking, or a bit of retail therapy – Dubai has a lot to offer.

Monster malls

Dubai’s modern shopping malls are simply enormous. The most famous is the Mall of the Emirates , which showcases 520 stores, 85 cafes and restaurants, a 14-screen cinema – plus the Ski Dubai indoor wintersports centre, an utterly surreal experience in the middle of the desert.
The multilevel BurJuman mall is a little more relaxed, with soothing water fountains and coffee shops which come alive in the evenings as Emirati families gather to socialise. Going to the mall is about more than just shopping: these air-conditioned public spaces are the perfect place to escape the heat outside, especially in the summer, when it’s just too hot to walk around or stay outdoors for long. Make like a local and chill out with a mint tea or ice-cream – between hitting the shops.

Smaller malls away from the main tourist areas often showcase local designers, and cater more for Middle Eastern tastes than the Westernised super-malls – but here are the places to pick up something unique, whether a distinctive piece of jewellery, an unusual perfume or an amazing pair of shoes.

Haggle in the souk

For a traditional Arab shopping experience, have a friendly haggle at one of Dubai's many souks. The colourful souks at Deira are the ideal place to shop for traditional textiles, carpets, pottery, bags and accessories, and each area specialises in particular goods. There’s almost a whole street selling cashmere throws and pashminas alone, as well as the gold souk, well worth a visit just to gawp at the glittering jewellery, even if your budget is limited. The spice souk has to be smelled to be believed – and you really can go home with gold, frankincense and myrrh. If bargaining is a little intimidating, there’s a gentler (though more expensive) souk experience at Madinat Jumeirah, where the prices are fixed.

Sightseeing and activities

Dubai isn’t just about shopping, however – it is also a historic port and trading post. The old quarters of Bur Dubai and Bastakiya tell the story of its evolution, with heritage houses, museums and traditional courtyard homes; check out the architecture, with ‘wind tunnels’ channelling cool air most effectively. Many of Bastakiya’s buildings now house cafes, restaurants, boutique hotels, art galleries and craft workshops.

Though you may just wish to relax by the pool or on the beach, if the mood takes you, there are also plenty of more active pursuits on offer, from windsurfing, diving and watersports to 4x4 drives through the desert and wadi-bashing (off-roading along dry riverbeds).

And for the most authentic taste of Dubai, head down to the Creek at Deira and take an abra (a water-taxi) past the dhow wharves, where wooden boats load up goods for export to India and the Fast East in a way unchanged for centuries.

Travel money advice: Whichever side of Dubai you explore, you’ll need to sort out plenty of travel money. Whilst the malls will accept most credit cards, you'll still need local currency to use for taxis, abras, tipping and small purchases such as coffee and ice-cream. It could be a good idea to visit a foreign currency exchange for dirhams in advance to get the best rate. Also make sure you take out appropriate travel insurance in advance of your trip.

Issued by Sainsbury’s Finance