The best fashion and gift stores - United Arab Emirates in 2025

Practical information : Treat yourself (& others) United Arab Emirates

Timetable

Most stores open from 10am until 10pm. During Ramadan, opening times change, with shops opening later and closing at 2am at the earliest. If you go shopping in the morning, you'll wonder how shopping malls and souks can survive. The crowds arrive after 3pm on weekdays and after 5pm on weekends. Friday afternoons and all-day Saturdays are the busiest days for both souks and malls.

Budget & Tips

You can pay almost anywhere with a credit card, especially in big cities. Is it possible to haggle? In the souks, of course you can, and don't be afraid, it's the custom. In shopping malls, don't hesitate to ask, because sometimes there's room for manoeuvre if it's not an international brand. If you think the emirates are overpriced, you'll find plenty of bargains in the many souks in the old cities, in the stores along the roads that criss-cross the emirates, and in the local supermarkets.

Sales

Dubai, above all, is a shopper's paradise, as everyone knows: it's a national sport. Two major periods attract tourists from all over the world for the city's legendary sales. The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) runs from December 15 to the end of January, and the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) from early July to the end of August. Flash sales offer discounts of up to 90% in certain establishments for just a few hours. These sales take place all over the city, but especially in shopping malls. There are some really great bargains to be had! We recommend you join the official DSF and DSS page on Facebook or the web pages: www.mydsf.ae for the winter and www.mydss.ae for the summer sales. For the rest of the emirates, sales take place at the same time and at the end of Ramadan.

What's very local

Going to the Mall can be very confusing for Westerners. But here, it's a pleasure to go, especially when the warmer months arrive. Everything is done so that families see it as a city within a city: attractions, children's parks, shows, quality restaurants! During the week, Emirati families go there in the afternoon with their friends and even stay for dinner. On weekends, whole families arrive to spend the day. It's a destination in itself. The souks are not just for tourists, but are only frequented by locals in the evenings. As families are large, they usually go to the Halles and fish markets located in every major city.

The best fashion and gift stores United Arab Emirates

DUBAI OUTLET MALL

DUBAI HILLS MALL

SCARABEE

REEM JEWELLERY

HIGH LIFE DUBAI

FARAH

COURTYARD

MIRAJ ISLAMIC CENTER

XVA ART HOTEL

TANNERIE AL KHAZNAH

MALL OF THE EMIRATES

WORLD TRADE CENTER

THE GALLERIA

MERCATO MALL

SOUK DES EPICES & DU PARFUM

IBN BATTUTA

ABU DHABI MALL

NK MALL

CITY CENTER AJMAN – CARREFOUR

MEGA MALL

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Practical information : Treat yourself (& others) United Arab Emirates

Timetable

Budget & Tips

Sales

What's very local