Dubai Shopping

jescapes on 09 2, 2008

Bring in the money when visiting Dubai. With all that glitter, you’ll find gold at bargain prices here, along with frankincense, myrrh and designer handbags.

Dubai, the fastest-growing of the 7 United Arab Emirates has sprouted up like magic from the desert sands in the last decade. You’ll see Dubai skylines bristled with cranes and the population is ever growing.  It is said that a quarter of the world’s construction cranes are operating here. Tourism grew year-round because of its reliable sunshine. You’ll find here hotel lobbies filled with a mix of cultures. Sunburned British and German tourists in tank tops pass by sheikhs in sunglasses.

Shopping here has never been like before. It ranges from high-end malls to lower-end souks but not as chaotic like the alleys in the city of Cairo. Since Dubai has no real downtown, you’ll have to take a cab or hotel shuttle bus to reach most of these spots.

Some of the most frequented shopping places in Dubai are the Souk Madinat Jumeirah, a good place to get started. And there’s the Mall of the Emirates, Dubai’s biggest mall, for now. You’ll find here high-end U.K. department stores like Harvey Nichols and Debenhams. You’ll also find here the massive French supermarket, Carrefour, where you can stock up on delicious chocolate-covered dates for the folks back home. Next is the Gold and Diamond Park. In this well-chilled, marbled-floored mall, you’ll find 90 shops which sells only high-end jewelry. Here, you could be almost anywhere in the world. Gold prices can be surprisingly low due to high sales volume, low import duties and remember, no tax. The secret? Don’t be afraid to make a bargain. But before you venture out, check Dubai’s daily paper or online at www.dubaicityofgold.com for the day’s fixed price of gold. Don’t forget to visit also The Boulevard, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, the Spice Souk, and Gold Souk.

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