28 Best Places to Shop in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Alserkal Avenue

Jumeirah Beach Fodor's choice
An entire district rather than just one gallery, Alserkal is an entire creative zone where one could happily spend an entire afternoon; 500,000 square feet of architect-designed warehouses now hold some of Dubai's most progressive and sought-after collections. It's a large space to navigate, but you can book tours that give you a more in-depth look at the galleries. Other events include photography courses, family programs, film and music festivals, markets, and pop-up chefs producing art on a plate. Check out their website for updated happenings before you go, to ensure you get the most of your visit.

Boutique Le Chocolat

Jumeirah Beach Fodor's choice
With its glamorous finishing, 19th-century chocolate factory paraphernalia, life-size chocolate sculptures and the design work of some of the world's best chocolatiers, this is more art gallery than sweets shop. Try and buy chocolates made in-store and all over the world, and even participate in a chocolate "experience" to design your own blend. You can even design your own labels. With more than 700 flavors and 13,000 square feet dedicated to the worship of the cacao bean, this is a must for all chocolate lovers.

O De Rose

Jumeirah Beach Fodor's choice
Three cousins from Lebanon have brought their love of art and design through New York and London, and delivered them into this eclectic and exotic boutique that expresses the vibrancy of Dubai beautifully. Housewares, fashion, art, and accessories are all unique and hand crafted, chic and kooky. There is an emphasis on the promotion of traditional art, and a wide range of products that support underprivileged artisans. Their own words describe the store as "Aladdin’s cave meets urban loft," which we think is a perfect description.

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The Dubai Mall

Burj Dubai Fodor's choice
The biggest mall in the world (3.77 million square feet and more than 1,200 stores) should need no introduction. There is everything you might possibly need or expect here, from high-end designer labels to mainstream fashion, gadgets galore, Bloomingdale's and Galleries Lafayette department stores, a gold souq, ice rink, aquarium, and underwater zoo, indoor roller coaster, Kidzania theme park, international restaurants, and more. You can also access the world's tallest building and the world's largest fountain display from the mall, and an easy walk across the water will take you to Souk al Bahar, a modern but traditionally styled mall with sleepy ambience, and tremendous restaurants.
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Art Space Gallery

World Trade Centre

The DIFC holds many galleries, and is a hub for investors and enthusiasts. It has built a reputation as a leading creative area in the city, and is also the home of Art Dubai together with the smaller Art Nights at the Gate Village. It's hard to choose just one gallery above all others, as each has its niche, but Art Space is a good place to start. With a changing roster of exhibitions of Middle Eastern artists, it is at the forefront of the growing interest in contemporary arts in the region: a great stopover for current and budding collectors.

BurJuman Centre

BurJuman might be one of Dubai's oldest malls, but recent upgrades have seen it come back to past glories. It had been known as an elite retail destination, with a range of designer stores and not much more, but recent additions also include more mid-level stores like H&M, The Toy Store and Carrefour Hypermarket. A cinema and entertainment center have now also brought up the standards of nonshopping activities, and there are a wide range of dining options from food court basics through to more upscale cafés and restaurants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed St., Al Mankool, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
4-352–0222

City Walk

Burj Dubai
This sleek development by the same developers who brought us the Dubai Canal manages to project that outside-in feel, perfect for Summer window shopping. It's very cleverly designed to look more like a strip, and covered with purpose-painted street art and stencilling. Stores here are both quirky designer as well top end, providing a point of difference for Dubai, where usually shopping tends to veer toward mainstream. There is an excellent selection of restaurants in the area, some of which are franchised by Michelin-starred chefs (all without liquor license).
39 Al Safa St., Al Wasl, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
4-317--3999

Comptoir 102

Jumeirah Beach
A collage of Paris and the Middle East, with a layout out of the pages of a glossy magazine, Comptoir is known for directing residents toward style and class. This concept store has a café, which focuses on healthy eating, with a leaning toward macrobiotic cuisine, and they source food from local organic farms where possible. The highlight is their collection of jewelry, which is diverse and different, selected by Vogue as one of the top selections in the world. There are also housewares, furniture, and clothing available, all completely individual and exclusive.

Deira City Centre Mall

The range of shopping opportunities here attracts a cross-section of customers from all nationalities and walks of life. Mainstream outlets dominate, but you'll also find more niche quarters to the mall, like the jewelry souk and textile court. There are three hotels attached (Ibis, Novotel, and Pullman), meaning there are some more serious dining options than just the standard food court fare. Free Wi-Fi is available, and there are also complimentary shuttle bus services to most of the larger creekside hotels.

Dream Girls

Jumeirah Beach

Undoubtedly one of Dubai's favorite tailoring shops, of which there are many, Dream Girls will make you anything from a simple shirt to a fabulous gown, or you can take in a beloved item of clothing and they'll make a copy of it. There are catalogs full of products that they can make to your exact measurements in whatever material you choose, much of which can be bought on Satwa Road nearby. Make sure you allow at least five days for good workmanship.

Satwa Rd., Satwa, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
4-349–5445

Dubai Festival City

Festival city is an area that spans over 50 million square feet, with this large mall at the center of residential zones, a golf course, waterfront dining strip, and two large hotels. Many mainstream brands are within this airy mall, which is anchored by Marks and Spencer, Ikea, and Hyperpanda, but you will find some local and niche labels, too. For when the shopping's done, there is a wide range of dining both in the mall and at the attached waterfront promenade, cinemas, and Fabyland offering up a treat for the kids.

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Dubai Marina Mall

Dubai Marina
This might be developed by the same company responsible for the Dubai Mall, but it's much more understated in style. It's a fairly simple mall with minor entertainment options and classic mainstream stores, but has the marina aspect and the alfresco terrace dining makes it worth a visit.

Gallery One

Jumeirah Beach

At the more affordable end of the spectrum, Gallery One offers mixed art and photography. Owner Gregg Sedgwick took many of the images of Dubai that are for sale, which can be an evocative souvenir of a trip to the emirate. Pieces are prints rather than originals, but most are far from bland and mainstream. You can purchase large framed works, all the way down to postcards and notebooks, meaning pricing is very approachable. This venue is in the delightful Souk Madinat, but others can be found over the emirate, and orders can also be made online.

Garderobe

Jumeirah Beach
Dubai is known for its glamorous women. It's common for designer labels to be bought and worn only once or twice before being discarded. This is when places like Garderobe come in, Dubai's resellers of preloved designer fashion. All items are checked and authenticated, and graded according to condition. Here you'll find clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and other accessories at greatly reduced prices, with ages varied from current season all the way through to vintage collectibles. Purchases also available online, and you can sell as well as buy.
Jumeirah Rd., Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
4-394--2753
shopping Details
Rate Includes: Closed Fri.

Ibn Battuta Mall

Dubai Marina

This visually unique shopping structure has six different courts, each designed in the style of the countries or regions visited by the 14th-century Islamic traveler and diarist, Ibn Battuta. From the azure tiles and fountains at Andalusia Court, you'll wander through Tunisia, Egypt, Persia, India, and finally to the life-size junk boat on display at the China court. Artisans were brought from across the globe to design the mall's decorative elements, including the ornate blue and gold enameling in the dome of the Persian court and the detailed wooden fretwork of the Egyptian souk. There are more than 200 stores here, including a large Géant hypermarket. The sprawling mall is all on one level, so the management provides golf cart transportation (there are several stops with frequent, regularly scheduled service) to give your tired feet a rest.

Jumeriah Beach Residence (JBR)

Dubai Marina

Stretching through the seaside apartment towers to the seashore, this shopping zone is a narrow island between the marina and the sea. The Walk is an outdoor waterside corniche for a European-style shopping experience with cafés and casual eateries interspersed among both niche and mainstream retail offerings. The Beach, on the sandy side of the road, has more indoor space, a cinema, plenty of kids play areas, and a swathe of interesting restaurants. There is also public beach access, and an exterior market in season.

Karama Market

Products at this higgledy-piggledy shopping area span from mundane essentials to mass-produced souvenirs There is also a large range of the latest designer copies and fakes, mainly clothing and accessories. Some of these are accessed via secret stairways or off-site stash piles making the illegal quest all the more exhilarating for some. Goods spill onto the walkways of this small commercial quarter of shops and kiosks, and all the activity makes for an electric environment. Karama is popular with expat workers who aren't on big tax-free salaries, and tourists on the lookout for bargain clothing or gifts to take home to their families. There's a range of cheap eateries around the market—tasty Indian and Pakistani fare, Filipino and Arabic cuisine—making it a great place for budget travelers.

16th St., Karama, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
shopping Details
Rate Includes: Some stores closed Fri. mornings

Majlis Gallery

This gallery is run by interior designer Alison Collins, who moved to Dubai in the 1970s and raised three children in this Bastakia mansion. She converted the property during the regeneration of the quarter (now called the Al Fahidi district), and since then it has become a major venue for emerging artists from around the Arab world. Exhibitions change constantly, lasting about two weeks each, and genres cover the whole gamut of visual arts, from oil painting to tapestry. Majlis also has an artist-in-residence program and an excellent commercial gallery.

Bldg. 19, Al Fahidi Historic Neighborhood, Bur Dubai, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
4-353–6233
shopping Details
Rate Includes: ½-days in summer

Mall of the Emirates

MOE is one of Dubai's largest shopping centers at more than 2.5 million square feet, and has more than 630 shops and department stores, with a comprehensive combination of designer and main street brands, fashion, housewares, and souvenirs. Department stores Harvey Nichols and Debenhams have their largest stores in the Middle East here, and more than 60 stores have made their Middle Eastern debut in this mall. A large Carrefour supermarket sells food, inexpensive clothing, and other domestic essentials. The complex was designed to be more than just a retail heaven, with sporting events, arts, and entertainment in addition to shopping. You might want to hit the slopes at Ski Dubai (the first indoor slope in the Gulf area), and there's also a multiscreen cinema complex, Magic Planet (a children's adventure and play area), and a community theater. There are two hotels connected to the mall, and a large variety of restaurants, cafés, and casual dining in two food courts.

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Meena bazaar and the textile souk

Bur Dubai
Some describe this area as "Little India," for although Indian expats have made homes all over Dubai, here is the largest concentration of goods, services, traders, and restaurants from the subcontinent. This district stretches from the Al Fahidi souk, across Al Fahidi street, down to the creekside textile stalls, and seaward through the old souk. Look for gold and diamonds, saris and pashminas, silk bedspreads and table linen, Indian sweets and great cheap eats. It’s a lively area, full of spruikers and traffic, so be prepared for an influx of the senses, and get ready to bargain.
Al Fahidi St., Bur Dubai, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
shopping Details
Rate Includes: Most stores close for lunch hr or so. Fri. opening is usually late, around 2 pm

Mercato Mall

Jumeirah Beach

Images of Mercato's Italian Renaissance style make it into many publicity brochures and travel guides about Dubai. An oldie, but still a goodie, this mall jump-started the themed shopping center craze in the Gulf. It's a well-decorated space, with an endearingly kitsch kind of charm, and plenty of kiosks that make the mall quite unique. By today's standards it's small, with only 140 stores, including Gap, Mango, and Top Shop, as well as many independent stores. The largest store is a Virgin Megastore, and the mall is anchored by a Spinney's supermarket.

Jumeirah Rd., Jumeirah 1, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
4-344–4161
shopping Details
Rate Includes: 10am to 10pm daily

Mirdif City Center

The North Bank
Mirdif City Center is one of Dubai's newer malls, and has more than 450 stores and 80 food and beverage outlets. Brands are international and vary from designer labels to cheap and cheerful. Entertainment in the center is world class, with indoor gaming at Magic Planet, rides, bowling, indoor skydiving, educational play, and cinemas. There's also free Wi-Fi and parking available.

Momentum

World Trade Centre
While the rest of Dubai is about all what is new and shiny, Momentum's specialty is vintage timepieces. They also have a range of very rare new pieces and unusual accessories, making it a true collectors destination. Sales are only part of the business. Momentum also promote Dubai Watch Week, and are associated with Dubai's only watch collectors community. With dedicated horologists rather than just jewelry salespeople, this is also the best place in Dubai to get your watch fixed, completely overhauled, or even sold (by consignment).

National Iranian Carpets

Jumeirah Beach

Situated in the beautifully replicated (and air-conditioned) Madinat Jumeirah souq, it's hard to walk past this incredible gallery of textiles. Inside, knowledgeable staff members will be happy to explain the traditional patterns and different qualities of carpets, which range from their own, produced in Iran, Turkey, and India, or their imported purchases from all over the world. Prices range from just over 1,000 dirhams for a small tribal piece, through to hundreds of thousands for full-room silk Esfahan carpets. There are branches at Dubai Festival City, Deira City Centre, and Mercato Mall.

Al Sufouh Rd., Al Sufouh, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
4-368--6002

Souk Madinat Jumeirah

The Jumeirah group's modern take on a traditional Arabian souk is a beautiful labyrinth of narrow alleyways packed with fine souvenirs, including high-quality carpets, arts and crafts, jewelry and clothing. Goods often clutter the walkways, giving the feel of an authentic Eastern bazaar where a million and one shiny items catch the eye. Most boutiques here are independent, but you will find some jewelry chains and a couple of mid-level designer brands. There is an excellent theater on-site. The waterside cafés (many of which are licensed to serve alcohol) are a great place to relax with a drink.

The Courtyard

The Courtyard is a collection of design studios and art/furniture importers set around a pretty cobbled, covered atrium with internal falaj (an Ancient Arabic water feature). The facade of each enterprise features architectural designs from around the world—including Roman temples and Arabic barjeels. Of note is Total Arts, a cathedral-like vaulted gallery, the work of Dariush Zandi, a local architect and designer who supports local artists by giving them work spaces and exhibitions.

Wafi City Mall

The South Bank

Some may call it an architectural wonder; others will find the whole experience bizarre. Wafi is a long, sprawling set of pyramid-shaped buildings, with extravagant detailing like stained glass ceilings and statues of Egyptian gods and pharaohs. Shopping is eclectic and predominantly high-end. Beneath the mall is a souk with a stunning courtyard restaurant (Khan Murjan), and there are a good range of other excellent restaurants (with licences to serve alcohol), and plenty of cafés and a food court for those on a budget. Entertainment includes a few kid zones, minigolf, and an attached leisure center with pool, lazy river, and gym.

Sheikh Rashid Rd., Umm Hurair, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
4-324–4555
shopping Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.--Thurs.

XVA

Bur Dubai

With an ever-changing calendar of thought-provoking exhibitions from artists around the region, XVA provides an interface between visitors and contemporary Islamic art. The owners play an important role in marketing the arts throughout the emirate, organizing numerous arts fairs and cultural soirees. The gallery is a consulting agency for commercial organizations, has corporate events, and also operates a boutique hotel and eatery.

Al Fahidi Neighborhood, Bur Dubai, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
4-353–5383