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Shopping
Dubai is labelled the "shopping
capital of the Middle East". With so many shopping malls and souks, there's
no better place to find products at unbeatable prices. It is truly a duty
free shopper's paradise that gives you more for your money. Dubai's numerous
shopping malls cater to every consumer need. Cars, haute couture clothing,
jewellery, electronics, furnishing, sporting equipment, and any other goods
will likely all be under the same roof.
Mall of the Emirates
- near 4th interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road - The largest shopping mall
outside of North America. 200+ shops, cinemas, plus the Ski Centre. Has
many international high street chains as well as luxury brand stores, including
Harvey Nichols. Many restaurants and cafes, though cafes tend to be much
more crowded than at other malls. Very large Carrefour hypermarket attached.
Arabian/Middle Eastern souvenir shops upstairs.
Ibn Battuta Mall - Jebel
Ali - Areas themed around six countries (China, India, Persia, Egypt,
Tunisia and the Andalusia.) Wide range of shops, although fewer high class
brands. Has various restaurants and cafes (including three Starbucks),
and a multiplex cinema including an Imax. No restaurants serve alcohol.
Also has permanent exhibition of Islamic science, invention and astronomy.
Attached (access via outside) is one of Dubai's few second-hand bookshops,
House of Prose. Has a Geant supermarket attached.
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Souk Madinat Jumeirah
- Jumeirah Road, - 75 shops, numerous bars, restaurants and cafes, a nightclub,
theatre. More expensive and targeted directly at tourists than other, general
malls where residents go. Most bars and restaurants are licensed for alcohol.
Nice to wander through as it has been designed to resemble a "traditional"
souq, but with the modern comforts of air conditioning. Lots of souvenir-type
shops.
Burjuman Centre -
Khalifa Bin Zayed Road, - Recently opened after expansion, focus is on
premium brand stores and luxury boutiques, but high street stores are also
available. No restaurants serve alcohol.
Deira City Centre
- This is by far the most popular mall in Dubai and no visit to Dubai is
complete without a visit. Debenhams, Virgin Megastore, Zara and other international
high street brands. A multiplex cinema, and many restaurants and cafes.
Also has a large "Arabian Treasures" souvenir and traditional textiles
area. Big Carrefour hypermarket attached, which is nearly always very busy.
No restaurants serve alcohol.
Wafi Mall - Marks
& Spencer, Goodies. Focus is almost entirely on luxury brands, jewellery
and expensive boutiques. Many upmarket restaurants and bars, many of which
are licensed (have alcohol available). A luxury spa is attached to the
complex. The Egypt-themed architecture, which includes quite beautiful
stained-glass pyramids, is worth seeing.
Emirates Towers Boulevard
- Sheikh Zayed Road - Part of the Emirates Tower Hotel complex. The shops
here match the hotel - very high class, plus a Starbucks. Lipton cafe has
free wifi. Restaurants and bars all serve alcohol. Quite a popular nightlife
spot, with bars and nightclubs.
Mercato Mall - Jumeirah
Beach Road. The only Renaissance-themed shopping mall in the Middle East.
Cinemas, Virgin Megastore, high street brands such as Next, Top Shop. Also
has a big Spinneys attached. Some restaurants, but none are licensed for
alcohol.
Gold Souk - Not a
mall, but a historic market that has been a part of Dubai since the origin
of Dubai itself. Located at the mouth of the creek, it dazzles people by
selling gold in large quantities and with no security. A must visit for
shoppers and sightseers.
Spice Souk - As above,
not a mall, but a historic market that has been a part of Dubai since the
origin of Dubai itself. Located at the mouth of the creek, it is not far
from the Gold Souk, but has sadly declined a bit in recent years as supermarkets
take over the spice trade. A must visit for shoppers and sightseers. Lots
of souvenirs are also available. Both the Spice Souk and the Gold Souq
are a rather hot and sweaty experience with limited air-conditioning, so
wear appropriately cool, loose clothing if visiting in mid summer. Individual
shops are air conditioned.
Gold & Diamond Park
- Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road (South side)- sells gold and diamond
products. None of the character of the more historic gold souq, but is
air-conditioned throughout, and easier to reach and park at than the historic
souq (which is in the depths of downtown Deira).
Al Ain Plaza (known locally
as Computer Plaza) On Mankhool Road along from the Ramada Hotel, Bur Dubai
heading towards the creek. A mall specializing in computers, computer parts
and computer add ons like monitors, VOIP Phones, Hard Drives, etc |
Clubs / Bars
Dubai, has an excellent
nightlife scene with a large choice of bars and nightclubs for you to be
able to enjoy whilst there. You will need to know that most of the bars
that can serve alcohol are only in hotels, there are though a few exceptions.
Dubai also has some interesting laws regarding clubs; they all must close
at 3 am, you must be 21 to drink alcohol, 25 to enter a nightclub, and
interestingly they are not allowed by law to refuse entrance to anyone,
including members only clubs.
Alamo - at the Dubai
Marine Beach Resort and Spa is a Tex/Mex restaurant come bar, with more
emphasis on the bar. It is popular with locals, and can get busy especially
at the weekends from 10:30 onwards. The crowd is a lot of expats and interestingly
quite a few Asian girls. They play live music and have a small area to
dance.
Atlantis : Located
right next door to the Hard Rock Cafe, this popular disco gets busy around
midnight. They have performances such as dancing girls and drum masters,
that add to the lively atmosphere. They have ladies night Sunday, Tuesday,
Thursday. The crowd is young and hip.
Carter's - Is a very
stylish restaurant/bar. Located inside the AMAZING Pyramid complex, at
Wafi City. Opens for lunch at 12 and closes its' doors at 2 am and 3 am
Thursdays. As the evening progresses the restaurant slowly transforms into
one of the hottest bars in town, and a DJ starts playing at 10 pm.
Century Village :
A beautiful area of Dubai which can be found right next door to the Irish
Village mentioned above. One Bar that stands out more than others though
is Da Gama. Actually Da Gama is an amazing Portuguese restaurant but they
do have a bar style area on the second floor, which offers comfortable
and spacious chairs.
Champions : Located
at the JW Marriott. Excellent place to go to watch major live sporting
events such as Football (or soccer as Americans call it), Rugby, and large
boxing matches. The bar is open daily from 12 until 2 in the morning, except
for Fridays when it is open from 6pm until 2am. The bar is large and has
television sets all over. The bar is popular with resident expats and locals.
Hard Rock Cafe :
Popular with locals, expatriates, and families. The building itself is
worth travelling to and makes a great holiday picture. The bar area is
relatively small, with more space being offered to seating arrangements,
for dinner etc.
Kasbaa : The club
is located at the amazing Royal Mirage Hotel, which is in itself a magical
experience. The club has followed the design of the hotel and has an Arabic
theme. The club is built up onto three levels with terraces that overlook
the dance floor below, the music again is different with some of the best
DJ's in town playing all the latest dance hits. The upper level is the
place to be seen and has comfortable Arabian style sofas that allow for
an intimate evening. The club opens at 9:30 and its' last orders are at
02:45/ Again you must be over 25 to enter..
The Junction : Previously
known as Ned Kelly's can be found at the Century Hotel Dubai. The bar is
open seven days a week from 12 (midday) until 2:30am. The Junction also
serves food with some very traditional English fare available such as Liver
and Onions.
Planetarium : The
Planetarium has very strict membership and entrance regulations allowing
entrance only to Members, Ladies and Couples. Entrance is free except on
special occasions. The club is located next to the Pyramid centre. The
busiest nights are Sunday (two drinks for the price of one, Tuesday, and
Thursday with Tuesday being Ladies night, where ladies are offered two
free drinks before 1am and all cabin crew get a special 50% discount all
night. The club is closed Saturday's.
Tropicana - At the
Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Spa, is an Arabic style night club with not
many expats, mainly an Arabic crowd, which makes for a very enjoyable evening.
They play a mixture of the latest International hits and Arabic popular
dance music. It does not get busy until around 11:30/12:00 but is worth
a visit when you are in Dubai.
Scarlett's - Located
at the Emirates Towers Hotel this bar is a great place to go for an after
work drink, and is very popular with expat corporate types and expats on
business as well. Open from 12:30pm until 3 am the bar which also serves
food offers last orders until 11: 15pm. The bar also doubles up as a restaurant
which serves American cuisine. Upper section of the bar becoming a nightclub
of sorts with DJ playing a mixture of classic and new popular songs
Captivating Contrasts
From the timeless tranquillity
of the desert to the lively bustle of the souk, Dubai offers a kaleidoscope
of attractions for visitors.
The emirate embraces a wide
variety of scenery in a very small area. In a single day, the tourist can
experience everything from rugged mountains and awe-inspiring sand dunes
to sandy beaches and lush green parks, from dusty villages to luxurious
residential districts and from ancient houses with windtowers to ultra-modern
shopping malls.
The emirate is both a dynamic
international business centre and a laid-back tourist escape; a city where
the sophistication of the 21st century walks hand in hand with the simplicity
of a bygone era.
But these contrasts give
Dubai its unique flavour and personality; a cosmopolitan society with an
international lifestyle, yet with a culture deeply rooted in the Islamic
traditions of Arabia.
Since earliest times, Dubai
has been a meeting place, bringing together the Bedouin of the desert interior
with the pearl-diver, the merchant of the city with the sea-going fisherman.
DUBAI
Dubai combines two cities,
Dubai and Deira. They are divided by the Creek and they are a paradise
for sightseeing with their unique characters. You will be amazed at the
diversity of architecture and cultures that this city emcompasses, ranging
from traditional Arab houses to magnificent modern towers of steel and
glass.
Some of the sightseeing
spots you can be at while in Dubai are:
Aerogulf Services
Aerogulf Services is located
at Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates and in as November
2003 Aerogulf moved into our new purpose built helicopter operations and
maintenance facility located on Dubai International Airport, United Arab
Emirates (UAE).
Contact Aerogulf Services
- Tel: 2200331
Al Boom Tourist Village
Adjacent to Creekside Park,
the village consists of a 2,000 seat banquet hall, a coffee shop, restaurant,
amusement park, ornamental lake and a marina with five cruise boats. Its
traditional architecture forms a stately city landmark. Located next to
Wonderland Family Fun Park. It is open 7 days. Timings: 9am-1am. Entertainment
includes evening boat cruises with dinner served.
ContactAl Boom Tourist Village
- Tel: 3243000
Archaeological Sites
There are three main archaeological
sites in Dubai. They are located in Al Ghusals, Al Sufooh and Jumeirah.
Al Ghusals and Al Sufooh have over 2000 years old graveyards. You can visit
the excavation sites at Al Ghusais, Al Sufooh and Jumeirah where you will
find artifacts from the 7th to 15th century.
ContactOff Road Adventures
- Tel: 04 3432288
Bait Al Wakeel
Built in 1934 by the late
Sheikh Rashid, Bait Al Wakeel was Dubai's first office building. At the
edge of the Creek near the abra landing, the building has been completely
restored and now houses a museum devoted to Dubai's fishing and maritime
traditions
Bastakiya
The old Bastakiya district
with its narrow lanes and tall wind-towers gives a tantalizing glimpse
of old Dubai. Immediately to the east of Al Fahidi Fort is the largest
concentration of traditional courtyard houses with windtowers.
In the past, the city was
famous for a mass of windtowers which lined the Creek on either side. These
were not merely decorative; they were the only means of cooling houses
in the days before electricity.
Bedouin Village
Some local tour operators
offer the opportunity to visit Bedouin village outside Dubai. This provides
an experience of the traditional desert way of life and may include camel-riding
lessons. Those who want a desert safari experience with a difference may
choose to stay at Al Maha, a unique luxury resort set in 3,300 acres of
dunes off the highway between blankets, rugs, beads and a variety of other
rural wares spread on the ground. Owners urge jockeys on to the finish
line while trainers speedily follow the races in fourwheel drives which
plough through the dust of the inside track. The atmosphere is contagious!
Burj Nahar
Burj Nahar Built around
1870, the Nahar Tower was one in the line of defences to the east and north
of the city. One of the three watchtowers guarding the old city, the restored
Burj Nahar with its picturesque gardens in Deira is quite a popular spot
for photography.
ContactTravelogue Tourism-
Tel: 04 3550660
Deira Covered Souk (District)
This souk specialises in
textiles and is located in the Al Sabkha Bus station area, Dubai
This is one of the main
souks in Dubai and is well worth a wander and a barter.
Dubai Creek
The Creek is lined by dhows
and offers a picturesque glimpse of Dubai's trading heritage. It can crossed
by 'abra' (water taxi) and tour operators offer day or night cruises.
ContactCreek Cruises - Tel:
04 3939860
Dubai Museum
Al Fahidi Fort, which houses
the Dubai Museum, is another imposing building. It once guarded the city's
landlord approaches. Built around 1799, it has served variously as palace,
garrison and prison.
It was renovated in 1970
for use as a museum; further restoration and the addition of galleries
was completed in 1995. Colorful and evocative dioramas, complete with life-size
figures and sound and lighting effects, vividly depict everyday life in
pre-oil days. Galleries rescenes from the Creek, traditional Arab houses,
mosques, the souk, date gardens, desert and marine life. One of the most
spectacular exhibits portrays the underwater world of pearl-diving, and
is accompanied by sets of pearl merchants' weights, scales and sieves.
Also on display are artifacts
such as fine copper, alabaster and pottery objects found in 3,000-4,000
year-old graves at Al Ghusais. The main fort is a fascinating military
museum.
ContactTiming Open daily
from 8.30am - 8.30pm
except Fridays: 3pm-8.30pm;
Tel: 3531862
Dubai World Trade Centre
The Dubai World Trade Centre
(DWTC) was established to stimulate trade and commerce in the United Arab
Emirates in 1979. Over the past two decades, the DWTC has become a symbol
of economic growth and prosperity in the Middle East. It undertakes three
core activities: organizing exhibitions, providing hospitality services
and property leasing.
From humble beginning in
1979 to being a state-of-the-art complex today, the DWTC has recorded remarkable
growth in all areas of its core activities. The Complex includes a 39-storey
office tower, 492 serviced residential apartments with a sports club, seven
international standard interconnected and purpose built exhibition halls,
a 200-seat theatre, a congress center and a private member's business club.
ContactTel: 04 3321000
Gold Souk
Dubai boasts one of the
largest retail gold markets in the world, selling everything from ingots
to intricately worked jewellery at bargain prices. The street-front stores
hide alleys of smaller shops with glittering show windows. |
Dubai
