Dubai has to be one of the world's biggest bazaars - it even has an annual shopping festival.
Dubai is a shopper's paradise full of choices from all over the world at prices which compare favourably with other countries. Whether you want traditional items, designer goods, knicknacks, kitsch or tat, there is a shopkeeper waiting to sell it to you.
In the souks, or market places, it's part of the game to negotiate prices. It doesn't pay to be shy about bargaining - shopkeepers can "see you coming". Shop prices in malls are generally fixed although it doesn't hurt to ask for a 'best price' as you may get a further five or even 10% discount.
Gold is a good buy and although every mall has gold shops, there's a traditional market almost all to itself. The gold souk is a covered area choc-a-bloc with narrow shops filled to overflowing with gold items to delight the most fussy of buyers.
Yellow gold, white gold, platinum and silver items in a bewildering variety of styles are sold by weight. Prices are among the lowest in the Gulf area. Indian designs, local jewellery, Italian and European-styled pieces can all be found in the shops.
Nearby are the souvenir and antiques shops proudly displaying traditional knives called khanjars, brass goods from India and Pakistan, framed silver jewellery such as Bedouin necklaces and 'hubble-bubble' pipes called shisha. Look around slowly and savour life in the past as you look at the wooden items carved from sandalwood, walnut and rosewood inlaid with brass.
Dubai is also a great place for oriental carpets. In the souq you will find carpets from Iran, Pakistan, China and the Far East. Shop assistants will invite you to walk on them, unfold them, feel and inspect them- while listening to the tales and explanations given by knowledgeable salesmen. Notice the decorative edging depicting
flowers and animals. There are many styles and sizes to choose from, ranging from wall hangings to prayer mats and even smaller samples of carpet work can be bought in the form of table-mats and coasters.
Similar goods can be found in the many shopping malls which are dotted around Dubai with prices that are not too different from the souks. The malls are a haven of designer shops mixed with inexpensive stores; a shopping delight.
Al Ghurair Centre is one of the oldest and best-known centres with a good choice of toys, sports goods and wedding outfits.
The recently-opened City Centre was an immediate success with shops including Ikea, Woolworths and Music Master, and it now has its first floor open with many well-known names such as Burberry, Benetton, Laura Ashley and JC Penney.
Some of these names can also be found at Bur Juman with BHS and Liz Clairborne.
Wafi Centre is the place to go for that unusual something for those who have everything. The mall's management team buys the 'wacky' items found in their shop,
The Sharper Edge. Across the way is a shop called Petals which is full of dried flower arrangements, wrought-iron candle stands, hat boxes and Roman pillars made out of papier mache, along with other items you didn't know you wanted!
Upstairs is Oasis, a funky 1960's-type shop full of flowing hippy-influenced clothing. Evening wear, studded with sequins and beads, in feminine flowing materials
can be accompanied by fashionable platform boots or satin slipperettes.
For really cheap clothing, visit the shops in Karama where rails of goods are displayed both outside and inside shops. Many of the items have come directly from the Far East and others look quite similar to well-known brands.
Electrical and electronic goods are to be found in the shops around Al Fahidi Street- watches and cameras too. Some of the very latest models can be bought here.
The road between the Falcon roundabout and the Ramada traffic lights is fondly known as 'Computer Road' because of the plethora of computer companies found along this stretch. Brand-name and unbranded merchandise can be found in abundance here.
If you know what you're doing, you could probably order up a 'designer' computer from off-the-shelf components and get the whole thing put together at a very good price before the show ends!
Source: Flight Daily News
