Dubai is a shopping paradise and combines your ultra-luxurious holiday with modern malls and traditional souks for the ultimate retail therapy.

Dubai is so renowned for its shopping that, over a decade ago, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum instigated the annual Dubai Shopping Festival, attracting over two million credit-card-wielding visitors every year with discounts and prize draws. During your holiday, make sure you head to the souks that line Dubai Creek, where the atmosphere is as much part of the experience as the shopping itself. While the souks are packed with tourists, it’s as near to traditional Arabian retailing as you’ll find, with narrow streets bustling with bargain-hunters.

GOLD MEMBER

At the Gold Souk, exquisite jewellery is sold by weight, but don't forget that there is always room to barter. Prices are also influenced by whether the pieces are hand- or machine-made, and by the composition of alloys in the gold, which are used to give pink, white, yellow or green tints to the jewellery.

Consider how the styles translate into western wardrobes: an ornate, brashly-coloured design that looks tempting in the midst of a busy bazaar often doesn’t work when teamed with the pared-down styles we wear at home. However, savvy shoppers can pick up some real statement pieces, so do have a browse.

DUTY-FREE

If you’re looking for international watch and jewellery brands, stick to the airport duty-free or the vast shopping malls around Beniyas Al-Rigga and Al-Hiyafa Road. Here, you’ll also find familiar fashion brands and electrical goods. Visit the world-famous Spice Souk, where you are immediately overwhelmed by an abundance of seductive smells and colours: cloves, incense, nuts, cardamom and cinnamon are piled high in large open sacks ready to tease the tastebuds of passers-by. They make ideal stocking-fillers for gourmands.

ROLL OUT THE CARPETS

Other great gifts include Arabic coffee pots and goblets, inlaid rosewood homewares and carpets. From affordable cotton dhurries to luxurious hand-knotted Persian rugs – the more densely knotted the more valuable they are – there’s plenty on offer, but be wary of getting ripped off by pushy salesmen. Follow these golden rules when shopping in Dubai: do your research first, never pay anywhere near the first quoted price and ensure you receive a Certificate of Authentication, guaranteed by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Read more about Dubai holidays, speical offers on Dubai holidays or other worldwide city breaks.

Shop the world – our guide to the shopping the capitals of the world

Whether you are looking for the best outlets to buy top labels at bargain prices, or artisan boutiques selling local art, our guide to shopping the world shows you where to head for some real retail therapy: Florence, New York, Barcelona

Kuoni Concierge

If you have any questions on what to do and where to go in the Dubai or if you wish to pre-arrange restaurant reservations, holiday experiences or private airport transfers visit the Kuoni Concierge.

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