Best time to visit Dubai for shopping

If you have to choose a destination to go shopping I will recommend you Dubai. Indeed, with the Shopping festival with super discounts and its enormous malls, Dubai is a global shopping destination. If you are a shopping addict, the best time to travel to Dubai will be during high season in winter. During this time, the weather is great and the temperature is not too hot during the day.

When to go shopping in Dubai?

During the Shopping Festival from December 26 to February 2

During this time of the year, a huge crowd of shopper lovers comes to participate at the Dubai Shopping Festival. During this month of January, you will see small shops as well as malls offering price discounts, organizing prices and events.

The Dubai Shopping Festival is not just a shopping experience reserved for shopper lovers! Be prepared to see concerts, fireworks shows, and exciting events. Most of the shops in Dubai are participating in this event and the city expects over two million international visitors during the month of January.

Summer Surprises from June 22 to August 4

Dubai is not the number one destination to go shopping for no reason. During 6 weeks you will see the craziness of shopping in Dubai. During these months you will enjoy great deals and discounts but also amazing performances by musicians and events on the beach.

Gitex Shopper from September 24 to September 28

If you are an electronic gadget lover you have to go to Gitex Shopper at the Dubai World Trade. During 5 days, you will able to enjoy deals and good offers from a lot of electronic brands. You will find smartphone, laptops, TV, gaming and other electronic equipment there.

Where to go shopping?

Dubai souks

Dubai is a modern city but the traditional Arabian markets are still a big part of the daily life of Emirati.

1. Gold Souk:

   Gold Souk is the place for metal traders and jewelry lovers. It is a great way to discover the Arabian style jewelry. Be careful, the price is not fixed.

   

2. Spice Souk:

   Close to the Gold Souk, the Spice Souk is a must-see of the Arabian culture. Top chefs love it for the high-quality saffron, sun-dried organic dates, dried fruits, and candied nuts. Moreover, all these colorful sacks of spices are really beautiful on pictures.

   

3. Deira’s Perfume Souk

   Located near the Gold and Spice Souks on Sikkat Al Khali Street the Deira’s Perfume Souk offers everything scented. You will find pure perfume, essential oils, incense sticks, and traditional Oud. You even can ask for a personal fragrance created by amazing perfumers.

4. Textile Souk

   Located on the Bur Dubai side of the creek the Textile Souk you will find a lot of different fabric with fine silks, cotton, palm frond weaves and sari fabrics.

5. Souk Madinat Jumeirah

   This souk is located between two five stars hotels: Mina A’Salam hotel and Al Qasr hotel. It is a great souk for searching for fun souvenir and eat special dishes.

Dubai malls

Did you know that Dubai has 65 malls and 10 more under construction?

1. The Dubai Mall

   Popular stores: Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Apple, Galleries Lafayette, Apple, Charlotte Tilbury, Bloomingdales, and Debenhams.

   The Dubai Mall is the most famous mall in Dubai. You will find stores exclusively reserved to The Dubai Mall.

   

2. Mall of the Emirates:

   The Mall of the Emirates is famous for Ski Dubai which allows you to do winter sports all year round and other attraction like Magic Planet for children, VOX Cinema and rock climbing.

3. Dubai Festival City Mall

   What to see there? The whole range of luxury brands, as well as Hard Rock Cafe and cozy restaurants like Cheesecake Factory.

4. IBNN Battuta Mall

   Popular stores: Paris Gallery, Homes R Us, New Look, Home box, Lucky Brand, Ginger and Lace, and Debenhams. The IBN Battuta Mall is known for its architecture unique on the theme of the travel. The mall is divided into 6 parts: China, Tunisia, Egypt, Andalusia, India, and Persia.

5. City Centre Mirdif

   Popular stores: Hamleys, Decathlons, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrell, Zara, and Mango. The City Centre Mirdif is known for several attractions like Little Explorer, Magic Planet, iFy Dubai for a skydiving experience.

6. City Centre Deira

   Popular stores: Marks and Spencer, Zara, H&M, Debenhams. The City Centre Deira is one of the oldest malls in Dubai.

7. Burjuman Centre

   Popular stores: H&M, Next, Nautica, Mont Blanc, Louis Vuitton, Hermes. You will also find a VOX Cinema and some popular restaurants like Yo Sushi, Jollibee, Nando’s and Dome Cafe.

8. Mercato Shopping Mall

   Popular stores: Mango, Massimo Dutti, Laura Ashley, M&CO. The Mercato Shopping Mall is known for its renaissance style architecture.

9. Dubai Marina Mall

   Popular stores: Billabong, Cos, Monsoon, RiverIsland, pinko, and H&M. The Dubai Marina Mall is known for the waterfront view and for its restaurants like Carluccio’s, Five Guys, Gourmet Burger Kitchen.

10. Wafi Mall

    Popular stores: Marks & Spencer, Matalan and department store Al Salaam. The Wafi Mall is known for its Egyptian architecture, its local brands, and the Wafi Gourmet restaurant.

What we recommend you

We recommend you to visit the souks and to buy some spices and dates because they are traditional Arabian products and are well made. Moreover, you should visit The Dubai Mall because it is very representative of Dubai modern culture. If you want to travel to Dubai during the Dubai Shopping Festival you will face crowds in the hotels and in the city but you will get really interesting discounts.

Overall the best time to visit Dubai is during the winter months when the weather is clear and the average temperature is not too high during the day. Compared to the summer season, winter is the best time to go to the beach, desert and visit the UAE.