Shop 'til You Drop: Guide to Shopping in Dubai

Dubai is a shoppers paradise, recognised worldwide for its incredible retail experiences. Its iconic malls like The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates boast luxury designer brands. However, there is a whole other side of the city to explore beyond Dubai’s iconic malls.

Delve into the city’s lively weekend markets and souks where you’ll find gold, Persian carpets, oud and attar perfumes, and handmade treasures. Discover a thriving food scene and search for unique souvenirs and hidden gems.

Dubai offers something for every kind of shopper. Our guide will show you the top places to shop from famous shopping malls to Ibn Battuta’s Moroccan themed mall to weekend markets.

Visit The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates for flagship stores and luxury fashion, accessories, cosmetics and jewellery brands. Brands like Cartier, Tiffany & Co, Bvlgari, Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels, Christian Louboutin, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Versace and many others grace these malls expansive shopping aisles.

There are also different department stores, sports stores, electronics, and home furnishing stores like Pottery Barn to entice shoppers with new releases and discounted sales. 

Dining experiences enhance the luxury shopping experience and range from celebrity chef restaurants like Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver at Dubai Mall to fine dining and grab and go options. The sheer range of food on offer and culinary adventures coax shoppers to take a break.

Linger over coffee and dessert’s at Godiva Café at Mall of the Emirates or refuel with casual dining options at The Dubai Mall’s Food Court.

Take in the family entertainment hubs and theme parks at Dubai Mall like the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, KidZania, and VR Park’s virtual reality games. Ski Dubai, VOX Cinemas, and Atlantis Aquaventure Water Park at Mall of the Emirates is only a fraction of the family-friendly entertainment on offer. You can even meet penguins!

Dubai’s souks offer a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. The lively atmosphere, vivid colours and variety of merchandise offers a sensory overload that is both exciting and memorable. You will find products made by skilled local artisans rather than mass produced items.

From spices, to textiles and gold jewellery you can purchase original and high quality keepsakes that reflect Dubai’s culture and heritage. You will also have an opportunity to bargain with the storekeepers – an enjoyable pastime.  

The Gold Souk on Dubai Creek is where the streets are literally paved with gold. The souk houses hundreds of stores that sell gold jewellery, pearls and gemstones.

The Spice Souk also on Dubai Creek offers a variety of spices – with sacks and pyramids piled high on trestle tables featuring brightly coloured, aromatic spices like cumin, turmeric and saffron. Browse the stalls for dried fruits, nuts and fragrant teas from around the world. Located just across Dubai Creek is the

Textile Souk situated in the historic Bur Dubai Neighbourhood. Here you will find bundles of raw silk, cotton, embroidered materials and sewing accessories like lace, buttons, sequins and zips. You can even have a garment custom-made by one of the skilled local tailors or seamstresses.

Located downtown, next to the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world spanning over 1 million square metres across seven stories. Home to 1,300 stores and offering an astonishing array of high end fashion labels from Armani to Zegna and high street retailers like H&M and Zara. Other retailers include tech, interior design, sportswear, childrenswear and two hundred dining outlets. 

Dubai Mall is so much more than just shopping. It draws more than a million people each year to its Fashion Avenue, luxury cinemas, interactive play areas, creative pop-ups, an ice skating rink, ten million litre aquarium and underwater zoo plus loads of family-friendly shops and entertainment. Visit Hamley’s the famous British toy store and take in the musical fountain show from 6pm every evening. 

In 2023 Dubai Mall expanded its offerings with the addition of Zabeel, a lifestyle area that includes Chinatown, a space dedicated to Chinese restaurants and shops situated across the road and connected via a footbridge.

City Centre Deira, is located in Dubai’s old city on the crossroad between Sharjah, Bur Dubai and the Airport. You can find popular high-street stores like H&M and Zara, plus kidswear outlets like Babyshop, Okaïdi, The Children’s Place and Mothercare. You'll also have access to high end fashion stores include Balmain, Beveryly Hills Polo Club and Bershka.

The mall features over 370 stores, providing everything from pharmacies to supermarkets and a Food court. A textile court showcases Middle Eastern handicrafts, a great place to search for souvenirs. The centre offers several entertainment options including a bowling alley, 20 screen VOX Cinema complex and Food Central – a culinary hub that champions local outlets like Pickl, Raju Omlet, Mr Chaat, Asian Wok and more. A stand out feature is a live beehive which produces fresh honey. Food Central hosts an ongoing  program of food related activities.

Ibn Battuta Mall, the world’s largest themed shopping destination, draws its inspiration from the legendary Moroccan explorer, Ibn Battuta. Designed around the 14th century explorers travels, each of the malls centre courts is named in honour of Ibn Battuta’s explorations across China, Persia, Egypt, India and Andalusia.

China Court features a full-sized ship, while India court features a life-size medieval clock with mobile dragons and phoenixes. The mall has almost 300 stores and offers unusual entertainment including Sky Zone, a trampoline Park and Kidz Palooza – a soft play area for younger children. There is also a paint and pottery studio offering family workshops. 

At Dubai Outlet Mall you can shop for premium brands at affordable prices. More than 1,200 international brands are available across 240 stores, all featuring tempting discounts. This is the ultimate value shopping destination for designer and high street labels like Burberry, Coach and Calvin Klein. From clothing and accessories to jewellery, perfumes and shoes you can find extraordinary deals.

Dubai Outlet Mall also stocks gadgets, tools and electronics. There is a children’s entertainment area with lots of games at Chuck E. Cheese. When you’re looking to take a break from shopping, head to the food court and specialist restaurants.

The month long annual Dubai Shopping Festival, which usually runs from December to January , offers a variety of shopping, entertainment and cultural experiences throughout the city. It’s a major event featuring live music, street performers and chances to win prizes. Set against the backdrop of Dubai’s winter season you can experience super deals from over 3,000 participating local and international brands, unique dining experiences and life changing raffles. The festival features daily Drone Shows, fireworks and live music performances at JBR, Bluewaters and Dubai Festival City.

Every year, the Dubai Shopping Festival transforms the city into a shopper’s paradise, attracting millions of visitors from around the world. This month-long event celebrates all things to do with shopping. From luxury brands to local artisans, the festival showcases the best Dubai has to offer, making it a must-visit event for anyone who loves to shop.

• We suggest planning your budget 
• Explore both Dubai’s traditional souks and modern malls
• Be prepared to haggle in souks
• Bring along cash when vising Dubai’s souks as some vendors prefer cash to digital transactions
• Dress comfortably as Dubai malls are enormous – a case in point, The Dubai Mall is equivalent in size to fifty football pitches
• Dress modestly when visiting local markets and souks
• Follow retail social media pages so you can stay up to date on sales and offers
• Try and shop on weekday mornings as malls,  shopping centres and souks are less crowded than on weekends and evenings
• Don’t overpack – leave space in your luggage for all your new purchases

Dubai’s public transport options make it easy to reach all the main shopping areas in the city. The Metro is fast and modern and connects major malls like The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates. Plus it’s airconditioned which makes it a pleasure on a hot day.  The city’s buses cover the entire city and are an affordable way to reach major malls. Dubai’s trams operate between Al Sufouh and Dubai Marina. It is also integrated with the Metro so you can hop on and off easily. 

During busy events like the Dubai Shopping Festival, using public transport helps you avoid being stuck in traffic. We suggest getting a Nol card which you can use to pay for all public transport. You can purchase a Nol card at any metro station and simply load it with credit. You can top it up at metro stations or online. 

Dubai’s taxis and e-rides like Careem and Uber are widely available. The city’s bright pink taxis can easily be booked from anywhere using the RTA app. Driving in Dubai is easy and straightforward. Follow speed limits and local traffic rules. Parking is available at most malls.

No shopping trip to Dubai would be complete without bringing back memorable keepsakes. You will find unique souvenirs, gold jewellery, Persian carpets, pottery, traditional oud perfumes, dates and Arabic sweets like baklava and maammoul  from Deira’s vibrant souks. Take home personalised Arabic calligraphy which serves as a meaningful reminder of your trip. Visit artisan markets like ARTE The Makers' Market which takes place every Saturday at  Times Square Center in Al Quoz for handmade jewellery and a variety of arts and crafts. Also in Al Quoz is Alserkal Avenue - an open air space for arts and homegrown creativity. Stroll around the lanes to find original designs and art. Whether its handcrafted items or aromatic spices, Dubai’s souks and artisanal markets provide endless options for finding authentic souvenirs.

Consider staying at one of the Mercure hotels while on your shopping adventure in Dubai. Offering a blend of room types designed to suit every kind of shopper. 

The Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights Hotel Suites & Apartments on Sheikh Zayed Road is situated a two minute walk from the Dubai Internet City Metro Station offering  easy access to Ibn Battuta Mall on the red Line. And is within close driving distance of the Mall of the Emirates. Each hotel suite comes with a dedicated living area, separate bedroom with balcony, and walk-in showers and bathtubs. These fully serviced apartments offer you a home-away-from-home experience.

Mercure Gold Hotel Al Mina Road Dubai offers stylish, comfortable rooms, a pool and spa and fitness facilities. The hotel is a seven-minute drive away from Dubai Mall and Deira Creek. 

Mercure Dubai Deira is located nearby the Gold Souk Metro station which puts you in close proximity to Deira Creek and the historic Bur Dubai neighbourhood. The hotel’s rooms are spacious and contemporary and you can dine on locally inspired dishes at either the Blue Panda or Farmstead restaurant. Workout at the hotel gym and relax each evening at the rooftop infinity pool and bar after a day of hectic shopping.