Jewellery, spices, toys or another thing, that reflects the spirit and culture of the city, will be an excellent reminder of a vacation in Dubai or a gift for relatives and friends. If you want to have a large selection of various souvenirs and gifts, it is better to go to one of the special places to trade such things. In addition, the price in such markets can be much lower. Buying souvenirs, you can get not only a memorable thing, but also get unforgettable impressions – stunning smells of spices, colorful lanterns, conversations of tourists from different parts of the world – all this creates a unique and unforgettable atmosphere.
For gifts and great impressions, you should go first to The Old Souk in Deira, also known as the Spice Souk. This market is the oldest in the city, everything here speaks of luxury and impressive variety of classic oriental bazaars. In The Old Souk you can find literally anything and even more. Here, in the traditional manner of the eastern markets, many small shops are located under one roof. You can buy souvenirs, clothes, textiles, spices, jewelry, household goods, electronics and much more. A lot of souvenir shops offer buyers a wide selection of souvenirs and gifts, which you can buy for cheap price after haggling. Visiting The Old Souk, you can also visit Naif Souk nearby. Here once was the camel market and today there is a lively market of traditional Arab goods.
After wandering around The Old Souk, you can make a short boat trip and just for 1 dirham go to the other bank by the water-taxi, where Bur Dubai Souk is located. This market is sometimes also called Textile Souk, here you can buy fabrics, garments, shoes, interior items and much more. A variety of products from silk, cashmere and other valuable fabrics are presented in high quality and abundance. At the Bur Dubai Souk you will find an amazing variety of vibrant colors, a real feast for the eyes, as well as a wide selection of products for gifts and souvenirs.
For those who want to get an impression from the traditional oriental market, but at the same time enjoy the amenities of civilization, a visit to Souk Madinat Jumeirah will be an excellent choice. Here you will find picturesque old-fashioned shops offering a variety of interior products, decorations, accessories, souvenirs, clothes, perfumes and much more, as well as modern boutiques with branded goods. Tourists certainly should walk through the endless shopping arcade and feel the mesmerizing atmosphere of the eastern market with its fragrance and bright colors. There are more than two dozen restaurants and cafes in Souk Madinat Jumeirah with fine cuisine and magnificent views of the waterways, including view on the Burj Al Arab.
And of course, for souvenirs tourists traditionally go to the Dubai Mall, which is the largest mall in the world. There is absolutely everything, including recreation areas and restaurants. Among other things the ground floor of the Dubai Mall is a space occupied by souvenir shops. Here you can find gifts and little things for every taste and budget. And next to the Dubai Mall you will find a shopping center in Arabic style – Souk al Bahar, which sells a wide variety of goods, including luxury carpets, antiques, a variety of gifts and souvenirs, clothing and much more. This is a modern shopping center, where the spirit of the old market is recreated, the prices here can be higher than in other places, but also the comfort for buyers is provided at the highest level.
Even if you do not like to spend time buying souvenirs, in Dubai this process can become a pleasant pastime. Here you can haggle with friendly shopkeepers at a noisy market, walk through a luxurious shopping center or find a unique trinket in a small inconspicuous shop. In any case, you will remember the beauty and hospitality of this place for a long time, keep in memory its sunny warmth and splendor.
Dubai is famous for its large-scale projects, which amaze the imagination. Another such promising undertaking will be Dubai Square. The commercial area of this giant mall will be 8 million square feet (about 750 000 square meters). That makes the project a bid to create the largest mall in the world, leaving the Dubai Mall far behind.
Dubai Square is planned to be a huge complex in which shopping areas, restaurants, recreation areas, residential apartments and hotels will be located on three levels. It is also planned to create a large number of social spaces, including the atmospheric main street, which will be covered with a huge glass dome. Visitors will be able to feel comfortable thanks to the many green spaces that will create a natural soothing atmosphere.
The project will become the embodiment of the future of retail. The most advanced technologies, including 3D-printing, drones, artificial intelligence technologies, mobile applications and much more will be involved in the process of rendering services to visitors. For another thing, creators of the Dubai Square are taking into account the fact that modern buyers prefer online shopping, many of the shops will be representatives of online stores, so buyers can combine online purchase through the introduction of modern technology and a visit to a regular store.
The Dubai Square will be located in close proximity to Dubai Creek Harbor. The developers of the project are the state investment holding Dubai Holding and one of the largest developers Emaar Properties.
The UAE’s rich history is rooted in trade and tied to Islam. Its unique location between Europe and the Far East became the crucial factor in it's growth into the world's largest trading hubs. Throughout the ages, these lands had attracted merchants from India and China, and were prized by Europeans, in particular the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British.
After the discovery of oil and the formation of the Emirates, the wise rulers began the rapid development of the country's economy, shaping it into what it is today. Though small in size, the UAE quickly became an important player in regional and international affairs.
Although it's growth and development, UAE heritage have not been forgotten - on the contrary, is still well-respected among the nationals. History and culture of local people can be felt in the legendary hospitality of local hotels, architecture of modern skyscrapers and openness and kindness in living among the multinational community.
Here you can read various articles about UAE heritage, history and culture, and better understand, why this country's development became such a success throughout the years.