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A Guide to Shopping in Dubai | Best Things to Buy, Malls, Souvenirs & More

Dubai knows no limits. You can touch the sky, see the future, and experience limitless thrill in the City of Gold. It’s also a shoppers dream, with its unique mix of culture and vogue. Chasing luxury? You got it. On a budget? No problem. Dubai can mould itself to suit your shopping list and help you take home the souvenirs you want.

Best Things to Buy in Dubai

1. Lantern

Home decor

Most Emirati homes are lit up by beautiful glass lanterns designed in traditional style. They are one of the first things to buy in Dubai.

Where to buy:

2. Arabic Attar

Perfumes

The secret to Emiratis' cheerful mood? Scent oils called Arabic Attars. They’re made from plant sources and contain zero alcohol.

Where to buy:

3. Stones

Jewellery

Fix the fault in your stars with lucky stones that you can inlaid in your gold and silver jewellery.

Where to buy:

4. Hookah

Accessory

Smoking hookah is common in Dubai households, so no wonder the city has fascinating hookah pots on offer.

Where to buy:

5. Pashmina shawls

Clothing

The Pashmina shawl is unlike any other, both in terms of price and material. It is made from goat and skill, and keeps you warmer than jackets.

Where to buy:

6. Arabian coffee

Beverage

Coffee aficionados can’t get enough of the refreshing taste of Arabian coffee. Have a cup and we’re certain you’ll want another.

Where to buy:

7. Dubai spices

Food

Bring home Dubai’s taste with several local spices. They’re unique and can add life to any dish.

Where to buy:

8. Traditional Arab shoes

Footwear

Approved by Carrie Bradshaw, traditional Arab shoes are magic. The thread-work is immaculate and they also come in different heel sizes.

Where to buy:

9. Quran stand

Home decor

Religion is Dubai’s soul. You’ll find many religious products in the city, including wooden Quran stands.

Where to buy:

Best Shopping Streets in Dubai

1. Bur Dubai Souk

Textiles and fabrics

Location: Bur Dubai - Al Fahidi - دبي - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Best for: Clothes, shawls, bedsheets

Getting there: Al Fahidi Metro Station is at a walkable station from the Bur Dubai Old Souk.

Timings: 10 AM to 10:30 PM (Daily)

2. Meena bazaar

Spices and ceramics

Location: 34 Al Nahdha St - Al Fahidi - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Best for: Spices, jewellry, ceramics

Getting there: The Al Fahidi Metro Station is close to the Meena bazaar.

Timings: 8 AM to 6 PM (Saturday to Thursday)

3. Covent Garden Market Dubai

Shoes and perfumes

Location: 34GH+6VX - The Walk at JBR, Jumeirah Beach Residence - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Best for: Clothes, shoes, fragrances

Getting there: Bus no. 8, 84

Timings: 10 AM to 12 AM (Daily)

4. Dubai Spice Souk

Spices and gold

Location: 41 34th St - Deira - Al Ras - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Best for: Spices, gold, fragrances

Getting there: The Al Ras Metro Station is just minutes away from the Dubai Spice Souk.

Timings: 7:30 AM to 5 PM (Monday to Saturday)

5. Ripe Market

Handmade gifts and jewellery

Location: Sheikh Zayed Rd - Al Sufouh - Al Sufouh 1 - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Best for: Handmade gifts, jewellery, homeware

Getting there: Bus no. 21, 29, 61, 88, C26, E304

Timings: 10 AM to 7 PM (Friday and Saturday)

Best Souvenirs in Dubai

1. Dates

Where to buy: Carrefour Hypermarket

Location: Mall of the Emirates - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

2. Handicrafts

Where to buy: ARTE, The Makers' Market

Location: ARTE, The Makers' Market, Al Marabea Road - Al Quoz - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

3. Bakhoor

Where to buy: My Perfume Factory LLC

Location: Al Qusais Industrial Area - Al Qusais Industrial Area 3 - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

4. Sand art

Where to buy: Craftbox ( Arts and Crafts supplies)

Location: 2 شارع الحمرية - Al Quoz 3 - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

5. Pearls

Where to buy: MIKURA Dubai Mall

Location: MIKURA Dubai Mall, Ground Floor, The Souk, GS 36-02 The Dubai Mall - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

6. Persian carpets

Where to buy: National Iranian Carpets

Location: 2nd Floor, Souk Al Bahar, Near Dubai Mall, DownTown - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Best Malls in Dubai

1. City Walk

Shopping Mall

What to buy: Perfumes, jewelleries, home decor

Location: Al Safa St - Al Wasl - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 12 AM (Sunday to Friday)

2. Mall of the Emirates

Shopping Mall

What to buy: Designer clothes, electronics, shoes

Location: Sheikh Zayed Rd - Al Barsha - Al Barsha 1 - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 1 AM (Saturday to Tuesday), 10 AM to 12 AM (Wednesday to Friday)

3. Dubai Festival City

Residential community

What to buy: Designer clothes, street clothes, shoes

Location: Dubai Festival City - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 12 AM (Everyday)

4. Mercato Shopping Mall

Shopping centre

What to buy: Footwear, toys, clothes

Location: Jumeirah Beach Rd - Jumeirah - Jumeirah 1 - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 10 PM (Everyday)

5. Wafi City

Shopping mall

What to buy: Books, speciality stores, footwear

Location: Oud Metha Rd - Umm Hurair 2 - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 10 PM (Sunday to Thursday), 10 AM to 12 AM (Friday to Saturday)

6. Dubai Marina Mall

Shopping mall

What to buy: Shoes, eyewear, clothes

Location: Sheikh Zayed Rd - Dubai Marina - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 10 PM (Sunday to Wednesday), 10 AM to 11 PM (Thursday to Saturday)

Best Souks in Dubai

1. Gold Souk

Gold dealer

Chasing gold? Look no further than the Gold Souk. This traditional market has several shops that sell premium quality gold.

What to buy: Gold jewellery, precious stones, gemstones

Location: Gold Corner Building, 3rd Floor - Gold Souq - Deira - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM (Saturday to Thursday), 4 PM to 9:30 PM (Friday)

2. Perfume Souk

Perfume store

Arabic scents are strong yet unique. You can buy them at Perfume Souk, along with incense sticks, crystals, and powder.

What to buy: Perfumes, incense sticks, powders

Location: Sikkat al Khali - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 9:30 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 9:30 PM (Monday to Saturday)

3. Textile Souk

Fabric store

The Textile Souk market is home to countless small shops selling premium fabrics. It is the oldest souk in Dubai.

What to buy: Clothes, mattresses, slippers

Location: 57, Opposite to Abra - Ali Bin Abi Taleb St - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 9 AM to 2 PM, 4 PM to 8 PM (Saturday to Thursday)

4. Souk Madinat

Shopping mall

It is the ambience of the Souk Madinat that sets it apart from others. Built in traditional Middle Eastern style, the mall has stalls selling all kinds of stuff.

What to buy: Sculptures, home decor, paintings

Location: King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud St - Al Sufouh 1 - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 11 PM (Everyday)

5. Spice Souk

Market

The Spice Souk has everything you need to cook delightful food. Besides spices, you can also buy dried fruits and oils in the market.

What to buy: Spices, oils, dried fruits

Location: 41 34th St - Deira - Al Ras - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 7:30 AM to 5 PM (Monday to Saturday)

6. Meena Bazaar

Bazar

The Meena Bazaar offers the best of every souk in Dubai. From gold to ceramics and spices, you can buy almost everything.

What to buy: Jewellery, spices, electronics

Location: 34 Al Nahdha St - Al Fahidi - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 8 AM to 6 PM (Saturday to Thursday)

Best Luxury Shopping Destinations in Dubai

1. The Dubai Mall

Shopping mall

What to buy: Fragrances, home furnishing, home

Location: Financial Center Street, Along Sheikh Zayed Road, Next to Burj Khalifa - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 12 AM (Sunday to Wednesday), 10 AM to 1 AM (Thursday to Saturday)

2. The Outlet Village by Meraas

Outlet mall

What to buy: Health and wellness, fashion, jewellery

Location: Near Dubai Parks and Resorts - Mina Jebel Ali - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 10 PM (Monday to Thursday), 10 AM to 11 PM (Friday to Sunday)

3. Mall of the Emirates

Shopping centre

What to buy: Bags, electronics, jewellery

Location: Sheikh Zayed Rd - Al Barsha - Al Barsha 1 - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 12 AM (Wednesday to Saturday), 10 AM to 1 AM (Sunday to Tuesday)

4. Gold & Diamond Park

Business park

What to buy: Jewellery, gemstones, fitness

Location: Sheikh Zayed Rd - Al Quoz - Al Quoz Industrial Area 3 - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 9 PM (Everyday)

Budget Shopping Destinations in Dubai

1. Dragon Mart

Shopping mall

What to buy: Clothes, footwear, toys

Location: Al Awir Road - International City - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 10 PM (Sunday to Thursday), 10 AM to 11 PM (Friday and Saturday)

2. Miniso

Gift shop

What to buy: Home decor, bottles, pillows

Location: Unit LG - 172 - Financial Center Rd - Downtown Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 10 PM (Sunday to Thursday), 10 AM to 11 PM (Friday and Saturday)

3. Dubai Outlet Mall

Shopping mall

What to buy: Clothes, shoes, jewellery

Location: Route 66 - Al Ain - Dubai Rd - Dubai Outlet Mall - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 10 PM (Sunday to Thursday), 10 AM to 11 PM (Friday and Saturday)

4. Brands For Less

Discount store

What to buy: Toys, homeware, clothes

Location: Ground Level. Grand Midwest Hotel Building - Sheikh Zayed Rd - Al Barsha 1 - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. Find on map

Timings: 10 AM to 10 PM (Sunday to Thursday), 10 AM to 11 PM (Friday and Saturday)

Shopping in Dubai: Essentials

Modes of payment:

  • Cards: Credit and debit cards are used frequently for payments in Dubai.
  • Cash: Cash remains the king in Dubai. It is more popular than all the other payments methods.
  • Mobile Wallets: Mobile wallets are quickly picking up pace in Dubai. You can use any mobile wallet to make payments.
  • Cheque: Paying by cheque is also an option, although it is best to avoid it.
  • Winter is the best time to visit Dubai. It begins in November and ends in April.
  • January, February are particularly crowded due to the Dubai Shopping Festival.
  • The average temperature in winters in Dubai is 19.9 degrees Celsius.
  • Tribes Dubai Mall - African dishes aren’t popular, but the Tribes Dubai Mall is working to change that. You can eat dishes belonging to different African countries. Find on map
  • Muchachas Mexican Cantina - The Mexican dishes served at the Muchachas Mexican Cantina in Dubai are better than those served in the Latin country. Find on map
  • Rhodes W1 - If you love British food, the Rhodes W1 will delight you. The restaurant's tea is also popular. Find on map
  • The GrillShack - This homegrown restaurant is one of the best places in Dubai for ribs, steaks, and burgers. Find on map
  • Tong Thai - Yes, you guessed it. The Tong Thai is where you go in Dubai for Thai food. Find on map
  • Metro: Dubai’s metro system has two lines - red and green - that connect the airport with the busiest parts of the city.
  • Bus: Buses in Dubai are an affordable option. They’re connected with every part of the city.
  • Taxi: Taxis are comparatively expensive but they can help you reach your location quickly.
  • Scooters: Like most cities, Dubai, too, allows you to rent e-bikes and scooters to explore the city.
  • Weather can be a problem in Dubai if you’re visiting in summer. You’ll find more markets and festivals open till late in winters.
  • Dubai offers diverse shopping experiences. You will find what you’re looking for within your budget.
  • Bargaining in department stores and street markets might help you grab better deals.
  • Know your budget before going as Dubai can exhaust your budget quickly.
  • Use public transport for visiting the different shopping destinations. It’ll help you save more money.
  • Carry an umbrella to protect yourself from the heat if you’re travelling in summer.

Frequently Asked Questions about Shopping in Dubai

Lanterns, coffee, shoes, and hookah are among the best things to buy in Dubai.