Dubai Shopping

Shopping is undoubtedly one of the Dubai's greatest draw cards, with the city often regarded as the ‘Shopping Capital of the Middle East'.

Markets
The souks offer an atmospheric shopping experience with sights, sounds and aromas that hint of yesteryear. The Spice Souk, Al-Sabkha Road, is more of a tourist attraction, while the buzzing Gold Souk, Sikkat al-Khali Street, offers some great deals on gold necklaces, rings, bangles, earrings and brooches, with gold prices among the lowest in the world. The gold souks are strictly regulated, so there is little chance of customers being ripped off in terms of quality, although prices do vary greatly and bargaining is essential. The Electronics Souk, near Beniyas Square, might sound a slightly incongruous idea but this is Dubai, which means that, with shopping, anything goes.

Shopping centres
The gargantuan Mall of the Emirates has recently been ‘outsized' by the largest mall in the world, Dubai Mall, which opened at the end of 2008 in a space equivalent to over 50 soccer fields. With 1,200 retail outlets, a 22-screen Cineplex, 160 food options, 220 gold and jewellery outlets, an Olympic-sized ice-skating rink and a Hamley's Toy Store, this is the mall to beat all malls.

The best-value items at the large shopping malls are mainly electrical goods and designer clothing, although interesting local products include carpets, Bedouin jewellery and Arabian souvenirs.

Opening hours
Dubai's shops are open 0800-1300 and 1630-2000/2100. Many shops are closed on Friday. Larger malls are open 1000-2200. Shops, malls and souks are all closed on Friday mornings. 

Duty-free
There is no sales tax in Dubai and the airport is renowned for having one of the finest duty-free opportunities in the world. This is open to both arriving and departing passengers.