Shopping tours
The capital of shopping in the UAE for sure it is Dubai. Most of people are coming to the UAE with one aim to get exclusive cars, jewellery, electronic devices, furs, perfumes and watches. We are not telling and guaranty that everything here is so cheap but for sure it is much cheaper than in Europe and you will get an absolute warranty on each purchased item. Every year Dubai invite all guests to visit the shopping festival where all you will get a good discounts and also will enjoy with an interesting cultural program. Even if you don’t carry yourselves to the shopaholic’s category with desire to buy the beautiful and high-quality things on beneficial prices will be as an advantage for you. More than 40 shopping centers in Dubai offer you an unimaginable choice of goods for all tastes. We offer you a special shop tours to the largest and popular city centers where you could save your time, which with an advantage for health can be spent on beach or in the spa center. There are two annual shopping festivals with dizzy discounts in Dubai, draws of valuable prizes, colourful fireworks and entertainments from all over the world. Never before the shopping experience has been as happy as in Dubai which called “a paradise for buyers”. Our shopping tours will take you to the best malls as well as the most unique locations, little known but hiding fabulous treasures for you to take home at a brilliant price. We can also take you to the shopping destination of your choice or you can consult with our tour guides as to the best places to shop in Dubai. We recommend you to visit the following shopping malls and souks in Dubai:
Trip to the Mall of Emirates
Trip to the Dubai Outlet Mall
Trip to the Dubai Mall
Trip to the Dubai Marina Mall
Trip to the Dubai City Center
Trip to the Ibn Battuta Mall
Trip to the Waffi Center
Dubai Top Souks
“Souk” or “souq”- is the Arabic word, which stands for the market or place where any kind of goods are brought or exchanged. Originally, boats or dhows from the neighboring countries such as: India, Ceylon, China and the Far East unloaded their wares at the souks. Traders from around the world brought with them a variety of merchandise and “haggled” over the sales and purchases. In the modern times or today, souks are still markets but they are just a shadow of their former wonder. Dubai has a number of souks scattered all over the city. Dubai souks are bright, colorful, noisy and fascinating like any other market place.
1.The Gold Souk.
World famous Gold Souk is Dubai’s Gold Souk, where narrow streets are lined with shop windows glinting with ornaments made in 22 and 24 carat gold, where each shop window is crammed with gold necklaces, rings, bangles, ear rings and brooches. Gold Souk stores offer platinum, diamonds and occasionally silver. The government keeps tight control over the quality of all the merchandise, so rest assured that your purchases will be genuine. If something in the window catches your fancy, be sure to barter — persistent protest capped with a walk away will get merchants to drop they’re asking price by as much as half. Gold Souk located in the Khalid Bin Waleed Road, in Al Ras area of Deira, Dubai.
2.Gold & Diamond Park.
Less atmospheric, but even cheaper, is the Gold & Diamond Park, where you can find unique designs or get jewellers to recreate pieces for you at a fraction of the cost of the original. Gold & Diamond Park located in the Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai.
3.Spice Souk.
Dubai Spice Souk – located just next to the gold souk. The colourful array of spices and their heady aroma is tantalising. You cannot get over the incredible number of spices that are available. Here you will find spices of all varieties: cardamom, cinnamon, saffron, turmeric, chilli, curry, cloves and more, but that’s not all; you will also find basmati rice, dates, dry fruits and nuts of endless varieties, different sorts of tee, shisha and tobacco, seductive perfumes, pottery as well as baskets. The spices are brought from the Middle Eastern region as well as from around other parts of the world.
4.Perfume Souk.
Perfume Souk – is the name given to the collection of perfume shops on Sikkat Al Khail Road, Deira, just east of the Gold Souk. Thousands of different sweet fragrances will invite you in Perfume Souk of Dubai. Here you will find yourself helpless while deciding which fragrance to buy. If you will find it difficult, smart and hasty shopkeepers will definitely help you out in selecting one. Aromas here range from traditional Arabic Ittars to latest perfumes all under same roof. Perfumes are also available in shopping malls but perfume souk is the best place to choose among a wide variety.
In addition to perfumes, you can also buy incense at the Dubai perfume souk. They are sold in the form of sticks, powder, crystal, rock and wood. Arabian perfumes are oil based and they tend to leave a stain when sprayed on clothes. So be careful and make sure you don’t do so. The perfumes are well priced and you can buy several bottles if you know how to haggle.
5.Old Souk/Textile Souk.
The Old Souk/Textile Souk – lies over the Creek in Bur Dubai. The bazaar consists of a long line of restored sand-coloured stone buildings, covered by a wooden roof in one area, and topped with attractive wind towers. The multitude of small shops here offer a massive range of fabrics (cashmere, silk, cotton, wool, etc.) plus garments, slippers, souvenirs, and other goods.
The Textile Souk can be reached from Deira (Gold Souk, Spice Souk, Perfume Souk) by crossing the water on an abra or water taxi. Abra (traditional wooden boat) will cost only 1 dirham, is quick and the experience is fantastic. Alternatively travel by Metro on the Green Line and alight at Al Ghubaiba Metro Station or Al Fahidi Metro Station.
6.Meena Bazaar.
Dubai is famous for its great intercultural community living together in peace. After the Arabic locals, Indian minority is the biggest in Dubai and Indians have always played the most important role in the business life of Dubai. Therefore Dubai has several Indian areas.
Meena Bazaar – is a great marketplace, a hub for Indian people where they can get just anything coming from their homeland. The most important goods include traditional Indian jewellery and wedding jewellery, watches, Indian textiles, Indian furniture and accessories or Indian spices. Of course, these are only some of the dozens of goods that are sold in Meena Bazaar, which, together with its area will really make you feel as if you were in India. You can also get to see two Hindu temples in the Meena area: one is dedicated to Shiva and the other to Krishna Gods. Meena Bazaar is located in Bur Dubai, next to Al Bastakiya area.
7.Naif Souk.
Naif Souk – located in the old Deira district of Dubai. This souk is amongst the oldest souks of Dubai and it served camel sellers as a camel market and then, it has developed into a full-fledged marketplace. Today, the rebuilt, Naif Souk awaits for visitors with more than a hundred shops and air-conditioned climate. The souk is famous for its souvenirs, leather, watches, jewellery, handbags and textiles.
8.Karama Market.
Karama – is one of Dubai’s most popular souk areas due to its “real fakes”, here, you will find everything from bags, shoes, DVDs, watches, jewellery and everything in between! There are many shops selling tourist items and souvenirs, the price is much cheaper than in the malls so, it is really a great place for gift shopping and to take your tourist friends. Prepare to be jumped upon by sellers and also prepare to haggle or tell that you are a resident, in order to get the best prices. Make sure, you keep an eye on your bearings, it’s easy to get disorientated. It is open a full day until late evening.
9.Modern Souk.
Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Souk Al Bahar (in Downtown Dubai) and Khan Murjan (in Dubai Wafi City), are a few of the more modern Dubai Souks. These souks are vibrant and a mixture of then and now. These places encourage the works of local artisans and bring back the magic of the Middle East.
10.Fruit & Vegetable Souk.
Fruit and Vegetable Market – based in Ras Al Khor, in the Emirates Road and is well signposted so, you can’t miss it. Here, you will find stalls with all fresh produce mainly sold in bulk, but you can buy smaller quantities too. There are some great savings to be had compared to prices in the supermarkets and a wide range of choice. The market has been refurbished and most stalls are now under shaded areas. You can hire men with trolleys who will help you carry your wares around the market until you have finished shopping and help you to your car.
11.The Friday Market.
The Friday Market – located in Masafi, Fujairah, on the East Coast Road between Dhaid and Masafi. Historically, it was a Friday market for traders in the less inhabited regions but the roadside market has now become a favourite stopping place for tourists and is on all week now, not just Fridays. It is a row of stalls on either side of the road that sell all sorts of things from carpets to pottery, fruit and vegetables, rugs, inflatable toys, household pots and pans. You may pick up some plants and pots as they are miles cheaper than in Dubai and some fresh bananas from Salalah. There are little tourist shops too, try an egg paratha from one of the little takeaway places! To get there from Dubai head up the Emirates Road, Sharjah direction and once past Sharjah, look out for a sign saying East Coast region, Fujeirah.