Dubai Shopping Tips by Escadora7 Top 5 Page for this destination

Chinamex mart: The Dragonmall

This place is a change to the typical Dubai shopping-mall. The building, which is supposed to represent a dragon, is only one storey high, but is extremely long (the tail of the dragon), consisting of several buildings connected to each other. When you enter you won't find the common Dubai luxury stores, but rather uniform square cubes, all crammed full with merchandise, and none decorated in any special way. The motive of the mall is "China" - oh and it really isn't a mall (no foodcourt, not your usual vendors), but a mart. The merchandise is not your latest fashion-trend or high-priced cosmetics, but it's mostly items with practical use. Though we didn't see any there, this would probably be the place where you would by a tractor.

It's fun walking through, and you can find some great deals. When you stroll along, you will find that you wander from one area of specialization to the next - first you are in electronics, then all you see is tools, then home-accessories, and so on. The place is cheap - cheaper than most of Dubai.

If you are only on a one-week trip in Dubai, there are plenty other - prettier and more interesting - malls to go to. But if you spend more time and you have seen it all, or if you are looking for a particular item, Chinamex Mart is a good place to visit.

What to buy: children's clothing, toys, purses, fashion- accessories, tools, electronics, home-accessories

What to pay: A lot less than everywhere else!

Directions: just 5 minutes outside of Dubai, but we don't remember the street anymore at this point - either Sheik Zayed (going opposite direction of Abu Dhabi) or Emirates Road.....we'll look it up!

Phone: +971-6-5776699

Theme: Other

Dubai Summer Surprise: You want me to go to a desert and do what? SHOP???

So Ash asks me one day .. 'Whats the first thing that comes to your mind when I say desert and shopping?' and I say 'Tintin!!' Well, the first images that I can recollect are of Honest Abdullah, going into the middle of nowhere, right out into the desert and setting up shop. A little stall with the wildest of articles. The last thing that Abdullah sets up is a little loudspeaker, and then he starts yelling into this , and lo and behold! from all the four corners of the desert (if you can call it that) come running the most primitive of bedouins .. all excited and rushing in for their shopping spree. Well, it isn't quite like that anymore - nowadays you have the DUBAI SUMMER SURPRISE, a shopping extravaganza for the entire family. DSS is held every summer (July/August) to attract shoppers from around the world. DSS offers a series of fun activities for children (all held in climate controlled facilities), and some great sales for the adults. As a further attraction to lure tourist during the unbearably hot summer months, hotel rates are greatly reduced during the DSS. Oh yeah - lot's of handy coupons in the official DSS-guide, as well as a listing of events.

This website provides a great description and some background about the DSS.

What to buy: Anything your heart desires - great sales during the DSS, from perfumes to pendants, garters to gems, and chances at winning prizes (cars, electronics, computers, etc.) all over the place with scratch & win coupons, raffles, etc. There are grinning Arabs on every poster, nook and corner with the words WIN! coming out at you. Oh yeah! How could we forget ... GOLD, GOLD and even more GOLD!
And the best part? - You can keep the little ones entertained throughout. During the 2005 DSS, spectacular ice shows were organized in malls all over the city. We happened to watch one of the shows in Burjuman - it was a troupe of professional ice-skaters from Russia, all dressed up in spectacular costumes and engaging the open-mouthed kids. They performed stunts with fire, hoops, and swirled each other around. In the end they brought some of the kids onto the stage; one of the little performers refused to leave the stage (with his dad encouraging him to stay on and pose in front of the national TV camera). hehehehe

Following are a list of activities that were offered during the 2005 DSS:
- Kids Cinma
- Cartoon & Cartoona Play
- Cartoon Museum
- Cartoon Hospital
- Cartoon Academy
- Kung-Fu Academy
- Puppet Theater Shows
- The Jungle Cartoon Forest
- The Juggling
- Big Heads Band Show
- Tom & Jerry
- The Great Magic Show
....... and many more

What to pay: The events are free. The amount you spend in the malls depends on what you buy.

Address: Malls

Directions: DSS events are held in most all the Dubai Malls - check the official guide for listing of events and places

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.mydsf.com

Lamcy Plaza: Shopping in Lamcy Lamcy Plaza Review

Built in 1997, Lamcy is one of the "older" malls (for Dubai-standards). It's a 5-storey shopping center, offering anything you might be looking for. Lamcy has a huge food-court and childrens play-area/arcade, both located on the ground floor.

Noteworthy:
- We took a coffeebreak in the London Tower Bridge Cafe, located on the 4th floor and overlooking the entire mall.

- the GMC store (ground floor) offers really cheap prices on athletic nutrifood stuff.

- There is a bubble gum machine that gives you gum without putting coins in (look for it.. its on the second floor) .. unless of course its been fixed now.

- Observe the clown climbing up and down a rope in the middle of the mall - he's not real, but looks so....

- Near the entrance of the mall is a huge waterfall, coming down from the 3rd floor.

- Lamcy always has special events for youngsters going on. When we were there, they featured a spaceship-ride - unfortunately we were not able to kick out the little kids and thus couldn't get on the ride. :-(

What to buy: Lamcy Plaza is particularly good for sporting goods, children's toys and clothing. With lots of sales, this is the perfect place for bargain hunting for the entire family.

TIP:
Sign up for the free air miles card (a loyalty product), that gives you benefits once you have enough points. You receive points for every receipt from a participating store - all you have to do is keep your receipts and present them at the Lamcy counter.

What to pay: Depends on what you buy. Lamcy is in the middle to lower price range. Certainly cheaper than Wafi.

Address: Dubai, U.A.E.

Directions: Lamcy is located in Oud Metha.
Opening hours:
Sat - Tue 9am - 10pm
Wed - Fri 9am - 10.30pm
Food Court 9am - 12 midnight

Phone: +971 4 3359999

Theme: Other

Wafi Shopping Mall: Were Do I Spend My Mashreq Millionaire Winnings? Wafi City Review

Wafi Shopping Mall is part of the Egyptian Style Wafi City. The mall is one of the most luxurious and upscale shopping destinations in Dubai, home to designers the likes of Versace and Gianfranco Ferre. Wafi mall is 2 storeys high, with a somewhat meager food-court on the 3rd floor. However, there are excellent restaurants (like Elements Restaurant) spread throughout the mall between stores. Besides a couple of fast-food places, the 3rd floor also houses the Encounter-zone, a play and gaming area for children of all ages (baby-sitting/supervision available).

Architectural gem: besides the overall Egyptian design, Wafi Mall is famous for the 3 stained-glass pyramids - well worth a visit, even if shopping there might not be within reach yet...

What to buy: Dubai is the shopping-Mecca - you can buy ANYTHING.

What to pay: the sky is the limit.....

Address: Umm Hurair 2

Directions: In the center of Wafi City in Umm Hurair 2.

Phone: 04/324-4555

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.waficity.com

Ibn Battuta Mall: On the footsteps of ibn Battuta

Born in the 14th Century, Ibn Battuta travelled over 75,000 miles in the 29 years of his travels, beginning when he was only 21 years old. He will forever be remembered for the amazing feat of travelling the world in a time before modern means of transportation.

Despite the numerous dangers he encountered, Ibn Battuta managed to travel from Tangiers, through Northern Africa, Andalusia, much of the Middle East and Turkey, South East Asia, India and China, before making his way back home.

Now anybody visiting the Ibn Battuta shopping mall can follow in the footsteps of the adventurous traveller. Dubai's Ibn Battuta mall consists of 6 building, each designed in a different theme:

China Court - decorated with a huge chinese sailing-ship, China court houses the first ever UAE IMAX theater, as well as a multitude of other entertainment opportunities.
India Court - Al Jazari's Elephant Clock amazes onlookers; India court is home to international designer fashions.
Persia Court - built in 14th century Persian architecture, Persia court houses select department stores, including Debenhams. Don't miss the huge Persian Dome!
Egypt Court - designed in 14th century Cairo theme (hyroglyphic friezes and all), Egypt Court is home to family fashion, as well as sporting apparel.
Tunisia Court - designed to resemble a 14th century North African marketplace, you can find the UAE's first Geat Hypermarket, as well as an innovative Food Court (offers healthy choices), the latest in homewares, and anything your family needs.
Andalusia Court - centered with an incredibly impressive Lion's fountain, the Andalusian Court is designed for convenience and daily task: banking, flower shop, video rental, dry cleaning, etc.

The mall offers special guided 45-minute tours throughout the different courts, explaining the travels and adventures of Ibn Battuta.
Sign up at the customer service desk in China or Tunisia Court or call them in advance.

What to buy: You can get anything in Ibn Battuta Mall. Since it took us about 2 hours just to walk through the thing, if you are not there to just stroll around, but actually come to the mall to buy something, we would recommend to go directly to the court that offers what you need (see above for different courts and their specialty).

What to pay: From one to a million dollar - depends what you buy.

Address: Sheikh Zayed Road

Directions: go out of Dubai along Sheikh Zayed Road towards Abu Dhabi. Ibn Battuta is between Interchange 5 and 6 (exit Nakheel Interchange). Near the Gardens.

Phone: 04/362-1900

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.ibnbattutamall.com/

Arabian Treasures at City Center: Arabian Treasures

Arabian Treasures is a wing within City Center dedicated solely to - well - "Arabian Treasures"! The 12 giftshops and boutiques offer anything from Oriental rugs, to hand-crafted furniture, touristy knick-knacks, belly-dance skirts.....

It's fun to just browse around the brimmed full shelves and just look and look and look.... Our favorite store for souveniers in Arabian treasures is the Al Jaber Gallery. (Actually got a blue buddha for the collection there.) There is a coffee-shop in the middle of it all - mostly occupied by tired husbands.

What to buy: Following is a list of the stores within Arabian Treasures and their specialty:

Marina Gulf - furniture
Al Jaber Gallery - art gallery & touristy stuff
Al Sultani - hand-woven carpets
Persian Carpet house - persian carpets
Art Age - handicrafts & silver jewellery
Aminian Persian Carpets - persian carpets
Asala - art & antiques
Pride of Kashmir - shawls & carpets
Abdul Salam - carpets
Rosewood Corner - rosewood "shisham" furniture
Regional Trading - shawls, wraps, and carpets
National Iranian Treasures - Iranian carpets

What to pay: Anywhere from one to thousands of dollars.

Address: Deira City Centre

Directions: The Arabian Treasures wing of City Centre is on the first floor near Ikea.

Phone: +971-4/295-1010

Theme: Antiques

Website: http://www.deiracitycentre.com

Gold Market (Souqs): Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold Market (Souqs) Review

Souk is the arabic word for place where any kind of goods can be sold or exchanged. Dubai's most famous souk is it's Gold-souk, a huge market for jewelry and - you guessed it - Gold, which is sold by the pound in all sorts and colors at marked down prices.

Even if you are not in the market for buying jewelry, a stroll down the lanes of the gold souk, each shop window is crammed with gold necklaces, rings, bangles, ear rings and brooches is worthwhile.

Read more about the souks at Pilot Destination Guide

What to buy: The souks carry anything that can be made of gold, and if they don't have it - they'll make it for you!

What to pay: Gold prices here are among the lowest in the world.

Address: Gold Souk Dubai

Directions: Near the Creek. Any cab-driver will know...

Theme: Jewelry

Popular Music Institute: It's all about MUSIC! Wafi City Review

Whether you are a musician wanting to buy new equipment , or you just want to take lessons to learn an instrument , this is the right place for you. The Popular Music Institute takes over 1/2 of the top floor in Wafi Mall. It is a store as well as a music-school, with ultra-friendly and helpful staff and a great selection of instruments.

What to buy: The Popular Music Institute carries almost any musical instrument you desire. They also offer lessions in piano, guitar , violin, keyboard, drums, vocal, flute, saxophone, music theory .....

What to pay: If you buy an instrument, the price is dependent on what you buy.
For instruction:
Individual Lessons @ Dhs130/hr; Group Classes @ Dhs80/hr.; Registration fee of Dhs50 and rehearsal fee of Dhs30/hr

Address: Dubai, U.A.E.

Directions: Wafi City Mall - top floor (Sam Koshy - Manager)
popmusic@emirates.net.ae
and
Dubai Knowledge Village along Al Soufouh Road

Other Contact: 04/3900-786 (knowledge village)

Phone: 04/324-2626 (wafi location)

Theme: Music

Website: http://www.themusic-uae.com

There are sooooo many of them....: Shopping Malls 101

Shopping is the number 1 activity in Dubai - for tourists as well as for residents. You can find plenty of shopping malls in Dubai; usually these malls are themed. The actual buildings are often designed to match the theme, and it is worthwhile to pay a visit to the malls, whether you want to buy anything or not. Following is a list of some of Dubai's biggest malls:

City Centre
Deira/Al Garhoud
04/295-4545

Ibn Battuta
Sheikh Zayed Road (near The Gardens)
04/362-1900

Burjuman
Bur Dubai
04/352-0222

Mercato
Jumeirah
04/344-4161

Oasis
Sheikh Zayed Road
04/339-5111

Al Reef
Deira
04/224-2240

Al Bustan Center
Al Nahda Street, Al Twar
04/263-0000

Al Ghurair
Deira
04/222-5222

Lamcy Placa
Oud Metha
04/335-9999

Wafi Mall
Umm Hurair 2
04/324-4555

Al Futtaim
Deira
04/217-7777

What to buy: You can find anything you desire in Dubai!

What to pay: Depends on what you buy!

Theme: Other

Mercato Mall: A taste of Italy in Jumeirah Mercado Mall Review

Yet another mall in Dubai! This one is built in Italian Renaissance style - the only one in Jumeirah. It is not as big as most of the other malls, but the European style gives it an air of comfort and cozyness.

Offers:
- Spinney's supermarket
- over 90 upmarket outlets
- food court
- coffee shops
- a store entirely devoted to Barbie
- cinema complex

What to buy: Dubai = Shopping Mecca! Buy anything.

What to pay: Depends on what you buy.

Address: Dubai, U.A.E.

Directions: Just across the Ocean on Jumeirah Beach Road.

Phone: 04/344-4161

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.mercatoshoppingmall.com