If your holiday isn’t complete without a little retail therapy, Shangri-La has you covered. We’ve scoured Dubai to find the best shopping experiences, from high-end boutiques to the high street, hidden gems at one-of-one shoppes, private ateliers and ancient markets.
The Dubai Mall
The world’s largest destination for shopping, entertainment and leisure, located next to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Featuring over 1,200 retail stores, two major department stores and hundreds of food and beverage outlets, The Dubai Mall covers more than 1 million sqm – an area equivalent to 200 football pitches.
City Walk
Take a stroll into City Walk, one of Dubai’s most exciting urban precincts. Expect chic shops, al fresco restaurants and beautifully designed outdoor spaces. This family-friendly lifestyle destination artfully combines shopping with entertainment, including, a cinema, play areas, and a year-round calendar of events at the Coca-Cola Arena.
Festival City
Nestled beside the spectacular waterfront on the shores of Dubai Creek rests the Festival City. It houses an impressive shopping centre featuring 600 retail outlets with 25 flagship stores, a 12 screen Grand Festival Cinema and 60 food outlets.
Souks
Souk is the Arabic word for a market where goods are bought or exchanged. Swarmed with people busy negotiating with shopkeepers in the age-old tradition, souks are a striking contrast to Dubai's modern shopping malls.
Dubai souks are located at Deira and sells gold jewellery, traditional spices and perfumes. Gold prices are among the lowest in the world here. Each shop window is crammed with gold necklaces, rings, bangles, earrings and brooches. In the evening the area is a hive of activity.