Shopping in Dubai

Real estate in Dubai is in demand among tenants and buyers, as people come to this city to live, work, and visit attractions, numerous boutiques and shopping centers. We tell you what events in the metropolis await shopping lovers and what goods to pay attention to.

Content:

• Festivals and sales in Dubai in 2023
• What and where to buy in Dubai?
• Recommendations to make shopping in Dubai effective

Festivals and sales in Dubai in 2023

Buying during festivals and sales can save you a lot. Here is a selection of events planned for 2023 for those who love to shop:

• From July 29 to September 3, 2023, a sale of autumn–winter collections of clothes will take place in the city.
• Discounts on products from famous international brands in various boutiques will be in June.
• The Dubai Summer Surprises festival will start on July 29 and continue until September 3. Prizes will be drawn at the event, but the main idea of the festival is large discounts in all shopping complexes of the metropolis.
• The last sale in the emirate this year will take place from December 5 to December 25.

What and where to buy in Dubai?

What to spend money on in Dubai, where to find the best products, and most importantly, how much does it cost?

• Expensive jewellery. Precious jewels are the most popular goods in Dubai. Tourists from different countries: Russia, Great Britain, China, etc., come to the emirate for jewellery. Arab decorations attract with their beauty, high quality, and affordable price. Dubai gold is an alloy that imitates precious metal. At the same time, jewellery made from it is not different from real gold products: it is resistant to salt, water and sun, does not oxidize, and does not corrode. Such decorations can be purchased in specialized stores and trading shops of Khushi Jewellers, the jewellery house of Zaiba Jewels, at the Dubai Gold Souk market.
• Perfumes and incense. Eastern perfume consists of a mixture of aromatic oils and, unlike European spirits, it does not contain alcohol. In Dubai, they can create a perfume according to your wishes. The master will listen to what kind of perfume you want and will create a scent that no one else will have. Such a specialist can be found at local markets. Stores offer perfumes and toilet water from world-famous brands: Lacoste, Chanel, Dior, etc. In the Arabian Oud store, a 100 ml bottle of perfume will cost about AED 360 (about $100), in Al Ghurair City – AED 40–50 ($10–13).
• Daggers. To bring home a dagger from Dubai as a reminder of the trip, you need to go to a souvenir shop. Such a "cold weapon," made of brass and copper, will cost AED 40 (about $11). However, if you want to buy an expensive antique dagger, you should visit antique boutiques. Traditional Arab weapons can be recognized by large curved sheaths.
• Hookahs, pipes, tobacco. Smoking pipes in Dubai are handmade. They, like tobacco with a hookah, can be found in shops and supermarkets. The choice of hookahs is very big: from small to meter-long, from simple to festive. Saudi Arabian tobacco is sold in bulk in stores. One kilogram costs about AED 180 (about $50).
• Alcohol. It is allowed to consume alcohol here in your hotel room, in bars, and private closed clubs. Drinking alcohol in other public places is subject to a fine.

Currently, in Dubai, there is an opportunity to get a free permit to purchase any amount of alcohol. A license can be taken at local supermarkets. For this, you need to visit the nearest store of the African Eastern or MMI chain. One such boutique is located in the Dubai Marina Mall shopping complex; another is opposite the Karama Fish Market. The store employee will scan two pages of your passport - the main one and with the entry stamp.

You will be asked to fill out a form where the rules for buying, transporting, and consuming alcohol are indicated. After this, you will receive a license, which will be valid for 30 days.

In the emirate, the price of a 0.5 bottle of beer varies from AED 25 to 45 ($7–12), a bottle of wine costs at least AED 50 ($13).

• Sweets. Shops with dates, sherbet, pastille, nougat, halva, Turkish delight, and other Eastern desserts can be found almost everywhere in the city. The largest candy store in Dubai is Candylicious, covering an area of approximately 1000 m². The cost of goods here is higher than in the markets, but the tour will be remembered for a long time.
• Scarves. A shawl made of natural cashmere can be purchased in the metropolis for about AED 200 ($55). Woolen and cotton scarves cost half as much. Beautiful models can be found in the Dubai Spice Souk.
• National clothing. Many Russians bring home items of Arab traditional costumes, such as women's abaya and shayla, and men's kandura and gutra. Ceremonial, casual, and home clothes can be found in the Naif Souk market. The cost of costumes depends on the fabric and model.
• Clothing. Down jacket, boots, dress, coat, tracksuit, sneakers, shoes, underwear from world-famous brands can be found in boutiques in the numerous shopping centers of the city. The cost of such goods is about one and a half times higher than in Russia. To level the difference, you can plan a trip to the UAE during the big sale season.
• Fur coats. Local residents usually do not need fur coats, as in the coldest month of the year, the temperature in Dubai does not drop below 18 ºC. However, there are fur stores, and their goods are incredibly popular among foreigners. The cost of products depends on the model, length, and fur. Fur prices in the Emirates are much lower than in Russian stores, for example, a floor-length mink model may cost AED 11,000 ($3000). If you haggle, you can achieve a discount of 30% or even more.

Hundreds of fur shops operate in the Nasser Square district. It's best to come to Dubai for fur products in the summer or from early January to mid-February – it is when you can buy goods at a discount of up to 50%.

Recommendations to make shopping in Dubai effective

1. It's better to fly to Dubai for shopping in the middle of the month, as local residents receive their pay at the beginning and end of the month. People go out to spend money, so it can get a little crowded in the markets and shopping malls during these times.
2. Typically, not all goods in Dubai are displayed in the shop windows. If you like something, ask if other colors and sizes are available.
3. The best way to bargain successfully in the Emirates is to pay in cash. Therefore, before going to the market, withdraw money from an ATM. To negotiate a lower price, you should smile at the seller – this will make them more inclined to favor you.
4. When buying electronics, check if there is a stamp in the documents.