Top 5 places to go shopping in Dubai

The Middle Eastern hotspot of Dubai is also known as the Shoppers' Paradise owing to the wide range of exclusive shopping options that the city offers its residents and visitors with. The city features a number of high-end malls that are home to luxury brands from all over the world. Besides the malls, Dubai also features a number of traditional markets, called souqs that host a range of items that include Arabic spices, perfumes, gold, amongst others. 

Let's have a look at the top 5 shopping destinations in Dubai where it is worth unleashing the shopaholic that you have within.

1. The Dubai Mall

Located in the vibrant community of Downtown Dubai, The Dubai Mall is the largest and the most visited shopping mall in the world. 

The mall hosts over 1,300 retail stores, two anchor department stores, Galeries Lafayette and Bloomingdale’s and over 200 food and beverage outlets. Featuring an internal flooring area of 5.9 million square feet, The Dubai Mall is home to brands such as Alexander McQueen, Valentino, Gucci, Chanel and Ralph Lauren. 

It also features a 22-screen cinema and an Olympic-sized skating rink. The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo that the mall hosts is home to thousands of aquatic animals that features a 270-degree walk-through tunnel for a truly immersive experience of the deep sea. 

Located adjacent to The Dubai Mall is the iconic Burj Khalifa along with 5-star premium hotels like Address Dubai Mall and Address Boulevard.

2. Mall Of The Emirates

Located in Al Barsha, Mall of the Emirates is the world's first shopping resort, boasting a retail floor space of 2.4 million square feet. The multi-level shopping mall hosts as many as 630 international brands.

It is home to departmental stores, fashion, lifestyle, sports, electronics and home furnishing outlets and also the largest Carrefour in the city.

The mall also has on offer a 14-screen cinema, Middle East's first indoor ski resort and snow park - Ski Dubai, and more than 90 international dining outlets and cafés.

Mall of the Emirates also hosts two luxury 5-star hotels, The Kempinski and The Sheraton.

3. Dubai Outlet Mall

The first 'Outlet' concept mall in the Middle East, Dubai Outlet Mall is located in Dubailand. It hosts more than 1200 of the premium and top brands of the world that are available in 240 stores. The brands on feature include Burberry, DKNY, Guess, Montblanc, Roberto Cavalli and Tommy Hilfiger. 

The mall is known to be dedicated to being a true and ultimate value retail destination where one can avail discounts between 30% - 90% on the majority of the products. 

Dubai Outlet Mall mall also features a wide range of food and beverage options.

4. Dubai Gold Souq

Perfect for those that love bling, Dubai Gold Souq is one of the oldest and most fascinating markets that one will come across in Dubai. The souq is located at Al Ras, Deira adjacent to the Dubai Fish and Vegetable Market. It hosts the biggest range of gold and silver jewellery in the city and also precious gemstones that are crafted in a variety of carats.

The market is home to over 300 retailers, that offers authentic and eye-catching products. It is known for offering competitive prices, which depend on gold rates that tend to fluctuate. 

Dubai Gold Souq is also home to the world's heaviest ring, the Najmat Taiba or Star of Taiba. It is studded with 5.17 kg of Swarovski stones and is 314g shy of 57 kg in weight. The gigantic ring has been endorsed by the World Gold Council and made by Taiba Gold and Jewellery of Saudi Arabia. It has a certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records certifying its ‘weight in gold’. It is worth approximately AED 2.2million.

5. Spice Souq Dubai

If you like to shop local, you should head to the Dubai Spice Souq. The Dubai Spice Souq is situated on Banyas Street, adjacent to the Dubai Gold Souq at Al Ras, Deira. The traditional market sells a range of items that include spices, herbs and soaps, amongst others. 

The souq features small alleyways that host over 150 small retailers. The shops offer herbs, spices and salts in their raw and natural form and have on display bags that are filled to the brim with spices.

Dubai Spice Souq is home to some of the most expensive types of Saffron in the world, that are sourced directly from Afghanistan and Iran. 1kg of the premium quality of saffron costs up to AED 10,000. Some shops also carry amber, a stone known to be a potent healer and very scarcely found.