Dubai is a world-class city with modern infrastructure, contemporary architecture, a state-of-the-art transport system and some of the world’s best artificial attractions. Dubai’s location on the coast of the Persian Gulf makes it important trading, logistics, transport, commercial, financial, and tourism hub of the Middle East. Part of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai’s fully developed infrastructure attracts businesses from all over the world to open offices in the city. A lot of expats have also settled in Dubai, bringing their culture, food, customs, and traditions to Dubai, making it a liberal and progressive city where the human endeavour is rewarded and celebrated.

Dubai, being a highly popular travel destination, attracts millions of tourists around the year. The city is among the top 10 most visited cities in terms of tourist footfalls. Visitors travelling for Dubai holidays will get to experience the iconic attractions including the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, the world’s first seven-star hotel, Burj Al Arab, a chain of artificial islands known as the Palm Islands, a strip of exclusive Jumeirah beach, and plenty of artificial and indoor attractions like the Dubai Aquarium, Ski Dubai and the latest addition to Dubai’s skyline, the Dubai Frame.

Holidays to Dubai, despite being a shiny and glamorous city, is also known for its core Emirati culture, history, traditions, and customs. Here, travellers can explore the rich Emirati culture and learn about the sensational transformation of this once-trading port city after the discovery of Petroleum and how it has fueled the rapid transformation of the city, and the Emirati society.

Today, Dubai Holidays are known for its rich gastronomy and famed dining scene, highly celebrated shopping scene, nightlife, and entertainment options to suit all types of travellers. Not many cities in the world can rival Dubai’s shopping scene, where the annual Dubai Shopping Festival alone pulls thousands of tourists to the city just to indulge in retail therapy. Travelup presents a list of 9 best shopping destinations to visit during Dubai Holidays!

Best Shopping Destinations to visit on Dubai Holidays

1. Dubai Mall
2. Mall of the Emirates
3. Ibn Battuta Mall
4. Wafi Mall
5. Gold Souk
6. Spice Souk
7. Perfume Souk
8. Textile Souk
9. Global Village

1. Dubai Mall

The Dubai Mall is listed among the world’s largest shopping malls. The Dubai Mall, located near Burj Khalifa, has close to 1200 stores of premium brands, 120 restaurants and cafes and around 22 cinema screens. It has three dedicated car parks with valet services and a ticketing system. At Dubai Mall, you can enjoy retail therapy to your heart’s delight, dine in one of the restaurants and can also see the Dubai Fountain, part of the 30-acre Burj Khalifa Lake and famous for its musical fountain shows where water jets reach the heights of 500 feet in the air. The Dubai Mall is also a great destination for families with kids. This giant shopping mall houses the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, Dubai Ice Rink, KidZania, VR Park and the 26-screen Reel Cinemas. Shoppers will also get to see products of premium uber luxurious brands like Bloomingdale’s, Cartier, Dior, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Rolex, and a lot more. Holidays to Dubai are incomplete without a visit to Dubai Mall.   

2. Mall of the Emirates

Mall of the Emirates is one of the leading shopping malls in Dubai and has more than 560 stores of high-street brands, boutiques, handicraft shops and luxury brand stores. The Mall of Emirates houses more than 630 brands of fashion, lifestyle, sports, electronics, home décor, fashion, and accessories. This large shopping mall is home to one of the world’s largest indoor ski resorts, Ski Dubai, known for its long ski slopes inside the shopping mall. Apart from the SkiDubai, the Mall of Emirates houses the Magic Planet, a kids-friendly zone. VOX Cinemas with 4D movie screens. The Mall of Emirates also has more than 100 restaurants and cafes that serve delicious meals to keep you refreshed during your shopping spree. The Mall of Emirates is a perfect shopping destination during holidays to Dubai.

3. Ibn Battuta Mall

Ibn Battuta Mall, located on Sheikh Zayed Road is the world’s largest themed mall dedicated and designed to honour the Arabian explorer Ibn Battuta, famous for his travails. The shopping mall is divided into six sections – India, China, Tunisia, Egypt, Persia, and Andalusia. The Mall has more than 275 shops of the world’s best brands, boutiques, and souvenir stores. Shoppers can enjoy a movie at the Vox centre or sip coffees in Starbucks and recharge their spirits.

4. Wafi Mall

The Waif Mall was opened in the year 1997 and is known for its striking architecture with a stained-glass pyramid and Egyptian theme. Even the walls, stores and columns of the mall are adorned with Egyptian symbols and artwork. Wafi Mall has more than 350 stores featuring over 300 designer showrooms, 30 restaurants, an exclusive Pharaoh’s club, and Cleopatra’s spa. Here shoppers can check out stores of brands like Burberry, Roberto Cavalli, and Chopard. Wafi Mall since its inception has been a hub for luxury dining, retail shopping and entertainment in Dubai.

5. Gold Souk

Gold Souk is one of the most popular shopping destinations in Dubai known for its glittery gold, silver, diamond and precious gems and jewellery. Situated in Deira, adjacent to Dubai Creek, it has covered walkways dotted with jewellery stores. Here, you will get to see traditional gold and silver jewellery to diamond, platinum and precious gemstones, all beautifully designed and skillfully crafted to perfection.

6. Spice Souk

Spice Souk is the historic spice market that lies close to Gold Souk. This area is lined with plenty of small shops selling a wide variety of spices and herbs like saffron, turmeric, cloves, pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, coriander, and sumac. Its narrow alleys are full of the aroma of spices. Visitors will also find the best quality basmati rice, dry fruits, nuts hookah masalas, and flavoured tobaccos.    

7. Perfume Souk

Perfume Souk is a wonderful shopping destination in Dubai filled with fragrances of incense, perfumes, and Ittars. Its narrow alleys are lined with small shops selling all kinds of perfumes, from locally made Arabic Ittars to branded international perfumes. Shoppers have the option to buy scented incense in powder, crystal, wood, and rock form.

8. Textile Souk

Located in Bur Dubai, the Textile Souk is one of the most colourful shopping areas where narrow alleys are lined with stores selling silk, cashmere, wool, cotton, ready-made apparel, footwear, and souvenirs. Here you will get plenty of options to pick fabrics, embroidered textiles and fine prints that will suit the taste of every shopaholic.

9. Global Village

Global Village is a theme park and a hub for a cheap shopping destination in Dubai. Global Village runs from the months of November to April and is an amazing zone for entertainment, shopping, dining, and plenty of fun activities. Global Village is also a one-stop place in Dubai where you will get stalls from different countries under one roof and can buy souvenirs and goods along with tasting delicacies of diverse cuisines. Global Village is also part of the famed Dubai Shopping Festival and is a must-visit shopping, food, & entertainment hub during the Dubai holidays.

Check out: Top 5 Things to do in Dubai Holidays