Packed with shopping malls and bazaars, Dubai has become renowned for being the city with some of the best shopping in the world.
So important is shopping to the city’s culture that there are two annual shopping festivals.
During January and February, the Dubai Shopping Festival is held. Here is a shopping experience that is unrivaled, with street fairs, fun activities, and fireworks. There is also the Summer Surprises festival, held during the first month of summer.
Dubai has a hot climate. Its air-conditioned shopping malls, however, provide a welcome break from the heat. Malls provide great places to meet friends for lunch, as well as to shop for the top luxury brands. With all the world’s best stores congregated in one place, there’s no need to hire cabs to get around. The world’s most prestigious stores, offering the full spectrum of consumer goods, are steps apart.
There are currently almost 100 malls located across Dubai. Most are open between 10 AM and 10 PM, seven days a week. On Fridays, the Islamic holy day, many stay closed till 2 PM.
Dubai’s malls stand side by side with the traditional souqs, which trade in perfumes, carpets, textiles, and gold. Here you get a more cultural shopping experience, more reminiscent of the old Middle East.
There’s no doubt that shopping is a top attraction for the millions of visitors to Dubai each year, with the malls drawing the lion’s share of shoppers. The success of Dubai malls owes largely to the family activities and attractions they offer.
Take, for example, the sumptuous Mall of The Emirates, one of the world’s largest malls. Home to 630 of the most prestigious brands, this popular mall is a stunning work of art in itself, with polished marble floors and a dazzling skylight. As if to underline its unparalleled luxury, there’s even an indoor ski resort with real snow and penguins!
And why not treat yourself and stay in luxury right next to some of the world’s best shopping:
If you’re looking for the best shopping experience in the world, you need look no further than Dubai.
