Best malls
Dubai Mall
Apart from being the biggest mall in the world, this 20 billion USD extravaganza has some 1,200 stores, an aquarium, an underwater zoo, an ice rink, a SEGA Republic arcade zone and a children's 'edu-tainment' centre among its many attractions. As if that’s not enough there’s the world's largest gold souk, Bloomingdales, Fashion Avenue with its 70 stores dedicated to haute couture and the Middle East's first Galeries Lafayette department store.
Location Next to Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE
Villagio Mall
Located in Doha's Al Azizia district and sited within a new sports complex surrounding Khalifa Stadium, the Villaggio Mall is Qatar's largest shopping centre offering a comprehensive mix of 220 retail outlets, services and entertainment activities such as bowling, a fun park, a roller coaster, an ice rink, a hotel and a hypermarket. They’re all set within and around a Venetian coliseum with a canal and gondoliers that link each of the elements.
Location Al Waab Street, Aspire Zone, Doha, Qatar
Porto Arabia
There’s a shopper’s paradise within The Pearl - Qatar’s manmade answer to Dubai’s Palms – and it’s called Porto Arabia. Also one of Doha’s chicest residential neighbourhoods, Porto Arabia will have over 90,000 square metres of retail and commercial space. Many of the high-end shops have already opened and more will do so over the coming months, meanwhile enjoy the restaurants on site such as Bice and Maze by Gordon Ramsay.
Location The Pearl, Doha, Qatar
Villa Moda
When it opened in 1992 Villa Moda was the first and only homegrown, Gulf-based, luxury department store. Founded by Kuwait’s Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah, the concept quickly took off and expanded to Dubai, Doha, Manama and Damascus. Recent history has seen the company struggle a little, but a buy-in by DIFC seems to have brought financial stability. Whatever the case, its impressive 10,000 square-metre flagship glass cube shop in Kuwait is well worth an outing.
Location Shuwaikh, Kuwait
Best independent shops
Nada Debs
Located in the artsy neighbourhood of Saifi Village, visiting the showroom of Nada Debs should be an essential part of any trip to Beirut. Lebanese by birth, raised in Japan, educated in the United States, and having worked in the United Kingdom - Nada Debs’ furniture creations are as unique as the designer herself. She has a sophisticated and diverse range of products from tables to flower pots all with a synergistic blend of design influences.
Location Al Moukhalsie Street, Saifi Village, Beirut
Orient 499
Just off the iconic remnants of Beirut’s Holiday Inn is Orient 499, a treasure-trove of intricate artisanal works. Eclectically mixing interior design accoutrements and clothing, the shop offers jewellery, traditional clothes, home items, accessories and antiques housed in a store-cum-gallery that manages to showcase local handicrafts in an attractive and modern way. It’s almost impossible to walk away from here without purchasing something.
Location 499 Omar Daouk Street, Mina el Hosn, Beirut
S*uce
S*uce has grown from a charming little boutique in Jumeirah, to become a trendsetting independent fashion and lifestyle phenomenon with four locations in the UAE. Offering many influential contemporary design brands including Karta, Tsumori Chisato, Vanessa Bruno, Isabella Cappeto, Alice McCall, as well diffusion lines such as McQ by Alexander Mcqueen, See by Chloe and Anglomania by Vivienne Westwood, S*auce even has some quirky lifestyle and interior items.
Location Village Mall, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai
Best Flea Market
Dubai Flea Market
While its location depends on the time of year, the Dubai Flea Market is a well-organised fair where individuals can buy and sell almost everything second hand. The items offered typically range from homewares to home appliances, furniture, textiles, ceramics, electrical equipment, toys, games, books, DVD's, antiques as well as clothes and accessories. A luxury-only version of the market has just started although the competition for designer brands is said to be fierce.
Location check on www.dubai-fleamarket.com
Best Online Shopping Sites
www.boutique1.com
When Boutique 1 announced the launch of its interactive online store at the beginning of the year, workaholics, e-shopping freaks and lazy fashionistas rejoiced. The rest of us only caught up with the craze with due time. There’s everything from designer clothes to accessories, beauty products as well as lifestyle products such as delicate greeting cards and gorgeous coffee table books. They deliver to anywhere in the world and Middle Eastern orders take just two working days.
www.souq.com
The Middle East’s answer to eBay, this site allows you to buy and sell virtually anything online. Bargains include concert tickets and cars, books and gadgets, even properties. It’s a safe, interesting take on the car boot sale and offers a plethora of goods for sale. The website protects both the buyer and the seller and handles the payment details on both sides. Although originally started for the UAE market, there are now sites for Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
www.aura-b.com
A one-stop-shop for a wide range of products from quirky furniture and art to fashion and bags, there are even kids’ nappies, books and electronic gadgets. 24-hour delivery worldwide delivery is coupled with cash-on-delivery in the UAE. An easy shipping calculator means that there are no surprising stings when the bill appears. Squarely aimed at expatriates, aura-b.com serves up an exclusive service that’s a little broader than other online offerings.
www.icanaffordart.com
This is an online gallery that showcases local and international artists, and more importantly it makes owning a wide range of art just a click away. Prices start at around 150 USD and go up to about 4,000 USD. The variety of works on offer is impressive though sometimes questionable. You’ll find everything from the scrawlings of first time ‘artists’ to the original works of those you might find if you’re a dab hand with Google. Regardless, it’s an interesting concept and worth a look.
Best outlets
The Outlet Mall
Imagine most of Dubai’s famous luxury boutiques such as Harvey Nichols, Boutique 1, Celine, Tods, and Yves Saint Laurent shedding not only last season’s fashion goods but also this season’s over-ordered stock. Now imagine that it all ends up at The Outlet Mall, with discounts of up to 80 per cent on luxury brands. Apart from fashion there are furniture shops, electronics, optical and jewellery stores, home wares and a number of kids’ entertainment venues on site.
Location Al Ain Road, Dubai, UAE
www.lux4u2.com
This Dubai-based site offers discounted products from top designer labels: Aigner, Diesel, Gucci and many more. Purchases are shipped for free and within 24 hours of when your order is confirmed, but unfortunately only within the UAE. If you live outside you’ll have to pay more. The site specialises in belts, wallets, sunglasses, jewellery, T-shirts and hats: the range isn’t all encompassing, but it’s a good source for the accessories that can really finish off your look.
