Released on: October 20, 2007, 6:24 pm

Press Release Author: George Sotiropoulos

Industry: Consumer Services

Press Release Summary: Among the many charms of Dubai is shopping. Whether it\'s
haggling over Persian carpets in the centuries-old souks or shopping for French
perfumes in the air-conditioned hush of the most modern department store, Dubai
offers every shopper a great experience.

Press Release Body: Among the many charms of Dubai is shopping. Whether it\'s
haggling over Persian carpets in the centuries-old souks or shopping for French
perfumes in the air-conditioned hush of the most modern department store, Dubai
offers every shopper a great experience. And as an open port with low import duties,
prices are very attractive. Trade is at the heart of Middle-eastern culture, so the
variety of products is staggering.

So if you\'re moving for that new job in Dubai , or just spending a few weeks
vacation, shopping will be one of the highlights of your visit. Here\'s the lowdown
on the shopping scene in Dubai. First, let\'s look at where to go. We\'ll refer to
locations relative to the Dubai Creek, the waterway that splits the city into the
two halves of Deira and Bur Dubai.

For sheer comfort, you can\'t beat Dubai\'s many modern shopping plazas.
Air-conditioned and furnished with escalators, these multi-storey emporia sell
everything from designer fashions to the latest Japanese televisions. They also
house restaurants, cafes and movie theaters for the total day out. Among the most
prestigious in Bur Dubai is the centrally-located Bur Juman Center, an enormous
shopping mall with180 prestigious stores selling high fashion labels for the uber
chiq.

Leading malls in the Deira district include Al Mulla Plaza, the Intercontinental
Plaza, Abu Hail Shopping Centre, The Galleria, and Al Ghurair Centre Bur Dubai
features the Wafi Mall and Holiday Centre Plus there are a host of top class
department stores and boutiques spread throughout the city. Emirates mall is one of
the most exclusive shopping properties in Dubai, and should not be missed.

Modern malls offer the most convenient and comfortable way to shop. But to uncover
the exotic past of this futuristic city, and to savor the sights and smells of the
authentic Arab world, you need to head to one of Dubai\'s souks. These are the
traditional markets of Dubai and you\'ll find them on both sides of the creek.

Souks are usually organized into areas selling similar items and are often named
after a product. Thus the Gold Souk is the place to pick up gold ornaments. Here you
can browse earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets and pendants in a stunning variety
of designs. A specialty of the local gold craftsmen is creating items in shades of
pink, white, yellow or green by varying the alloys.

The nearby Spice Souk is filled with baskets piled with cloves, cardamom, cinnamon,
incense, dried fruit and nuts. Browsing here is an aromatic adventure which you can
continue in the Perfume Souk. And there\'s even a Fish Souk to sell the morning\'s
catch of fish from the Arabian Sea.

So there\'s no shortage of places to shop in Dubai. Now let\'s look at some of the
practicalities of shopping.

Traditional shopping hours from Saturday to Thursday run from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00
p.m. with a break between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Most modern outlets such as malls
and supermarkets stay open all day. All outlets close for prayers on Friday between
11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and many shops stay open late on Fridays.

Bargaining is a traditional part of shopping in Dubai. While most modern outlets
have fixed prices, for family businesses and markets, negotiation is a key component
of the buying process. One good tip is to check out prices at the fixed-priced
outlets before heading to the souks. This will give you an idea of a fair price
before you start haggling.

As an entrepot port, you can buy products from all over the world in Dubai. And
electronic goods, watches, cameras and such items are competitively priced. You can
often pick up fashion items for less than you\'d pay in the country of origin due to
the low taxes. But don\'t leave Dubai without picking up some local delights.

If you\'re looking for authentic local souvenirs you have many choices. You can\'t go
wrong with Arabic coffee pots to remind you of the aromatic local brew. Then there
are silver and brass sword and daggers, prayer beads, frankincense, Arabian
perfumes, rugs and Persian carpets. And don\'t forget pearls. Before oil was
discovered in the UAE in the 1950s, the country's economy was built on fishing and
pearling.

The important thing about shopping in Dubai is to enjoy yourself. There are bargains
to be found and you can acquire rare and exotic items that will grace your life for
many years to come.

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