One of Dubai’s greatest visitor attractions is its superb shopping. The city draws large numbers of ‘ shopping tourists’ from countries within the region and from as far afield as Eastern Europe, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. As an open port with low import duties, Dubai’s retail prices are reasonable and the variety of products available is virtually unrivalled. Free of tax, many top brand-name products are cheaper in Dubai than in the countries of their origin. Whatever the visitor’s tastes — be it couture from Paris or Milan, hi-tech electronics from Japan, or a piece of silver Bedouin jewellery — he or she will find it at the right price in Dubai. In addition to the souk districts and shopping malls listed below, there are many top-class department stores and boutiques throughout the city.

These range from the traditional narrow streets of the spice souk just a stone’s throw from the Creek, to the modern fish souk with the many varieties caught in Gulf waters, and the fruit and vegetable souk with its bustle and vivid colours.

Dubai’s most famous market of all is the gold souk, where narrow streets are lined with shop windows glinting with bracelets, necklaces and earrings in 18, 21 and 22 carat gold. Bars of 24 carat in any form and weight, and bullion coins in 22 and 24 carat are also available. Prices are very reasonable and largely determined by weight, rather than design and craftsmanship.

In Deira Tower’s shopping mall, carpet traders from countries across the Gulf — Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan — have established a carpet souk where prices in the 40 shops range from a few hundred dirhams to many thousands.

In Bur Dubai, Al Fahidi Street is noted for its electronic goods shops while nearby Cosmos Lane is lined with stores selling the textiles of West and East, from cool printed cottons to exotic brocades. Further out from the city centre, Karama is Dubai’s bargain basement with an array of busy shops selling toys, household goods, textiles, fashions, accessories and much more.

Attractive modern shopping plazas are conveniently located throughout the city, housing a wide range of shops, boutiques, supermarkets, restaurants and fast-food outlets. Deira malls:Leading malls in Deira district include Deira City Centre, Al Mulla Plaza, the Inter-Continental Plaza, Abu Hail Shopping Centre, The Galleria, Al Ghurair Centre, Al Warba Centre, Al Manal Centre, Al Bustan Centre, Al Futtaim Centre, The Dana Centre, The Center and Hamarain Centre. Dubai malls: On the Dubai side of the Creek the Wafi, BurJuman Centre, Lamcy Plaza, Al Dhiyafa Centre, Karama Centre, Al Rais Shopping Mall, Dune Centre, Al Hana Centre, Al Khaleej Centre and Holiday Centre are among the largest complexes. Jumeirah malls:The Jumeirah district has Magrudy’s Shopping Mall, Markaz Al Jumeirah, Mercato, Jumeirah Plaza, The Beach Centre, Town Centre Jumeirah and Palm Strip.

Dubai Duty Free at Dubai International Airport has won numerous international awards and ranks among the top duty-free operations in the world. As part of the airport’s expansion for the next millennium it will quadruple in size to cover an area of 9,000 sq m. Dubai Duty Free is open 24 hours a day and offers a wide variety of merchandise catering to the multinational passengers using Dubai International Airport. One of the main attractions at Dubai Duty Free is the Finest Surprise raffle draw which gives passengers the chance to win a luxury car.

Normal Dubai hours are from 9.00am–1.00pm and 4.00–9.00pm or later. Some boutiques in the residential areas do not open until 9.30 or 10.00am. Shopping malls tend to open from 10.00am–10.00pm. Most supermarkets stay open until late at night seven days a week, while some remain open 24 hours. Shops close for prayers on Fridays from 11.30am–1.30pm. Shopping malls and most shops are open on Friday evenings until late.

Bargaining is part of the fun of shopping in Dubai. While boutiques, some electronics shops, department stores and supermarkets may operate on a fixed-price basis, most other outlets consider friendly negotiation as a way of life.

The Dubai shopping scene offers something for everyone. Apart from competitively-priced electronics products, watches, cameras and other international items, popular traditional gifts include:

• Arabic coffee pots.
• Silver and brass swords and khanjars (Arabic curved daggers).
• Prayer beads.
• Soapstone figures.
• Coasters, letter racks, jewellery boxes, chests etc, decorated with lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite and other semi-precious stones.
• Marble goblets.
• Antique silver jewellery.
• Brass items.
• Silver and wooden miniature dhows.
• Persian carpets and cotton dhurries (oblong floor coverings).
• Inlaid rosewood and walnut furniture.