Among the many charms of Dubai is shopping. Whether it’s haggling over Persian carpets in the centuries-old souks or shopping for French perfumes in the air-conditioned hush of the most modern department store, Dubai offers every shopper a great experience. And as an open port with low import duties, prices are very attractive. Trade is at the heart of Middle-eastern culture, so the variety of products is staggering.

So if you’re moving for that new job in Dubai , or just spending a few weeks vacation, shopping will be one of the highlights of your visit. Here’s the lowdown on the shopping scene in Dubai. First, let’s look at where to go. We’ll refer to locations relative to the Dubai Creek, the waterway that splits the city into the two halves of Deira and Bur Dubai.

For sheer comfort, you can’t beat Dubai’s many modern shopping plazas. Air-conditioned and furnished with escalators, these multi-storey emporia sell everything from designer fashions to the latest Japanese televisions. They also house restaurants, cafes and movie theaters for the total day out. Among the most prestigious in Bur Dubai is the centrally-located Bur Juman Center, an enormous shopping mall with180 prestigious stores selling high fashion labels for the uber chiq.

Leading malls in the Deira district include Al Mulla Plaza, the Intercontinental Plaza, Abu Hail Shopping Centre, The Galleria, and Al Ghurair Centre Bur Dubai features the Wafi Mall and Holiday Centre Plus there are a host of top class department stores and boutiques spread throughout the city. Emirates mall is one of the most exclusive shopping properties in Dubai, and should not be missed.

Modern malls offer the most convenient and comfortable way to shop. But to uncover the exotic past of this futuristic city, and to savor the sights and smells of the authentic Arab world, you need to head to one of Dubai’s souks. These are the traditional markets of Dubai and you’ll find them on both sides of the creek.

Souks are usually organized into areas selling similar items and are often named after a product. Thus the Gold Souk is the place to pick up gold ornaments. Here you can browse earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets and pendants in a stunning variety of designs. A specialty of the local gold craftsmen is creating items in shades of pink, white, yellow or green by varying the alloys.

The nearby Spice Souk is filled with baskets piled with cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, incense, dried fruit and nuts. Browsing here is an aromatic adventure which you can continue in the Perfume Souk. And there’s even a Fish Souk to sell the morning’s catch of fish from the Arabian Sea.

So there’s no shortage of places to shop in Dubai. Now let’s look at some of the practicalities of shopping.

Traditional shopping hours from Saturday to Thursday run from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a break between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Most modern outlets such as malls and supermarkets stay open all day. All outlets close for prayers on Friday between 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and many shops stay open late on Fridays.

Bargaining is a traditional part of shopping in Dubai. While most modern outlets have fixed prices, for family businesses and markets, negotiation is a key component of the buying process. One good tip is to check out prices at the fixed-priced outlets before heading to the souks. This will give you an idea of a fair price before you start haggling.

As an entrepot port, you can buy products from all over the world in Dubai. And electronic goods, watches, cameras and such items are competitively priced. You can often pick up fashion items for less than you’d pay in the country of origin due to the low taxes. But don’t leave Dubai without picking up some local delights.

If you’re looking for authentic local souvenirs you have many choices. You can’t go wrong with Arabic coffee pots to remind you of the aromatic local brew. Then there are silver and brass sword and daggers, prayer beads, frankincense, Arabian perfumes, rugs and Persian carpets. And don’t forget pearls. Before oil was discovered in the UAE in the 1950s, the country’s economy was built on fishing and pearling.

The important thing about shopping in Dubai is to enjoy yourself. There are bargains to be found and you can acquire rare and exotic items that will grace your life for many years to come.

many charms of Dubai is shopping. Whether it’s haggling over Persian carpets in the centuries-old souks or shopping for French perfumes in the air-conditioned hush of the most modern department store, Dubai offers every shopper a great experience. And as an open port with low import duties, prices are very attractive. Trade is at the heart of Middle-eastern culture, so the variety of products is staggering.

So if you’re moving to Dubai to live or just spending a few weeks vacation, shopping will be one of the highlights of your visit. Here’s the lowdown on the shopping scene in Dubai which offers literally thousands of shopping outlets across the city. First, let’s look at where to go. We’ll refer to locations relative to the Dubai Creek, the waterway that splits the city into the two halves of Deira and Bur Dubai.

For sheer comfort, you can’t beat Dubai’s many fantastic shopping plazas. These multi-storey emporia sell everything from designer fashions to the latest in Eastern technology. They also house restaurants, cafes and movie theaters for the total day out, so finding something to do, and doing it for the whole day, is an easy task in Dubai. Among the most prestigious in Bur Dubai is the centrally-located Bur Juman Center, enormous shopping mall with hundreds prestigious stores adorning the latest in fashion and design, as well as restaurants, textiles and various other attention grabbing shopping outlets.

Leading malls in the Deira district include Al Mulla Plaza, the Intercontinental Plaza, Abu Hail Shopping Centre, The Galleria, and Al Ghurair Centre Bur Dubai features the Wafi Mall and Holiday Centre Plus there are a host of top class department stores and boutiques spread throughout the city.

Not to be missed is the famed and fashionable Emirates mall located at the end of Sheik Ziad Road and which boasts its own indoor ski mountain for those who wish to comfort themselves from the hot summer months after a day of overworking the credit cards. Dubai’s modern malls not only offer the most convenient and comfortable way to shop, but they also offer the latest the design world has to offer.

Souks

However, to uncover the exotic past of this futuristic city, and to savor the sights and smells of the authentic Arab world, you need to head to one of Dubai’s souks. These are the traditional markets of Dubai and you’ll find them on both sides of the creek.

Souks are usually organized into areas selling similar items and are often named after a product. Thus the Gold Souk is the place to pick up gold ornaments. Here you can browse earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets and pendants in a stunning variety of designs. A specialty of the local gold craftsmen is creating items in shades of pink, white, yellow or green by varying the alloys.

The nearby Spice Souk is filled with baskets piled with cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, incense, dried fruit and nuts. Browsing here is an aromatic adventure which you can continue in the Perfume Souk. And there’s even a Fish Souk to sell the morning’s catch of fish from the Arabian Sea.

If you’re looking for authentic local souvenirs you have many choices. You can’t go wrong with Arabic coffee pots or sheeshas to remind you of the aromatic local brew. Then there are silver and brass sword and daggers, prayer beads, frankincense, Arabian perfumes, rugs and Persian carpets. Pearls, handwork, leather items and various other authentic and rustic items.

Bargaining at Souks

Bargaining is a traditional part of shopping in Dubai, but please not that modern outlets have fixed prices, so save the embarrassment of trying to haggle a hundred dirhams off that new Armani Jacket at Emirates Mall. Bargaining is for family businesses and markets, negotiation is a key component of the buying process. One good tip is to check out prices at the fixed-priced outlets before heading to the souks. This will give you an idea of a fair price before you start haggling.

Of course, if you’ve exhausted your options, and your feet, you can always take a rest in front of the computer, get online and do some online shopping at Dubai’s first choice for classifieds by searching on zoozi.com for used furniture, cars, property and more. You can find great deals on great items that need to be moved quickly by the outbound expat. You can find ZOOZi by following the link to http://www.zoozi.com

The important thing about shopping in Dubai is to enjoy yourself. There are bargains to be found and you can acquire rare and exotic items that will grace your life for many years to come.

Some notable Shopping addresses and operating hours:

Mall of the Emirates,

Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Tel: 04 340 3392

Website: http://www.malloftheemirates.com

Mall Hours: Sunday-Wednesday:10:00am-10:00 pm,Thursday- Saturday:10am-12:00midnight,Carrefour 10:00 am–midnight

Magrudy’s Jumeirah,

Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Tel: 04 344 4192

Mall Hours: 9am–9pm. Fridays 4.30pm–9pm

Deira City Center,

Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Tel: 2954545

Fax: 2955252

Email: dcc@deiracitycentre.com

Website: http://www.deiracitycentre.com

Mall Hours: Sat-Thurs – 10am-10pm and Fri – 2pm-10pm

Burjuman Mall

Bur Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Tel: 3520222

Fax: 3510824

Email: info@burjuman.com

Website: http://www.burjuman.com

Mall Hours: Sat-Thurs – 10am-10pm, Fri – 2pm-10pm

Dubai -‘Pearl of the Arabian Gulf ’,Known to be one of the most fast growing cities in the world, Dubai has its share of tourists and visitors which is growing in number every year. The economic growth has been phenomenal here, owing to which many international hotels have set up branches here. A city which is a good blend of modernity and history has within its boundaries a multitude of star hotels.

According to statistics, an all-time record 6.5 million guests stayed in Dubai hotels in 2006 and there was a 6.9% increase in hotel rooms and apartment occupancy during the same year. Dubai scored a world record when its hotel establishments recorded the highest occupancy and revenues in the month of January 2007, leaving behind Hong Kong, Sydney, Tokyo and London in occupancy levels.

Hotels in Dubai are much sought after, and all of them come with superb facilities and amenities. Many of the Dubai Hotels, are spread across Deira and Bur Dubai. There are also a good number of hotels located in Dubai Marina, an area boasting of good tourist as well as business connections. Additionally, a plethora of superb business hotels can be found in the modern business areas of Dubai, such as Sheikh Zayed Road. However, many of the famous luxury hotels are located in Jumeirah beach area. Some of the unique traits of majority of the Dubai hotels are authenticity, luxury, and exceptionality.

A destination spot for holiday travelers to Dubai growing in popularity is the Burj-al-Arab, the first seven-star hotel is probably the greatest of all luxury hotels in Dubai. Acknowledged as the ‘Tower of Arabs’, consists of 28 stories, each of which is noted for their unique architecture and superb views. Further, it boasts of the tallest atrium in the world, which measures about 600 ft. The hotel’s facilities, among many others, are 202 suites equipped with superb facilities, five restaurants serving sophisticated dining menu round the clock, four bars, and sophisticated spa facilities.

Other best hotels in Dubai are Admiral Plaza Hotel, Al Jawhara Apartments Hotel, Arabian Courtyard Bur Dubai Hotel, Metropolitan Palace Dubai Hotel, Hawthorn Deira Hotel, Taj Palace Dubai Hotel, and York International Hotel.

Finally it is important that you find hotels in the Dubai of that are affordable for your holiday budget. Take the time to compare the rates of several hotels and other types of lodging accommodations. Holiday apartments in and the villas in the sea cave area of are two additional lodging options available to people on holiday to the Dubai. By comparing rates and services, you can ensure you get the features you need in a hotel with a price tag that you can afford.